CHICAGO: Two Chicago-based units of GE Capital are close to selecting PR agencies after a six-week search.
GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services and GE Capital Rail Services have been interviewing firms jointly, said Sheila O'Malley, manager, communications with GE Capital Rail. But each group could pick a different agency to work with.
The two units first spoke with seven agencies, but have narrowed the field to four: Ogilvy, GCI, Cushman/Amberg Communications, and HLB Communications. A decision is expected any day.
"It's been a fast and furious search," O'Malley said.
Ogilvy is the agency of record for GE Capital in Europe. Neither GE Capital Rail nor GE Capital Healthcare Financial has an AOR for PR.
GE announced in July that it was reorganizing GE Capital into four financial-services units. GE Capital Healthcare Financial became part of the new GE Commercial Finance unit under the reorganization.
GE Capital Rail became part of GE Equipment Management. Both units are based in Chicago, where GE bought Heller Financial for $5.3 billion in 2001.
