PALO ALTO, CA: Tech giant Hewlett-Packard is reviewing firms to serve as its social and digital media agency, according to a senior source at the company. HP has not previously worked with an agency in this capacity, so there is no incumbent, the source said.
The source declined to name the agencies participating, but said that the company is speaking with “a handful” of firms. Its corporate AOR is Hill & Knowlton, and HP also works with Porter Novelli (imaging and printing), Burson-Marsteller (technology solutions), and A&R Edelman (personal systems).
“We already have social media programs that we do in-house,” the source said. “But we want to formalize the process by getting an agency involved.”
The selected agency will be tasked with expanding HP's presence on social networks and blogs, and with viral videos.
Additionally, HP is in the process of hiring several “key” people to its external communications team, the source noted.