Boeing has invited agencies to pitch for a public affairs
monitoring account covering all the major European capitals. The move
follows the company’s high profile struggle with the European Commission
earlier this year to get approval for its merger with US airplane
manufacturer McDonnell Douglas.
Boeing wants the appointed agency to monitor environment, air transport
and telecommunications issues affecting its business.
The contract is for Boeing’s Commercial Airplane Group and, when the
need arises, other parts of the company such as defence and
aerospace.
Adamson Associates have previously handled Brussels public affairs for
Boeing and helped the company set up its Belgian operation.
The new agency will report to James Frank, Boeing’s vice-president of
European affairs in Brussels. The company has invested heavily in
European PR since the run-up to its merger. An in-house team of PR and
public affairs specialists was established in Brussels at the beginning
of the year.
APCO Associates and its sister agency GCI group were hired in August to
handle European media relations in London, Brussels, France, Germany
Italy, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
A handful of agencies were invited to pitch for the new account,
including Shandwick International, Hill and Knowlton, and APCO.
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