LONDON — Harvard has been named as Salesforce’s UK and EMEA agency, following a four-way competitive pitch, the Holmes Report can reveal.

The CRM market leader’s review of its PR agency support in the UK and EMEA this summer marked the end of its four-year relationship with FleishmanHillard’s BlueCurrent Group, which declined to repitch for the business.

Work started this month, with Harvard taking on two separate briefs for Salesforce: running its EMEA corporate communications and hub and the UK account, as Europe becomes an increasingly important region for the brand. The account will be led by Harvard’s managing director of PR and AR, Ellie Thompson.

Simon Redfern (pictured), who joined as Salesforce VP Communications, EMEA in March from Starbucks, said: “After an extensive agency pitch where we saw some really excellent presentations we're excited to be working with Harvard. The Harvard team will provide support to our EMEA Hub and UK teams as Salesforce continues to grow rapidly across the region."

Louie St Claire, Harvard’s Group CEO said: “Salesforce did cloud before anyone else realised what it was and has grown into one of the best progressive technology brands in the world. We are chuffed to be working with the team.”

In the US, Salesforce consolidated its corporate PR with Zeno last year, and confirmed Brad Burns as its new CCO earlier this month.