DHL gives GPC its UK public affairs account

The agency won the account, covering the UK, following a pitch process that is believed to have included incumbent Weber Shandwick.

DHL media manager Kate Hanson said the pitch was held to 'refresh' its public affairs account, which had been held by WS or its predecessors for ten years.

She confirmed that although WS was part of the pitch process it had failed to make the final three-strong shortlist.

Work to be carried out by GPC will include consolidating relations with industry bodies. This includes the Association of International Courier and Express Services, which is chaired by DHL UK corporate affairs manager Sharon Dance.

Hanson added that the timing of a change in agency coincides with a relaunch of the DHL brand this week.

DHL Worldwide Network, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net, is the largest cross-border express delivery firm, ahead of FedEx and United Parcel Service.

The relaunch, announced this week, is due to the integration of Deutsche Post's parcel and logistics businesses - DHL, Danzas and Euro Express - under a single DHL brand. From next week 44,000 vehicles across Europe will carry the firm's new red and yellow DHL logo.

The GPC team, which reports to Dance, is headed by MD Kevin Bell. DHL continues to retain The Red Consultancy as its PR agency.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Post has this week hired City PR agency Smithfield Financial to handle communications surrounding its £170m takeover of Securicor Omega Express, in which the group already owned a 50 per cent stake.