Indonesian telco Axis hands over creative business to Coleman Handoko

It is not clear which agencies made it to the final round. According to sources, Publicis, McCann and JWT entered the second round of the review.

The telco initiated a pitch process after Lowe allegedly resigned the account due to differences.

Prior to calling a creative pitch, Axis initiated a search for a below-the-line agency to handle its retail business and act as a brand consultancy.

Having entered the market in March last year, Axis is the fifth GSM mobile operator to launch in the country.

In February, Axis called a pitch for its US$30 million media account. Four agencies including ZenithOptimedia, Carat, OMD and incumbent Activate were shortlisted following a credentials submission from each. The account was later handed to ZenithOptimedia.

Axis is owned by Natrindo, the Indonesian unit jointly held by Malaysia’s Maxis Communications and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the largest GSM operator in Saudi Arabia. Maxis holds a 44 per cent stake, STC 51 per cent, and the remaining five per cent is held by private shareholders. As part of the efforts to connect people across the vast archipelago, Axis had spent approximately $1 billion by the end of 2008 to build up its network coverage.