UPDATE: Volvo expands relationship with Havas by awarding creative AOR to Arnold Worldwide in China and UK

Arnold already handles Volvo’s global integrated account and the business in North America.

Euro RSCG 4D remains lead digital agency and will share a portion of global coordination duties with its sister agency Arnold. 

As a result of this shift, the “Team Volvo” model established in 2010 as a creative alliance between Arnold Worldwide, Euro RSCG 4D and SapientNitro, will be retired at the end of the year.

Volvo Cars’ China and UK markets were previously handled by SapientNitro, which retains the business in Australia.

Starting in 2012, Arnold Worldwide will lead the account across all agencies from Arnold Amsterdam, supported by Arnold Boston and Arnold Shanghai. The account will continue to be managed by global brand director Jorian Murray and global executive creative director Sean Thompson.

Andrew Benett, Global CEO of Arnold Worldwide and global chief strategy officer of Havas Worldwide said of the win, “Over the last couple of years we’ve concentrated on growing our footprint globally and improving our work. This additional responsibility is a manifestation of that.”

Havas currently handles Volvo's marketing business in some capacity in 27 markets out of 41 of the brand’s national sales companies. These include assignments with Arnold, lead digital agency Euro RSCG 4D and US media agency of record MPG, as well as several other local Havas agencies.

Campaign Asia reported yesterday that Volvo has moved its creative account in China from Sapient Nitro.

In addition, Leo Burnett Shanghai also reported that they won another piece of Volvo-related work last month for Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery, which is part of Volvo Construction Equipment. It won the agency of record pitch against JWT.