By Arun Sudhaman

LONDON: Rolls-Royce has called in agency counsel to support a wide-ranging European corporate brief, the Holmes Report can reveal.

The British company has selected Edelman to handle the assignment, following a keenly-contested review that featured a number of international agencies.

Rolls-Royce director of corporate affairs Peter Morgan confirmed that Edelman had won the brief, which covers several markets across Europe, but does not include a UK component.

It is understood that the retainer is a group-wide corporate assignment. Rolls-Royce’s operations include aerospace, marine and energy businesses.

Last year, Rolls-Royce hit the headlines when one of its engines exploded, forcing the emergency landing of a Qantas aircraft.

Qantas remains in talks with Rolls-Royce over compensation. Rolls-Royce recently said that the incident would cost the company £56m.

Rolls-Royce’s reputation nosedived after the incident, but the company insists it has learned its lessons.