Benjamin Moore Names AKQA Interactive Agency of Record

NEW YORK, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Benjamin Moore, one of the country's leading premium paint manufacturers has selected AKQA as its interactive agency of record. The agency will be working with Benjamin Moore on their overall digital strategy. This includes web development projects as well as the integration of digital into the marketing mix.

As Benjamin Moore celebrates its 125th anniversary, AKQA will be instrumental in helping the company shape its vision for the future. This new relationship signals Benjamin Moore's recognition of the increasingly important role of digital marketing and represents the biggest investment in the digital space in the company's history.

"Benjamin Moore's web site and digital experiences have become increasingly important to our overall marketing efforts. The Web site will be the focus of our brand's central expression," says Peter Routsis, Director of Brand, at Benjamin Moore. "We're committed to offering the best online color consultation, but beyond that, we want to create a community for consumers, contractors, architects, designers and employees of Benjamin Moore to share advice, techniques, design and color experiences."

There are plans to migrate a number of Benjamin Moore's above the line marketing initiatives and publications onto benjaminmoore.com, further reflecting the company's commitment to digital. Upcoming projects range from consumer facing sites and marketing programs to a complete overhaul of the company's Intranet, and Retailer Extranet.

On discussing this latest win for AKQA, Guy Wieynk, Managing Director, New York said, "We are delighted to be working with the team at Benjamin Moore as we collectively embark on this new chapter in Benjamin Moore's history. We are inspired by the challenge of enabling customers to get color and product inspiration through digital channels".

"The pitch process was incredibility competitive and it just highlights depth of digital talent now available in this sector," said Maureen Germinder, Senior Manager - Digital Media Services. "But AKQA won through demonstrating customer insight and stunning creative solutions all supported by delivery skills and most importantly a dynamic team that clearly showed their ability to accomplish what we are looking for".

Benjamin Moore's products are distributed throughout North America through a network of independent paint and decorating retailers.

About AKQA

AKQA is the leading independent digital marketing agency with more than 650 employees in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, Shanghai and its newest office in Amsterdam. AKQA provides digital strategy, creative and technology solutions to the world's leading marketers, including Coca- Cola, Diageo, McDonald's, Nike, Unilever and Visa. For more information about AKQA, visit www.akqa.com.

About Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore & Co., a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883 and celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2008. One of the country's leading manufacturers of premium quality residential, commercial and industrial maintenance coatings, its products are distributed through a network of independent paint and decorating retailers located throughout North America. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Interior Paint Satisfaction Study(SM), Benjamin Moore ranked highest in customer satisfaction with interior paint. For additional information visit www.benjaminmoore.com.

For more information: Molly Parsley, AKQA, 415-645-9473, molly.parsley@akqa.com