Porter Novelli reeled in one of the biggest accounts in the country yesterday after it was appointed as Microsoft’s “public relations agency of record for product and corporate communications”. And, adding to the new account festivities, Big Communications and NewImproved have been enlisted as the creative agency partners for the hospitality arm of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Porter Novelli account executive Natalie Benning says the agency was selected “following a competitive tender aimed at consolidating the corporate and product facets into one agency”.
Microsoft marketing director Paul Muckleston said in a press release that the company stood out during the pitch process for its “strategic thinking, creative concepts and a clear passion to work with Microsoft.”
The account was previously split between Consultus and Porter Novelli, which has provided PR for Microsoft’s corporate communications and citizenship activities for the past two years.
The Consultus contract ended on 31 October, but Pead PR (Xbox) and Talkies (MSN) are still involved with Microsoft’s other business units.
Sandra Parkinson of Rugby Travel and Hospitality (NZ), the organisers of the official travel and hospitality programme for the RWC, is looking forward to working with Big, a full-service advertising and direct communications agency, and NewImproved, a multi-disciplinary design company.
“After a thorough pitch process earlier in the year we are confident that they are the right partners for us. The early work they have presented has already got us very excited about the hospitality experience we can deliver at Rugby World Cup 2011”.
