Oil behemoth ChevronTexaco is overhauling its in-house PR team and
structure across Europe following the merger in October.
The move forms part of a review of all ChevronTexaco's communications
worldwide.
In the UK, PR bosses remained tight-lipped as to what form the in-house
restructure will take, but it is believed there will be senior staff and
structural changes.
ChevronTexaco public affairs manager (Europe West Africa products) Paul
Bray said the review is ongoing and announcements are expected in the
new year.
He confirmed there would be no agency changes in Europe: 'It will be an
internal change. Our dependence on agencies is negligible, so we're not
looking at reviewing agencies in the UK and Europe. It's more about
internal and structural changes.'
ChevronTexaco was formed last month from the merger of Chevron, Texaco
and joint venture Caltex.
In the US, the company is reviewing both its in-house and external PR
support, but it is not yet known how the firm's agency roster will be
affected.
Texaco has had a long-standing relationship with Robinson, Lerer &
Montgomery in the States. PR firm Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
was drafted in to help Chevron with the merger plan announcement in
October 2000.
Burson-Marsteller also worked with Texaco on merger-related
communications.
ChevronTexaco, which is now the second largest oil company in the US
behind ExxonMobil, announced late last month it would 'higher
post-merger synergy goals', meaning 4,500 and not 4,000 staff would be
axed.
