Both incumbents are thought to have received briefs for the review. HP IPG director of influencer communications Alison Graves declined to reveal which agencies are taking part, but confirmed the review. "HP's IPG global marketing organisation is in the process of reviewing its public relations agency support model. This process is not due to lack of satisfaction with IPG's current PR agencies."
HP's IPG unit is a US$29 billion business that encompasses printers, photography, entertainment, graphics and managed services.
The pitch is the latest in a series of shifts on HP's global PR roster. Last month, the company enlisted Bite to handle corporate work out of the US. Meanwhile, it also consolidated its global Technology Solutions Group account with Burson-Marsteller earlier this year.
After selecting Edelman to handle comms for its Personal Systems Group in the US and Asia-Pacific, it is currently reviewing that unit's PR account in EMEA. Again, it is believed that Porter-Novelli and Edelman are the two agencies to have reached the final stages of a pitch that began in January.