CHALLENGE
Commercial satellite player ORBIMAGE acquired industry pioneer Space Imaging in late 2005. ORBIMAGE had no internal communications or public relations plan in place to handle the acquisition announcement. LeGrand Hart was tasked with stepping in and overseeing the communications for the new, post-merger entity - GeoEye.

EXECUTION
Organize a meeting with the management from both companies for an open work session to outline and agree upon a strategic communications program

Go beyond typical media relations with a three-tiered communications program to (1) employees of both companies, (2) customers and (3) media.

Implement an internal communications campaign for the employees of both companies that included potential employee questions and answers, town hall meetings at Space Imaging’s office and internal branding of the new company name.

Develop an acquisition-specific Web site, including anticipated FAQs, corporate overviews of both companies, the public filing link, the acquisition news release, relevant articles, an e-mail list opt-in as well as links to both the existing ORBIMAGE and Space Imaging corporate sites.

RESULTS
Media relations supporting the acquisition totaled 6.5 million media impressions.

LeGrand Hart is now the agency of record for GeoEye, overseeing and implementing a full-scale communications program that includes media relations, communication counsel, commercial customer relations and thought leadership.