BY ADRIAN HOLMES
It's a sad - and some would say unfair - blow to everyone at Lowe that we've had to part company with the HSBC account.
When the news broke, the reaction from our colleagues in the industry seemed to be remarkably consistent: we don't know why the account is moving, but it can't be because of the advertising.
And looking back at all the work we did for this client, you get the feeling that they must be right.HSBC was on its way to becoming one of the great global campaigns - much admired by other agencies, openly coveted by rival financial institutions.But what was particularly special about the account was the way the entire Lowe network contributed to that creative achievement.
The original (and pitch-winning) 'Eat Sleep Drink Bank' idea emerged from Lowe Bull in Cape Town. The line 'The World's Local Bank' was co-developed in New York and London.
Many of the more notable commercials and print ads were created in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
In fact, true to the campaign's core thought, Lowe never underestimated the importance of its own local knowledge. So to all those account people, planners, writers, art directors, TV producers and anyone else who helped make the HSBC account what it became - a huge thank you.
Yes, the loss of this account has left a yawning gap in our global account line-up.
But you know what they say in advertising: Watch This Space.
