LONDON--Vodafone Group has shifted its financial PR account to Maitland, after working with Finsbury for the past seven years.

The Holmes Report understands that Vodafone made the decision to appoint Maitland following a competitive review.

Maitland’s hire follows the arrival of Matt Peacock as Vodafone group corporate comms director last year. Peacock succeeded Bobby Leach, who has since become group comms director at Dutch company Vimpelcom.

Last year, Vodafone reshuffled its UK PR line-up, dropping Paratus Communications in favour of Freud. It also hired Tavistock and Ideas Network to handle corporate comms and device loans, respectively.

UK company Vodafone is the world’s largest mobile company by revenue. Starting in 2010, it was targeted by UK Uncut over allegations of tax avoidance.

More recently, there has been revived speculation that the company is a takeover target for Verizon, in which it holds a 45 percent stake. Vodafone is also believed to be considering a bid for Cable & Wireless, in competition with India's Tata Communications.

Maitland chief executive Neil Bennett declined to comment, as did Finsbury representatives. Vodafone had not responded to request for comment as this story went live.