NEWS: H&K to launch widespread PR strategy for Oracle

IT giant Oracle Corporation has handed an estimated pounds 200,000-plus

fee account to Hill and Knowlton Nederland to devise and help implement

a PR strategy across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Although H&K has worked for Oracle before on several projects -

including the management of its annual European user group conference in

April - the agency has only now been taken on board on a retained

footing.

The appointment follows a lengthy selection process begun in April,

which saw H&K pitch against Burson-Marsteller and Dutch consultancy

Schoep Vandertoorn.

Fred Janssen, Oracle’s senior director of communications,said that Hill

and Knowlton would focus on building the Oracle’s profile in the

business market, rather than highlight its purely technical

capabilities. He added that Oracle was keen to support its growing

presence in the emerging markets of eastern Europe.

H&K’s appointment is unlikely to affect Oracle’s existing relationships

with local country agencies. In the UK Bite handles the company’s

product, corporate, training and business development PR.