Finn Partners, a unit of Ruder Finn Group, won a 12-firm shootout to develop and guide a PR program for Atlanta’s economic development entity.
Invest Atlanta called for pitches in September to “tell its story and shape its identity and reputation for the long term,” according to the RFP.
Finn emerged from a pool of six finalists that included GolinHarris, Edelman, MSL Atlanta, Development Counselors/Hipple & Co., and Wilbert News The agency shares the account with Atlanta-based Wilbert News Strategies who oversees the local program outreach.
Twelve agencies initially responded to the RFP, which outlined a $150K-a-year budget.
Finn is working with Atlanta-based Wilbert News Strategies, which oversees the local program outreach.
Invest Atlanta president and CEO Brian McGowan said the agencies include a "balance of local, national, and international presence and knowledge to tell Atlanta's story and position the city to be economically competitive on the global stage."
Gail Moaney, managing partner and director of Finn Partners' travel and economic development group, heads the account.
IA, which said it was not necessarily focused on Atlanta for the PR search, got a boost last year when Porsche said it will build a $100M corporate headquarters in the city.
Finn’s first key assignment came this month as the agency renamed itself in January from the Atlanta Development Authority to reflect “a renewed focus on jobs and competitiveness.”