Dive Brief:

• Heineken has ended its five-year relationship with its creative agency Wieden + Kennedy. 
• The agreement to cut ties was mutual, and Heineken Chief Commercial Officer Jan Derck van Karnebeek called the partnership “strong and effective" after news broke.
• During their time together, Heineken was awarded “Marketer of Year” at Cannes Lion -- the second time the beverage company had received the honor in 10 years.

Dive Insight:

Given Heineken’s revolving door of agencies, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that it has parted ways with creative firm Wieden + Kennedy. The relationship was fruitful one: Heineken was regularly recognized for innovative campaigns and ultimately given one of the highest honors at Cannes during the relationship's tenure.

The beer brand reported spends up to $80 million on media globally each year, but most brewers are grappling to make headway as competition from local micro brewers heats up -- and according to Adweek, turnover among Heineken's marketing department earlier in the year likely impacted this development. 

For the agency's part, Wieden President Dave Luhr said in a statement, "In this business, change is more the norm than the exception."