Cola's (NYSE:KO) North American media account to French rival Publicis (OTCQX:PUBGY) following a competitive tender, according to media reports from Friday. Coke reportedly spends close to $800M every year in overall billings,

WPP has failed to fend off Publicis to retain the North America media brief as the pitch comes to a conclusion.

Publicis — which last year overtook WPP as the largest agency in the world based on revenues — has won Coke’s media business in the US and Canada following a competitive tender, according to three people familiar with the deal. Those close to the contract said that Coke spent close to $800mn every year in overall billings.

This really isn't what WPP wanted to hear. Publicis has won Coca-Cola's North American media, worth $785m blast year, from WPP's GroupM in a closed pitch. Coca-Cola is arguably WPP's flagship account,

Coca-Cola Co. has shifted its North America media account from WPP to rival Publicis Groupe following a closed review, Ad Age has learned. Ewan Larkin covers ad agencies, including new business, executive moves, trends and more. He previously covered corporate communications and public relations agencies as a reporter at PRWeek.

WPP is hoping to fend off Publicis to retain the brief as the pitch nears a conclusion. Win or lose, the spotlight will be on GroupM.

WPP is defending the North American media part of its flagship $4bn exclusive marketing deal with Coca-Cola against Publicis, runner-up when the account was awarded to WPP's bespoke Coke agency OpenX in 2021.