Alamo Rent A Car, the US car hire company, has recruited Bristol-based
agency Sturgess Van Damme as its PR consultancy in an effort to boost
its share of the UK market.
Sturgess Van Damme’s appointment follows a lengthy search which began
late last year (PR Week, 10 November, 1995) when Alamo first signalled
its intention to seek an agency. PR for the UK was previously handled
from the firm’s corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The recruitment process was first delayed by the departure of Alamo’s PR
manager Sandra Richards earlier this year and then by the appointment of
Mike Jones as its European sales director.
Reporting to Steve Berman, Alamo’s executive administrator PR and public
affairs in the US, Sturgess Van Damme will work closely with Jones, who
is based in Middlesex. Jones previously worked with the agency’s
managing director David Sturgess while MD of Brymon Airways.
The agency’s brief is to focus on developing relations with the media,
emphasising Alamo’s car services, sponsorship initiatives and
involvement in trade shows. ‘Alamo is an established brand and we are
looking to increase our market share,’ said Berman.
