Hill and Knowlton has won the pounds 700,000 global PR account for
the WAP Forum, the trade body for companies involved in developing the
next generation of mobile telephones. The win came after a three-way
competitive pitch last week.
WAP - or Wireless Application Protocol - is the system for delivering
images to wireless handsets and is seen in the telecom industry as the
best method for providing internet access via mobile phones. The WAP
Forum is an association of 200 companies standardising the technology
for global use.
According to H&K president Paul Taaffe the remit, to be run by Mike
Vernetti in California and Simon Hill in London, will be to raise the
new technology’s profile and ’mark the milestones’ in its
development.
Meanwhile, H&K London is losing two directors. Giles Fraser, managing
director of the information industries division is leaving the company
in March to start his own consultancy, specialising in hi-tech and
e-business clients.
Fraser’s successor is Sally Costerton, who joined H&K last summer from
Abacus. The unit’s clients - including BT, Motorola and Oracle - have
been informed of the change.
John Tibbs, H&K’s sports marketing and sponsorship head has been with
the agency for four years but is joining Bell Pottinger as managing
director of its sports division next week, reporting to CEO Chris
Satterthwaite.
