Triumph for 3 Monkeys

by Chloe Markowicz, PR Week UK 07-Jan-09, 18:08

In a shock move Microsoft has handed its seven-figure consumer and online account to mid-sized agency 3 Monkeys.

The computing giant has selected Angie Moxham’s agency over larger rivals such as Hill & Knowlton and Weber Shandwick. Also pitching for the prestigious business were The Red Consult-ancy and Six PR (a sister agency of Lexis PR).

The Red Consultancy had held the consumer account for the past 12 years.

Ali Gee, head of consultancy at 3 Monkeys, said it would be hiring two new consultants on the back of the win. She added: ‘The brief is to reignite passion for the Microsoft brand.’

James Tutt, PR manager for Microsoft UK, said the pitch was driven by a reorganisation of Microsoft whereby MSN, Windows Live, Windows Vista and Windows mobile integrated to form a single proposition.

Microsoft confirmed Weber Shandwick, which handles the company's non-consumer PR across EMEA, Edelman, which manages UK corporate PR and public affairs and consumer PR for Xbox, and Inferno, which handles UK technology and business PR, will not be affected.

Three Monkeys will begin working on the account on 1 February and will liaise primarily with Microsoft consumer PR manager Hazel Thompson.