In the wake of three board level defections in June from Amsterdam-based ad agency FHV BBDO, Holland's largest advertiser KPN Telecoms has sacked the shop.
KPN director of branding and marketing Patrick Kuijsters admitted his decision had been triggered by the departure of the agency's chief executive Jacques Kuyf and his two co-directors, creative managing partner Sander Bakker and managing director/accounts Willem van der Schoot.
The triple exit came after disagreements with BBDO in New York over an executive share plan. Between them the departed trio comprise 75% of the agency's board.
Kuijsters claims he had in any event been mulling "new forms of cooperation" with agencies. He sees no "need to work solely with one agency … neither is there a need to work with a strong, international network."
KPN's interests range from fixed networks in the Netherlands; mobile telecom services in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium; and data services across western Europe.
But right now, two questions rebound around Amsterdam adland's parish pump: where and when will the trio resurface; and is an as yet unannounced local startup set to catch Kuijsters' roving eye?
Meantime, KPN has left FHV BBDO with a small consolation prize - its Hi mobile brand account. The client continues to work with its local media shop, WPP Group's MindShare Amsterdam.
Data sourced from mandmeurope.com; additional content by WARC staff
