LONDON--UK satellite communications company Inmarsat has boosted its PR and public affairs support by adding three new agencies to its roster.

In the UK, the company has hired Grayling to support its focus on the aerospace and defence industries. Grayling will work alongside Environics, which handles a similar assignment in the US.

Inmarsat has also appointed Terrapin to help improve its UK government affairs. Terrapin is the firm headed by former Bell Pottinger public affairs head Peter Bingle.

In Brussels, meanwhile, FIPRA has been brought in to bolster the company's increasing engagement at an EU level.

The moves come after Inmarsat comms head Chris McLaughlin added global marketing communications responsibility to his remit, following the departure of marcomms VP Cynthia Ritchie at the end of last year.

McLaughlin told the Holmes Report that Bell Pottinger remains in place as Inmarsat's corporate and European lead agency, while the company's global PR network is also unchanged.

Inmarsat, which sells to consumers, governments and the military, recently reported a drop in revenues and pre-tax profits because of the demise of a satellite joint venture with LightSquared. Excluding this deal, underlying revenues rose six percent.