LONDON--MasterCard has said that pitches for its six-figure UK comms account will take place in mid-December.

The news, confirmed by MasterCard UK head of communications Neil Henderson, comes after the Holmes Report last month revealed that MasterCard's global PR review is set to reach the UK.

The UK review is part of an overall rethink of MasterCard's public relations activity across Europe, which is being headed by European communications SVP Rose Beaumont. Weber Shandwick handles the bulk of MasterCard's European PR business, but Henderson previously said that not every market in the region will undertake a competitive pitch. 

In the UK, MasterCard has already moved some consumer PR briefs to other agencies. Kaper, for example, has been charged with supporting the company's Priceless brand positioning, while Frank PR handled a Champions League sponsorship project for the brand.

Meanwhile, MasterCard UK has named Kedesh Mather to a senior role in its comms team, ahead of a major 2013 PR push.

Reporting to Henderson, Mather joins from Samsung, where he was London 2012 PR manager. Before joining Samsung, Mather worked at Freud Communications, after spending nearly three years at Red.

At MasterCard, he will help lead the comms push for some of the brand's key properties: the Brits and the Champions League final at Wembley in May. He will also support Mastercard’s consumer and corporate communications.

"Ked is one of Britain’s brightest PR talents," said Henderson. "He was a shining star when he came into the Red Consultancy as a grad and I’ve always been impressed by his work ethic, contacts, and the ability to work with top talent. He’ll be key in our huge comms push in the new year."