Facebook calls in Bite

Clare O'Connor, PR Week UK, 16 October 2007, 10:44am

Facebook has selected Bite Communications to handle its PR in the UK, handing the agency what is arguably the most sought-after retainer of the year.

Hargreaves: Bite MD

Bite secured the win following a three-way pitch against relative unknowns Chameleon and Octopus.

The Next 15-owned agency also works with business networking site LinkedIn (PRWeek, 5 September 2007). However, agency MD David Hargreaves said that Facebook is 'completely comfortable' with the agency working on both these high profile accounts. 'They operate in a different space,' he said.

Facebook’s global director of corporate comms Brandee Barker confirmed the appointment, adding that Bite was chosen for its ‘strategic approach to the European markets.’

The social networking site initially asked 12 agencies including Mantra and Fishburn Hedges to present their credentials (PRWeek, 5 September 2007). Tech PR insiders agree that this was one of the most competitive pitches in recent memory.

The agency is expected to start work on the Facebook account in the next few weeks.