Financial PR agency Finsbury has been hired on substantial
six-figure fees by telecoms group Kingston Communications.
The Hull-based firm, famous for its white telephone boxes, appointed
Finsbury after a competitive two-way pitch against Citigate Dewe
Rogerson.
Agency partner Ed Orlebar will head the account, overseeing a
four-strong team and reporting to Kingston Communications’ corporate PR
manager Colin Ashcroft.
Finsbury replaces incumbent Gavin Anderson, which was first hired by
Kingston Communications last July to launch the company’s IPO.
Although Kingston Communications could not comment on the decision,
industry sources say the account was put up for pitch due to a conflict
of interest with Gavin Anderson over its commitments to rival Yes
Television.
Finsbury will be working on a brief to provide financial and investor
relations advice to Kingston as it embarks on a promotional drive to
raise its profile as a national communications network.
’We have to move the Kingston story forward from being just a regional
operator to a national operator,’ said Ashcroft.
Kingston Communications, which was founded in 1904, comprises three core
sectors: network businesses, new media and network equipment
businesses.
The company was originally owned by Hull City Council but floated
successfully last year on the London Stock Exchange, valued at pounds
750 million.
