The Bank of Ireland media account is out for pitch, with three media shops vying for the £4 million (€5 million) business. McCann Erickson has the creative end of the business, so its media arm, Universal McCann, has been asked to pitch, as have Carat Ireland and Mindshare.

For the past five years, the account has been with Mindshare (or Network, as it was called), where Mr Alan Cox headed the account team. Earlier this month, he left to join the All Ireland Media Group and to establish Carat Ireland as a separate media wing within that group. Bank of Ireland is expected to award the account before the end of May.