Leading GSM network operator, Airtel Nigeria has returned its somewhat controversial advertising account to Lagos-based advertising agency, Centrespread.The creative agency had been the GSM operator’s major roster agency from its early years when it was known as Econet Nigeria until Bharti Inc bought the business from Zain Inc in 2010.
Bharti then handed the Nigerian Business to Ogilvy &Mather London which in turn gave the business to affiliate, Ogilvy Africa and then Nigerian affiliate, Prima Garnet Ogilvy. But two years later a business dispute broke out between Ogilvy Africa and Prima Garnet.That affected the multi-billion naira Airtel Nigeria advertising account which is one of the country’s biggest accounts.
After a lot of shuffling here and there, the account has recently been returned Centrespread, a former affiliate of FCB Inc. Other agencies that have worked on the Airtel account include Yellow Brick road, Creativezone and Insight Communications.
