Ryanair has ended its relationship with PR firm Murray Consultants on an “amicable and mutually agreed basis”. Murrays has handed the low fares airline since before its stock exchange flotation in 1997. A tender process is now underway to find a replacement agency to handle the business in Ireland and the UK.
In a statement issued by Murrays managing director, Pat Walsh, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary thanked the agency for its long service, adding that they were parting on the best of terms and “with much regret”. It was now an “opportune time” to invite other PR agencies to pitch for the Ryanair account.
In an indication that a dispute about fees may have been an issue, Walsh told Marketing.ie: “Walking away from an account is never easy, particularly one that was as much fun as Ryanair. We’ve got a business to run and it has to be sustainable. In fairness, Ryanair accepted our position and the parting is entirely amicable.”
Ryanair ads and other marketing communications, like its pin-up calendar (above), sparked much interest.
Murrays director Pauline McAlester was in charge of handling Ryanair, working to O’Leary and the airline’s communications directors Peter Sherrard (now with the FAI) and Stephen McNamara. The current contract will terminate at the end of July. Aer Lingus moved its PR from Drurys to WHPR last year.
