We believe every brand or business has a story to tell and this is done by applying strategic thought, creative ideas, passion and determination!

Rather than us telling you Red’s story so far, here’s what The Holmes Report says about us…

The Red Consultancy

The Red Consultancy is not the largest or most international of parent company Huntsworth’s various public relations holdings, but in terms of reputation it remains a jewel in the crown.

Red has been the UK’s reigning consumer public relations leader for the best part of a decade, and under the leadership of CEO Mike Morgan and his executive leadership team, Red continues to grow (albeit more slowly in 2007, with fees for the year of around £10.3 million) and to rack up awards at an impressive rate including two (more) Sabre Awards for its work with Eye-Fi in the US and with Microsoft Online Services in the UK.

One reason for the firm’s continuing solid performance is the depth of senior management talent, led by CEO Mike Morgan and MDs Andrew Baiden and Amanda Duncan. Morgan has spent 16 years at Red, Baiden has nine years with Red, while Duncan has been an employee since the firm’s inception. There were several key additions over the past 12 months including David Vindel, former deputy MD of Band & Brown, who joined as head of technology; Matt Buchanan, former head of consumer at Lexis, who joined as head of consumer brands; and Neil Henderson, a former BBC journalist who is now head of broadcast at Red.

Clients have been equally loyal. Several blue-chip clients Red picked up during its first few years – including Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s and Microsoft – are all still with the firm more than a decade later, and many are now looking for Red to manage European and global campaigns.

The firm also provides public relations support to some of the most prestigious UK government campaigns including the Department for Children, Schools & Families, the National Lottery Promotions Unit, and the Department of Work & Pensions. New additions over the past 12 months include blue-chip brands such as Nintendo, Cadbury’s, Carling and Heinz.

The firm’s reputation for creativity is as important as numbers, of course. Founded in 1994, Red earned recognition from PR Week as Best New Consultancy in 1996 and Consultancy of the Year 12 months later and was The Holmes Report’s first-ever Consumer Consultancy of the Year in 2004. The firm differentiates itself by its ability to make news, create content and tell stories. Big ideas can’t just be eye-catching, they also have to be driven by an insight into the client and the client’s customer; they have to be truthful, authentic.

Red continues to rank number one in the UK in terms of consumer fees (slightly more than £6 million) but the story of the past 12 months has been about successful diversification. The launch of Red Health in 2007 has been a particular success, and ethical healthcare – led by former Ruder Finn deputy MD Pat Pearson – now accounts for 10% of the firm’s fees, with clients including Novartis, Pfizer and Lundbeck. The Shiny Red unit, which provides digital communications expertise, has been making more of a contribution too.

The firm’s US operation, launched in 2004, has doubled in size over the past 12 months, with new business from Microsoft and McAfee, and now includes offices in New York and San Francisco and is now contributing about 10% of Red’s overall revenues.

The Holmes Report, 2008