Insurer Commercial Union has parted company with Edelman, its PR
agency of ten years, after doubling the size of its in-house PR
department.
But the company has invited four agencies to pitch for what has been
termed a ’creative and strategic public relations’ account.
Commercial Union used to rely heavily on Edelman on the administrative
side, helping out with media relations by performing a press office
service.
The agency declined to repitch for the reduced public relations
business, but it will continue to work on Commercial Union’s public
affairs.
The changes at Commercial Union follow the recruitment of Lynne Gray as
its first head of communications. She was brought in in the summer from
insurance firm Bains.
Since then three extra PR officers have joined the department, bringing
the number of staff to nine.