The high-street retailer John Lewis is reviewing its £13 million above-the-line advertising account.
Burkitt DDB currently handles the business and has been asked to repitch.
The review will be handled by the AAR and run by John Lewis' marketing director, Andrew Woodward. The retailer is yet to release details of which other agencies have been asked to pitch.
Burkitt DDB has worked with the retailer for the past ten years, handling John Lewis Stores, Peter Jones and the company's credit card. It created the company's first brand campaign.
In 2003, it also created the company's first TV ad. The work compared images from nature with products sold in the store.
The announcement follows the news last month (±±¾©Èü³µpk10, 17 February) that the store group is also talking to agencies about expanding its financial services portfolio beyond its credit card.
It has asked its roster agencies, Burkitt DDB, WWAV Rapp Collins and Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy, to present ideas for an integrated campaign.
It is thought the retailer is looking to move into areas such as loans.
MCBD joined the John Lewis roster in November last year as a result of its merger with HOW, the agency that handles the £10 million Waitrose account.
HOW formerly shared the supermarket's business with Clemmow Hornby Inge, but CHI was moved off the roster in October 2005 when the MCBD/HOW deal was done.
Both agencies were appointed by the former Waitrose marketing director Mark Price, who is now the development director at John Lewis.
At the beginning of the year the retailer announced a 4 per cent rise in like-for-like sales during its post-Christmas period.
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