LONDON—Visa Europe has expanded its relationship with Hill+Knowlton Strategies following a competitive review.

The decision sees H+K take on a central role overseeing pan-European corporate communications for the financial services giant, after handling Visa Europe in London since 2008 and in Brussels since 2010.

The new mandate reflects Visa's attempts to bring more consistency to its PR efforts across the region. It is understood that three other agencies pitched for the six-figure brief.

“To continue the strong growth of Visa Europe’s business we are transforming to be more focussed on local market and customer needs and more flexible and agile in the way we meet those needs," said Visa Europe director of media and corporate affairs Diane Scott.

"The appointment of H+K to this new central, strategic agency role is a key part of the communications team supporting these changes. H+K will help us provide strong central guidance and exciting, creative ideas that can be adapted and executed locally by our agency network.”

In addition to the regional brief, H+K has been retained to continue its work in London and Brussels.

"Our role is to help Visa Europe create big ideas that can be applied through multiple platforms and rolled out across Europe," said Matt Battersby, co-head of financial and professional services at H+K.