UK incumbents out as Nokia shortlists four for global PR brief

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Nokia has shortlisted four agencies to pitch for its PR activities across the US, UK and head office, effectively ending the tenure of the two UK incumbents: GolinHarris and Good Relations.

The Holmes Report understands that Emanate, the sister firm of US incumbent Ketchum, has made the shortlist along with three other agencies: Fleishman-Hillard, Cohn & Wolfe, and holding group Next Fifteen. The formal RFP is expected this week, with presentations due to take place in London in late March.

Analysis: Buyers remain cautious as agency M&A surges

Posted to the Holmes Report here

If the headlines are anything to go by, mergers and acquisitions have well and truly returned to the agency world. Recent months have brought a lengthening roll-call of firms that have jettisoned their independence in favour of selling out to a network, casting the 2009 recession as a brief pause in the relentless pace of wheeling and dealing.

Amid the torrent of new deals, though, is enough evidence to suggest a lingering sense of caution on the part of buyers. Several independent agency sources contacted by the Holmes Report expressed disappointment with the terms of typical offers, posing a particular quandary for highly-rated firms that have waited for conditions to approach those that characterised the M&A market prior to the recession.

PR & event marketing lead 2010 recovery at Interpublic Group

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Interpublic Group’s CMG unit, which houses PR agencies Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris, grew its revenues by 10.2 per cent in 2010, outpacing the performance of its advertising and media operations.

CMG, which also includes other marketing services firms such as Jack Morton, FutureBrand and Octagon, earned $1.014 billion during the year, up from $915 million in 2009. By contrast, IPG’s IAN unit, which includes advertising agencies McCann Worldgroup, DraftFCB, Lowe and Mediabrands, grew by 6.5 percent.

Ogilvy PR wins BP 2012 Olympics PR assignment

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Ogilvy PR has been selected to handle PR activities for BP’s 2012 Olympics sponsorship, following a review that was first revealed by the Holmes Report last week.

The win adds to Ogilvy PR’s existing business with BP. Last year, the agency was retained in the US to oversee the oil giant’s digital and social media response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Middle East crisis puts PR firms in the spotlight

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Escalating unrest in several Middle Eastern countries is sparking growing interest in the role PR agencies are playing on behalf of the region’s beleaguered governments.

Facing particular scrutiny is the Government of Bahrain, which has retained Bell Pottinger for the past two years. The agency appears to have expanded its role since first being appointed to promote investment in the country; over the past week, it emerged that Bell Pottinger has helped set up a media centre to help journalists cover protests within the country.

Worldcom agencies win global WSI social media project

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Worldcom agencies Kaizo and Business Press are to lead a new global social media project on behalf of Wall Street Institute (WSI), one of the world’s largest English-language schools.

The two agencies will carry out a comprehensive audit of the company’s social media presence in 10 countries across the world, including China, Germany, Argentina, Turkey and Thailand. The partnership between UK firm Kaizo and Italian firm Business Press secured the business following a competitive review.

Toyota Europe communications chief resigns

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Colin Hensley, who led the communications response to Toyota’s recall crisis last year, has resigned from his position at the automotive giant.

Hensley departs after 15 years with Toyota Europe, most recently as GM of corporate affairs and planning, based in Brussels. He leaves as part of the company’s voluntary resignation programme, and told the Holmes Report that he is now seeking a new “challenging opportunity.”

Resonate poaches Mischief creative director Will Scougal

Posted to the Holmes Report here

UK consumer agency Resonate has lured Will Scougal from rival firm Mischief to become its new creative director.

Scougal, who spent the past two years as head of digital and creative director at Mischief, will report to Resonate MD Michael Frohlich. He joins one year after previous Resonate creative director Graham Drew departed to join ad agency, and Chime Communications sibling, VCCP.

L’Oreal calls in agency for online reputation support

Posted to the Holmes Report here

L’Oreal UK has stepped up efforts to manage its online reputation, calling in an agency to handle a new group-wide social media brief.

The beauty giant has appointed Mymarketmonitor.com after working with the monitoring agency on several projects over recent years. The contract starts with the rollout of a digital platform that will enable L’Oreal UK to better track conversations about the company and its brands across social media.

Ogilvy tops China PR agency perception study

Posted to the Holmes Report here

A new survey of marketers in China has ranked Ogilvy as the country’s top PR agency.

The research, by consultancy R3:GC, polled 223 PR and event marketers across eight major Chinese cities. Apart from Ogilvy PR, local agencies performed strongly, thanks to consistent management and better ‘guanxi’.