Archive for October 2010
India’s Commonwealth Games PR supremo reveals crisis strategy
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Indian PR veteran Rajiv Desai was drafted in to support the Organising Committee of New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games (CWOC) in late August, just before the event became engulfed in a wave of negative publicity.
After months of concern over whether Delhi would be ready in time, the final run-up to the Games was dogged by numerous damaging revelations concerning the state of infrastructure and athlete accommodation, along with major allegations of financial management.
In an exclusive interview with the Holmes Report, Desai – who heads Indian firm Comma Consulting – discusses the committee’s crisis response, which he believes resulted in an improvement in sentiment by the time the Games finished earlier this month. Read the rest of this entry »
Hill & Knowlton wins P&G Olympics assignment
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
FMCG giant Procter & Gamble has selected Hill & Knowlton to handle its activation programme for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games.
The decision follows the announcement earlier this year of a major tie-up between P&G and the International Olympic Committee, covering marketing rights for more than 50 brands across 38 product categories. Read the rest of this entry »
VIDEO: Six Degrees CEO Rishi Seth on how the client-agency relationship has been hurt by the recession
Rishi Seth is co-founder and CEO of Indian firm Six Degrees PR, an agency that – 18 months after launching – has already reached $1 million in fee income.
Seth sat down with the Holmes Report in New Delhi yesterday to discuss how the economic slowdown has hurt the client-agency relationship in India. While clients slashed budgets, agencies responded by dropping servicing levels. As the country emerges from the downturn, furthermore, both sides are seeing opportunities and challenges.
More in the video below. Read the rest of this entry »
Brazil splits $24m global tourism brief between three PR agencies
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Brazil’s tourism authority has completed the lengthy review of its $24 million global PR business by splitting the business between three agencies.
Embratur called the pitch ahead of a critical phase in its efforts to attract more travellers, as revealed by the Holmes Report earlier this year. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Read the rest of this entry »
Tennyson departs senior comms role at Coca-Cola Enterprises
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Fionnuala Tennyson is to depart her role as European VP of public affairs and communication at Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), following the acquisition of the bottling company’s North American operations by the Coca-Cola Company.
The $3.4 billion sale of CCE North America to Coca-Cola, means that CCE’s European public affairs and comms function will now be led by Laura Brightwell, a VP at CCE’s North American HQ in Atlanta. Read the rest of this entry »
Brazil seeks global PR agency for lucrative sports assignment
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Brazil is seeking a global PR agency to manage communications around its sporting profile, which is set to rise dramatically as the country plays host to the Fifa World Cup and Olympic Games.
The Holmes Report understands that the brief is worth US$10 million annually, and is being overseen by the Social Communication Relations Office of Brazil’s Ministry of Sports (MoS). Read the rest of this entry »
Bullish Dyson targets healthcare after Next Fifteen posts record profits
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Next Fifteen CEO Tim Dyson has revealed that the holding group is to diversify beyond its technology offering into healthcare, after reporting encouraging earnings for its latest fiscal year.
Dyson told the Holmes Report that Next Fifteen is looking to acquire healthcare agencies in the £7 to £10 million range in either the US or UK. In an expansive interview, he also revealed why he cannot rule out the prospect of the holding company being sold, or even going private. Read the rest of this entry »
GolinHarris hits acquisition trail in Europe
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
GolinHarris is actively seeking agency acquisitions in the UK and Germany, as part of a plan to grow the global footprint of the Interpublic Group firm.
The Holmes Report understands that the agency is aiming to buy a healthcare agency in the UK, and also expand its presence in Germany by buying a consumer firm in that market. Read the rest of this entry »
Hong Kong hires agency for global financial push
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
The Hong Kong Government has appointed Hill & Knowlton to help it better promote its qualities as an international financial centre, amid increasing competition from other global cities.
The international campaign’s first event will be a November conference in London, followed by an event in New York next year. Read the rest of this entry »
Goodyear eyes European PR review
This story is posted to the Holmes Report website here
Tyre company Goodyear has confirmed that it is sounding out PR agencies ahead of a potential review of its pan-European PR business.
Goodyear’s procurement department has already begun contacting agencies in the UK. The tyre company does not currently have a retained agency for the markets and scope of work under review. Read the rest of this entry »
