Westpac has appointed BMF as its strategic brand and creative agency after a long creative pitch process that began in September last year. Accenture Song’s Droga5, Saatchi & Saatchi, VML and Howatson+Company were among the contenders. It was put on hold in December with several agencies invited to re-pitch. DDB had held the account for 13 years. In October it was announced that DDB and Westpac had severed ties completely.

Westpac Group executive customer and corporate services, Carolyn McCann, stated, “Their [BMF’s] innovative approach and proven track record in delivering impactful campaigns for clients aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. We look forward to collaborating with BMF to elevate our brand and engage with our customers in new and exciting ways. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to DDB for their 13 years of partnership and invaluable contribution to our brand.”

BMF CEO, Stephen McArdle, commented, “We are incredibly excited to be working with Westpac, bringing our strategic and creative expertise to life for one of Australia’s most iconic brands and companies. We can’t wait to work in partnership with the Westpac team to realise their ambitions around customer engagement and growth.”

The AU$65 million media account remains as it was with Publicis Groupe’s Spark Foundry managing media for Westpac, RAMS, ST George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and Bank SA.