Clarion ready to clinch Reckitt Benckiser brief

Consumer PR specialist Clarion Communications is set to clinch the latest in a line of product accounts for recently merged household and cleaning goods group Reckitt Benckiser, following its appointment as sole agency.

The consultancy is due to take over PR for top brands - including Immac and Haze - early next year, replacing incumbents Kable PR and Holmes & Marchant Counsel.

Reckitt Benckiser initially appointed Clarion in the summer following a decision to consolidate all its consumer PR, which came as a result of last year's merger between Reckitt & Colman and Dutch group Benckiser.

Clarion won the work following a competitive pitch, which is believed to have included six agencies. Neither Kable nor Holmes & Marchant were invited to repitch.

In September, Clarion took Dettox from Kable PR and is set to begin work on the consultancy's remaining Reckitt Benckiser account, Immac, in January, when it also takes over Steradent from 15-year incumbent Holmes & Marchant.

The entire portfolio account is worth six-figure fees for Clarion and consists of a consumer PR brief and local community corporate responsibility work for Reckitt Benckiser in Swindon, where it is headquartered.

The agency, led by MD Gary Freemantle, handled PR for Benckiser's flagship brands Vanish and Finish for nearly two years before the merger.

Freemantle said: 'We will be looking to drive sales, relying on women's publications alongside national and regional media. The key is to be creative and attract the attention of the consumer.'

Clarion reports to Reckitt Benckiser personal care marketing director Alison Radford.