Third-generation mobile operator Hutchison 3G has appointed Firefly
Communications after a five-way pitch for its tech PR work.
Firefly secured the £250,000 rolling contract after seeing off
challenges from Edelman PR Worldwide, Bell Pottinger PR, Countrywide
Porter Novelli and Miller Shandwick.
The brief is to manage Hutchison's corporate communications within the
trade, business, broadcast and online areas.
Agency board director Kieran Moore will head a 12-strong team, reporting
to Hutchison head of external affairs Edward Brewster.
As well as media relations, Firefly will look after the company's
speaker service and a broadcast and interactive programme. These duties
will include the monitoring of chat- rooms, bulletin boards and the
targeting of e-zines.
Last year, Hutchison took on City firm Brunswick for help in its bid for
one of the five hotly contested 3G licenses.
The company felt a client conflict had arisen since Brunswick works for
Hutchison rival BT Cellnet, now rebranded mmO2.
Hutchison is now one of only five companies that will be able to supply
a third generation network from the second half on next year.
