Rolls Counts on SHS' D.C. Connections

CHICAGO Rolls-Royce of North America has tapped Sullivan Higdon & Sink as its lead advertising agency without a review.

The shop's first task will be to create a brand-awareness campaign aimed at Washington decision makers in the White House, Congress and the Department of Defense. In addition to its luxury cars, Rolls-Royce creates engines and equipment for four sectors: civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.

"We wanted to tell our corporate presence and commitment story more aggressively to a number of important constituencies, especially those located in and around Washington, D.C.," said Mia Walton, vice president of corporate communications for the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based client, in a statement. "We chose Sullivan Higdon & Sink based on their strong background in aerospace, proven record in business-to-business marketing and keen understanding of the Washington market.

Following the advertising campaign, the shop will create a public relations effort to increase awareness of Rolls-Royce's sponsorship of the National Air & Space Museum's Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center at the Washington-Dulles International Airport. The account will be managed primarily out of the shop's Washington, D.C., office, while creative will come from its Wichita, Kan., office. Billings were not disclosed.