The news that McCann Erickson Communications House has been appointed by Intercontinental Hotels Group to handle integrated communications across Europe, The Middle East and Africa has created a frisson of excitement in both the agency and the wider marketing scene across the region.
In reality this is a great win for the north west's entire marketing services industry.
This is not just my personal view, it is an opinion I've heard expressed many times this week.
So why exactly is a big bit of business coming into one agency great news for everyone? Firstly, it demonstrates to the wider world, the depth and range of talent that is available in the north west and that going to London need not be the default option for a large international client.
Secondly, a win like this gives numerous people experience of working on a large international account.
While I genuinely hope we can keep all of those people, it is a fact of life that people move on. If they take that experience with them, it spreads the knowledge base across the region, which means other agencies strengthen their talent bank of employees with international experience, which in turn means more agencies in the region can win this type of opportunity.
So a win like this really can be a catalyst for an international blossoming of the agency sector in the north west.
With all the talk of mediacity:uk and the BBC's imminent relocation of key elements of its operation to Manchester, an account win of this stature provides visible evidence to the wider world of the range and depth of talent available across the region.
And finally, this type of win gives a massive confidence boost to the industry as a whole.
It gives people the motivation to be proud about the talent that's on offer across the area.
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