Man Bites Dog

Multinational insurance group RSA has appointed Man Bites Dog, the service economy PR specialists, to manage the B2B PR brief for its commercial insurance business in the UK.

Man Bites Dog will be supporting RSA on media relations and thought leadership to cement RSA’s position as the UK’s largest commercial lines insurer.

The six-figure retainer was won following a competitive pitch. Account Director David Mercer will lead the Man Bites Dog team working with RSA.

Simon Kutner, RSA’s Head of External Communications for the UK and Western Europe, said: “We were impressed by Man Bites Dog’s real understanding of our business, the wider industry and creative take on how we can build on the good work done to date. Their expertise and creative nous is a great combination as we look to extend our reach beyond key trade press and develop a strong authoritative positioning.”

Claire Mason, Managing Director of Man Bites Dog, commented: “We’ve built a solid reputation for our insurance and risk communications capabilities. We’re delighted to have been selected and looking forward to working in partnership with the in-house team to help RSA take its rightful place as a leading authority on commercial risk.”

Multi award-winning B2B PR consultancy Man Bites Dog has been shortlisted in three categories of the prestigious CIPR PRide Awards 2009. The awards recognise excellence in public relations across the UK regions. Man Bites Dog is one of only three nominated agencies in the Home Counties South ‘Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy’ category, which the agency won last year.

In addition, Man Bites Dog is nominated twice in the ‘Corporate and Business Communications’ category for its high impact thought leadership campaigns Fight or Flight and Credit Where its Due?

Fight or Flight, which dominated broadsheet front pages, made management consultancy Hay Group one of the most widely quoted authorities on the recession. The campaign is also nominated in the ‘Best Use of Media Relations’ category.

Credit Where it’s Due? successfully established Roland Berger Strategy Consultants as thought leaders on the worsening credit situation and as champions for the financial health of the UK’s largest corporations. Media coverage highlights included BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, the Financial Times and The Economist.

Ann Mealor, CIPR Acting Director General, said: “This year more than ever, consultancies and organisations entering the PRide Awards want to spotlight their achievements while boosting morale – and being a PRide finalist does just that.
“Having gone through rigorous judging to reach the shortlist is a great achievement and I offer my congratulations to all those who have reached this stage of the competition.”

Claire Mason, Founder and Managing Director of Man Bites Dog, said: “These nominations are a great endorsement of the team and the outstanding results they are delivering for our clients.”

The winners of this year’s Home Counties South CIPR PRide Awards will be announced on 27th October in a ceremony at the Brighton Hilton Metropole.