OppenheimerFunds [see profile] turned to CJP Communications as its public relations agency. This marks the first time that the New York-based fund firm has hired a full-service PR firm as its agency of record, according to PR Week.

The hiring comes as OppenheimerFunds is undergoing a slew of changes, including the reorganization of its marketing group this year and the appointment of a chief marketing officer last fall, the first time in a decade that it tapped a CMO.

OppenheimerFunds sent out an RFP for a PR agency this spring. It looked at a total of more than 12 firms, met with eight and eventually narrowed down the list to three finalists. The other two who made the finals were Burson-Marsteller and Edelman.

Bob Grill, senior vice president for marketing services at OppenheimerFunds, cited CJP's "fresh and innovative thinking" coupled with its experience serving financial service firms like Edward Jones as among the reasons behind the decision.

CJP's other financial services clients include Franklin Templeton, BNY Mellon, Envestnet, Genworth and Jefferies. CJP has assigned about eight staffers to handle the OppenheimerFunds account.

OppenheimerFunds has an in-house PR group that deals with the media. The PR team saw some departures this year and OppFunds turned to ex-employee Andrew Healy, who now works at Middleberg Communications, to handle PR duties while firm searched for an agency of record. 

Edited by: Armie Margaret Lee


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