AFTER 14 YEARS AT SAATCHI, YELLOW PAGES WALKS TO AIM PROXIMITY/COLENSO BBDO

After 14 years with Saatchi & Saatchi, Yellow Pages Group has announced a new partnership with AIM Proximity and Colenso BBDO. AIM Proximity will continue to provide direct and digital marketing expertise and integrate this with advertising solutions from Colenso BBDO.
AIM Proximity and Colenso BBDO will work closely with Yellow Pages Group's own in-house design studio, and with Yellow Pages Group’s reputation management consultancy Creo.
Yellow Pages Group Marketing Director Blair Glubb said the change reflected, in large part, Yellow Pages Group's move to multiple platforms for its find-it services, and the resulting need to integrate its communications services more effectively.
"We're bringing a new era in find-it to New Zealanders across print, online, voice and mobile and this requires greater integration of our communications. This new partnership is a great example of this.
“We were looking for an integrated model so we set out to choose one agency partner. As we are moving increasingly into direct and digital it makes sense for us to build upon our relationship with the leaders in that space, AIM Proximity, and leverage their strong partnership with Colenso BBDO,” said Mr Glubb.
The announcement brings to a close Yellow Pages Group's 14-year relationship with Saatchi & Saatchi.
“It’s been among the longest standing agency-client relationships in New Zealand business and has resulted in some outstanding work over the years. While we part ways sadly with Saatchi & Saatchi, the new partnership reflects the integration opportunity presented by the ever-evolving find-it market," said Mr Glubb.
Says AIM Proximity CEO Darryn Melrose: “We work increasingly with those New Zealand companies that are developing online strategies as a key part of their business, and Yellow Pages Group is no exception. While we already had a strong relationship with the company, their decision to award the new integrated account to AIM Proximity and Colenso BBDO shows that online marketing will play an even more strategic role in the future.”
Adds Colenso BBDO Managing Director, Brent Smart: “We’re stoked to be working with Yellow Pages Group, one of New Zealand’s iconic brands that has a heritage of doing great work. This win really confirms that we have the right integrated model with AIM Proximity. We feel a great cultural fit with Blair and the team at Yellow Pages Group and we can’t wait to bring our creativity to their business.”