GCI Jane Howard has won a four-way pitch to run a PR campaign for
WH Smith’s retail operation.
The account, which will run into six figures, has been held since 1996
by Countrywide Porter Novelli, which did not pitch having come to an
agreement, described by the client as ’amicable’ to terminate the
relationship.
Vanessa Tipple, the account manager at GCI Jane Howard said the details
of the PR programme were still being agreed with the client but that the
agency would be involved in supporting all aspects of the retailer’s
trade.
’We will be supporting everything they are doing - it is an exciting
time as they are introducing a lot of innovative new product lines,’ she
said.
Rachel Spackman, PR executive at WH Smith retail and the reporting point
for the agency, said Jane Howard was appointed on its credentials
presentation.
’We were impressed with their enthusiasm and knowledge of retail PR,’
she said.
The account will be run by Emma Cantrill, a director at the agency. She
will report to the newly strengthened WH Smith in-house team, Rachel
Spackman and press officer Victoria Seymour were brought in at the
beginning of September. Spackman was previously at Amanda Barry
Communications as PR manager, and Seymour came from the PR department at
Focus Do it All.
WH Smith also uses Biss Lancaster for its on-line and literary award
PR.
The pitch list included two London-based agencies with strong retail
connections.
