The brand will run the pitch on its own rather than with a consultant. Sources expect Pepsi to invite Mindshare and at least one other agency to pitch for the account.
Doug Pearce, China CEO for Omnicom Media Group, replied with a 'no comment' when contacted this morning, as did Pepsi's Greater China CMO, Richard Lee.
Mindshare did not reply to a request for comment in time for publication.
Annual billings for the account are around US$225 million, according to estimates.
OMD won Pepsi's media planning and buying in China from Mindshare in 2009 and is the globally aligned media agency for the brand.
On the creative side, Pepsi in October awarded a major 2014 project to DDB after a pitch against roster agencies including TBWA and BBDO.
.png&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.png&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.png&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.jpg&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.jpg&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.png&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.jpg&h=334&w=500&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)
.png&h=268&w=401&q=100&v=20170226&c=1)