LONDON – Waze, the community-based traffic and navigation app, has appointed Battenhall as its retained PR agency of record in the UK.

Following a competitive pitch in December 2017, Battenhall has become Waze’s lead UK agency, and will oversee the brand’s UK communications, including media relations, press office activity and crisis communications, as well as a number of brand campaigns throughout 2018.

Waze, which is owned by Google, has increased its UK user base by more than a million in the past year. Battenhall’s brief is to support continued growth in the UK and to help the service expand its ad platform, offering brands the chance to reach drivers when their vehicles are stationary.

Battenhall MD Drew Benvie said: “Waze is a true industry disruptor and innovator, and the type of brand we love to work with. We share many core values and we are incredibly excited to be working together to build the Waze brand in the UK through 2018.”

Waze head of communications, EMEA & APAC Robyn Bemment added: “Battenhall has a deep understanding of our business objectives, audiences and the Waze product. Combined with their blended approach to PR, social and digital plus unique tools for tackling influencers and crises, we’re excited to work with Drew and the team to land creative stories and campaigns that make Waze a household name in the UK.”