• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, August 7, 2017

While some people are questioning the future of Interpubllic’s MullenLowe, the agency’s media unit Mediahub is plugging along, winning new business and garnering prestigious awards.

Its latest win: Staples, the office supply company, confirmed today. The selection came after a formal review.

The client issued a statement about the decision, attributed to Christine Mallon, Vice President, Stores and Online Marketing:

“Mediahub demonstrated passion for our brand, true understanding of our consumers and exceptional creativity, coupled with accountability in their thinking about driving the Staples business forward.”

Mediahub will handle the company’s offline media and marketing efforts, including TV, out-of-home and print. 

The company reported total advertising and marketing expenses of $376 million, $384 million and $382 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Of that, an estimated $100 million is earmarked for media expenditures annually. About half of that total goes to offline media.

The selection comes a few months after Staples appointed Michelle Bottomley CMO. She joins just as the company is pivoting to focus on its North American delivery business. She reports to Staples CEO/President Shira Goodman.

Bottomley is an agency vet, having spent a decade at WPP’s Ogilvy & Mather, including a stint as COO at the shop’s flagship New York office.  

The award comes at a time of transition for the office-supply giant, which is in the process of being acquired by private-equity firm Sycamore Partners for a reported $6.9 billion.

Previously, the client had worked with Dentsu’s media shop Carat.