ChevronTexaco overhauls Europe in-house PR team

Oil behemoth ChevronTexaco is overhauling its in-house PR team and

structure across Europe following the merger in October.

The move forms part of a review of all ChevronTexaco's communications

worldwide.

In the UK, PR bosses remained tight-lipped as to what form the in-house

restructure will take, but it is believed there will be senior staff and

structural changes.

ChevronTexaco public affairs manager (Europe West Africa products) Paul

Bray said the review is ongoing and announcements are expected in the

new year.

He confirmed there would be no agency changes in Europe: 'It will be an

internal change. Our dependence on agencies is negligible, so we're not

looking at reviewing agencies in the UK and Europe. It's more about

internal and structural changes.'

ChevronTexaco was formed last month from the merger of Chevron, Texaco

and joint venture Caltex.

In the US, the company is reviewing both its in-house and external PR

support, but it is not yet known how the firm's agency roster will be

affected.

Texaco has had a long-standing relationship with Robinson, Lerer &

Montgomery in the States. PR firm Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

was drafted in to help Chevron with the merger plan announcement in

October 2000.

Burson-Marsteller also worked with Texaco on merger-related

communications.

ChevronTexaco, which is now the second largest oil company in the US

behind ExxonMobil, announced late last month it would 'higher

post-merger synergy goals', meaning 4,500 and not 4,000 staff would be

axed.