PHILADELPHIA: Four months after final presentations concluded, Sunoco has awarded its dollars 500,000-plus PR business to The Tierney Group, Philadelphia’s biggest firm.
PHILADELPHIA: Four months after final presentations concluded,
Sunoco has awarded its dollars 500,000-plus PR business to The Tierney
Group, Philadelphia’s biggest firm.
Tierney was chosen over two other finalists, The Brownstein Group and
incumbent Weightman Public Relations, in a search that focused
exclusively on local agencies.
’All of the firms involved brought significant strengths to the
process,’ said Sunoco spokesman Jerry Davis. ’This is an important
matter to us and the decision wasn’t an easy one.’
The oil giant’s past successful relationships with two of the finalists
contributed to the drawn-out selection process. ’In addition to our work
with Weightman in recent years, we also have an established relationship
with Tierney through contingency PR,’ Davis explained. ’That comfort
level with their people was a strong factor in our deliberations.’
Davis confirmed that Sunoco’s marketing account boasts combined billings
of as much as dollars 10 million. While most of the dollars are
earmarked for advertising, as much as 10% of the budget will be devoted
to PR.
’We’re really pumped up,’ said Tierney Group president and CEO Brian
Tierney. ’Sunoco is a tremendous brand. We have several team members
with experience in the category, but this is our first outright win in
it and one of our biggest of the year.’ Tierney said the marketing
campaign will focus on the established Sunoco brand as well as
individual stations.
Brownstein Group president Marc Brownstein hailed Sunoco for pursuing a
local PR firm. ’The fact that (Sunoco) evaluated 15 local agencies is
testament to their commitment and the quality of talent right here in
Philadelphia,’ he said. ’All of the agencies involved should be proud.’
