FRANKFURT: London-based Financial Dynamics has replaced Kohtes
Klewes with rival Ahrens Behrent for work on Vodafone AirTouch’s hostile
takeover bid for German telecoms company Mannesmann (PR Week, 19
November).
The switch is due to a client conflict, as sister organisation Brodeur
Kohtes and Klewes works with Mannesmann.
FD’s co-ordinator in Germany, Perry Hall, said: ’Initially it was
something that Kohtes Klewes thought they could work around, but this
has turned out not to be the case and it did present a problem.’
As a result, the vacancy for a local agency has been filled by
Frankfurt-based agency Ahrens Behrent.
Hall said the appointment would help strengthen FD’s contact with the
German financial and business press as well as broader-based media.
FD was brought on board by Vodafone last month to manage financial
communications during the pounds 77 billion bid. It was chosen for its
expertise in cross-border bids, and because of its connections with a
variety of agencies in Europe.
Tavistock Communications has held Vodafone’s PR account since 1988 and
is also working on the bid.
Mannesmann’s supervisory board is expected to rebuff Vodafone’s offer as
PR Week goes to press.
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