The Post Office is set to continue using the ant characters featured in its recent advertising, created by Publicis, after being impressed by both agencies' recommendations on developing the "ants" creative idea further.
Publicis and Joshua will share above-the-line work after seeing off competition from Lowe London and Saatchi & Saatchi, which is worth an estimated 拢17m.
Joshua has also been retained on the below-the-line roster, and is joined by Publicis' Arc Worldwide group agency Triangle, which will work on selected campaigns and in-branch marketing.
Triangle had paired with Arc to pitch for the wider below-the-line business against Joshua and WWAV Rapp Collins.
John Scott, head of marketing communications at Post Office, said: "We were very impressed by the quality of all the pitches we received.
"Publicis and Joshua were selected on the basis of their successful track record, and for their recommendations on the future marketing strategy for Post Office, particularly on the development of our successful 'ant' campaign."
Publicis and Joshua were appointed to the Post Office account in 2001, the former for advertising and the latter to handle below-the-line duties.
Grant Duncan, the Publicis chief executive, said: "It's always satisfying to retain an account in a repitch. It shows an agency's resilience and the potency of its creative ideas, in this case, the lovable ant family."
Peter Thompson, chief executive of Joshua, said: "There's no doubt that there are few businesses with the opportunities and potential of the Post Office and we're absolutely thrilled at being given the opportunity of helping to realise that potential."
Draft's role working on direct marketing for the Post Office is unaffected by the review.
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