BOSTON--Gillette has handed its $4m US PR account to Ketchum, following a review that sees it part ways with 20-year incumbent Porter-Novelli.

The decision follows P&G communications director Damon Jones' eye-catching decision to call the brand's first PR review in a decade.

The development does not affect Porter-Novelli's role on Gillette business outside the US, or on other P&G accounts, but will still come as a significant blow to the Omnicom Group agency.

The agency has seen key global business from HP and Qualcomm depart in recent years, and recently made layoffs at its New York and Chicago offices. Against this, it has won new accounts from the likes of Yahoo, Welch’s, McDonald’s and Hitachi GST.

Jones told the Holmes Report that Gillette will also continue to work with New York firm Taylor on sports activities, but added that the exact scope was still being determined.

“We look forward to expanding Ketchum's relationship with the Gillette family,” said Jones in a statement. “We believe that the depth and breadth of Ketchum’s global expertise, combined with an innovative creative and client engagement model, will help accelerate the growth of the brand and set new standards of excellence in the industry.”

Ketchum is already a P&G roster agency outside the US, but does not sit on a US lineup that also includes Taylor, DeVries, Paine PR, MSLGroup and Marina Maher Communications.

It is understood that five firms pitched for the business, according to comments made previously by Jones to the Holmes Report.

Jones also noted that Ketchum's London-based global P&G head, Serena Morgan, would not serve as day-to-day lead on the account. "The account will be led by Ketchum's New York office," he said.