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Mediaedge:cia won the brief for the 2006 and 2007, beating incumbent PHD, ZenithOptimedia, Manning Gottlieb OMD and Naked.

Kitcatt Nohr beat Craik Jones, Chemistry and Personal to take the DM business.

In addition, the government department has shortlisted Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy and Farm to pitch for the creative account, dropping incumbent Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and DDB London from the process.

The DoH said that campaigns across 2006 and 2007 will be aimed at encouraging England's 10m smokers to quit, specifically targeting smokers in lower socio-economic groups. The overall objective is to reduce the number of smokers from 25% to 21% or less by 2010 and reduce people's exposure to tobacco smoke.

Matt Tee, director of communications at the Department of Health, said: "Marketing communications has played an important role in persuading people to give up smoking.

"I would like to thank AMV BBDO and PHD for their seven years' significant contribution to the DoH anti-smoking campaign and we look forward to working with new agencies on this brief.

"While continuing to motivate people to give up, we want to build on our work around secondhand smoke and remind people of the choice of NHS support available, including the local NHS Stop Smoking Services."

Mediaedge:cia was also appointed to the planning brief for government account Job Centre Plus in June, beating competition from ZenithOptimedia and Booth Lockett Makin to take the brief.

Mediaedge:cia was reappointed to the COI's communication's planning roster in February this year along with six other media agencies. As well as the reappointments, seven new agencies were added to the roster.

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