Genzyme hires Fleishman-Hillard for corporate brief

by Gemma O'Reilly, PR Week UK 16-May-08, 09:41

Biotechnology firm Genzyme Therapeutics has hired its first corporate PR support in an effort to raise the company's profile in the UK.

Omnicom partners Fleishman-Hillard and Bernard Hodes Group have been appointed for a joint brief to handle the firm's UK corporate brand identity. The agencies fought off competition from Hanover Communications and APCO Worldwide to land the brief.

Genzyme is the world's third largest biotechnology company and specialises in rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopaedics, transplants, cancer, and diagnostic testing.

The account will be handled by Fleishman-Hillard associate director Aoife Kilkenny and Bernard Hodes Group senior solutions consultant Annette Frem. They will report into Genzyme's government relations director Steve Bates.