HILL & KNOWLTON WITHDRAWS FROM OLYMPIC ACCOUNT
By Adnews Staff
Public relations agency Hill & Knowlton Canada Ltd. of Toronto has withdrawn from the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Corporation assignment. According to H&K, the reason is that H&K's global parent company is currently working with the International Olympic Committee to provide communications counsel to that body. After H&K Canada was recommended to the bid corporation by its selection committee, retired Ontario Justice Charles Dubin was asked by the bid corporation to comment on the potential conflict of interest of the agency working for both the IOC and the bid corporation. Dubin expressed some concern over the appearance of a potential conflict, therefore H&K Canada withdrew from the assignment. According to the agency, H&K Canada enjoyed competing for this challenging assignment and is confident that all parties involved behaved ethically and in the best interest of the international Olympic movement. A spokesperson from H&K Toronto told Adnews that the agency was thrilled after being unanimously chosen to provide the PR services in support of the city's bid. H&K Canada Ltd. is a strategic communications consultancy providing public relations and public affairs counsel.