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Diners Club UK is close to appointing a direct marketing agency to

assist it with a relaunch later this year.

The credit card operation has shortlisted EHS Brann, Tullo Marshall

Warren and WWAV Rapp Collins to pitch for the business. TMW has worked

for Diners Club in the past.

An agency source said that the budget for the account was unclear and

that it was still unknown if the whole business will be consolidated

into a single agency. The appointed agency or agencies will be tasked

with stopping current Diners Club cardholders from defecting to rival

cards and acquiring new customers.

Last year, Citibank sold the franchises for Diners Club in most European

countries to the Italian fashion entrepreneur Tonino Perna. His holding

company, GTP, is looking to expand the credit card operation across

Europe.

An agency source said: "The brief is to relaunch the whole thing in the

UK, but there is also the potential for relaunch elsewhere."

Agencies were due to pitch this week. The pitch is being conducted by

the Diners Club marketers, Ivana Santoro and Jonathan Lavercombe. They

were unavailable for comment as ±±¾©Èü³µpk10 went to press.