TBWA\ also holds the ad account for rival internet phone-service brand Vonage, which presents a conflict. It is understood that Vonage took issue with the Skype appointment.
Jeremy Miller, communications director at TBWA\ Worldwide, said that Omnicom, parent company of the TBWA Group, was in the process of working out a solution. It is understood that Omnicom will look to set up a conflict shop to house the Skype account.
Vonage offers VOIP services for local, long-distance and worldwide calls. Its advertising is handled by TBWA\Chiat\Day, New York, which was appointed in April.
TBWA\London, Rapp and Wolff Olins were appointed to Skype's global ad account and CRM programme at the start of October, following a pitch handled by the AAR.
Rapp was initially appointed to handle direct activity for the brand, with TBWA\London working on its brand-led advertising. Both agencies are part of the Omnicom Group.
Last week it was announced that Tim Lindsay, UK president of TBWA\ Group UK, had left the company and was being replaced by Robert Harwood-Matthews. Harwood-Matthews has held various national and international management positions within TBWA\. Most recently he was managing director of PHD in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
A spokeswoman for Skype said: ‘We continue to work with the agencies we have chosen in our review weeks ago. Wolff Olins, Rapp and TBWA\London. There have been no changes to our relationship.'
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