STRI picks Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger for Global PR

Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger, the Leeds-based arm of the UK's number one communications consultancy, the Bell Pottinger Group, has been appointed by STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) to raise awareness of its market leading services, including its management of all World Cup pitches and training facilities.

STRI is a world leader in sports surface research, design, construction and maintenance, having been founded in 1929 to provide advice on golf course management to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Since then its portfolio of work has expanded to encompass football, golf, rugby, cricket, horseracing, showjumping, tennis, bowls, hockey, gaelic games and synthetic turf, with clients including FIFA, Wimbledon, The R&A and the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger's sports marketing division will be implementing an integrated international media relations programme to create widespread exposure for STRI, showcasing its portfolio of global projects. Over the last three months STRI has been working for FIFA in South Africa ensuring all 10 showpiece stadium pitches, 32 training camps and 12 venue specific training sites meet the required standards for the World Cup.

Carolyn Beadsmoore, head of sales and marketing at STRI, said: "With STRI's breadth of knowledge across sports it is important for us to ensure that we communicate with our key target audiences, showcasing our services and engaging with potential customers. Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger's experience and expertise in sports marketing and PR will add considerable value to our business and help us generate widespread awareness of the business."

Simon Brown, senior consultant at Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger, added: "STRI is a true market leader in its field and we're very much looking forward to working with them to promote their brand and business. STRI has an enviable client list, working with many top sporting organisations and venues around world, delivering world class playing surfaces for top stars to perform on."