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Parcelforce Worldwide, a division of the Post Office, has handed

its pounds 1 million UK advertising account to Ammirati Puris

Lintas.

The win follows a three-way pitch against the incumbent, J. Walter

Thompson, and Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

The account shift is the result of a Post Office statutory review of all

its businesses, which began last May (±±¾©Èü³µpk10, 8 May 1998). Tenders for

the Royal Mail account, currently held by Bates Dorland, were due in on

Tuesday.

Also affected by the review is the Post Office’s corporate account,

handled by McCann-Erickson. That agency is pitching against BBH, BMP DDB

and Lowe Howard-Spink for the pounds 4 million business.

John Payne, Parcelforce Worldwide’s head of communications and marketing

services, said: ’APL impressed us with its thorough understanding of the

distribution industry. With this new partnership, I am confident we can

make the most of the exciting challenges that lie ahead for Parcelforce

Worldwide.’

Chris Thomas, chief executive of APL, said: ’Parcel-force is a great

brand with whom we built a strong relationship through our strategic

thinking and creative approach. It’s a wonderful start to the year.’

The parcel service reviewed its below-the-line business last year. In

October, it handed the estimated pounds 2 million account to RP&F after

a pitch against the incumbent, Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel, and

Judith Donovan Associates.

Parcelforce’s main rivals include FedEx and DHL, which has recently put

its pan-European advertising out to pitch. A decision is expected soon.