Leading Cheltenham agency, Target Marketing Communications, has bucked the current downhill trend in the financial services sector by winning a substantial account with Cardiff-based Julian Hodge Bank.

Target pitched against three other agencies to promote the Hodge Lifetime retirement portfolio of products. However, Julian Hodge Bank's requirements for Target have since been extended across the bank's entire portfolio.

This includes creative and communications plans for all advertising, direct marketing, digital, media planning and booking, literature, photography and market research.

Jon King, Managing Director at Hodge Lifetime commented: "We are delighted to be involved with this positive news at this difficult time in our sector. We approached Target to be involved in the pitch as we knew they had strong financial services experience. They clearly understood what we wanted and we were impressed by their creativity, enthusiasm and hard working ethos. Target were chosen for this critical phase in the development of Hodge Lifetime because of their proven track record in delivering change"