This week’s PR news in brief (8-12 January)
Here’s our round-up of essential PR news stories and features from the past week, including an interview with the Sunday Express’ Geoff Ho, account wins for Speed Communications and PHA Media and new hires at JBP and FWD.
Thought leadership
Abe Smith, Cision’s EMIA president, reflects on how media intelligence has changed over the past 12 months and looks to the future being shaped by “the crazy ones”.
Sarah Hall, the CIPR’s 2018 president, talks about her plans promote diversity in PR, give younger practitioners a voice and establish PR as a strategic management function.
Nico Sarti, TVC Group’s head of digital strategy, discusses why brands should be using influencers, where to find the best brand advocates and his “influencer to watch” for 2018.
Interviews
Geoff Ho, city and financial editor of the Sunday Express, describes how varied his working days can be, what stories he’s looking for and the big business stories in 2018.
Account wins
Virgin Sport has appointed Daniella Posner and Julian Gregory to handle its UK PR and media relations and communicate its brand ethos.
Luxembourg-based investment services company LRI Group has appointed Newgate Communications as its European comms adviser.
Catering service Company of Cooks has appointed Speed Communications as its retained PR agency. Speed will deliver a comms campaigns across national, consumer, trade and regional media to raise the company’s profile.
Riot Communications will promote the second volume of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, a celebration of the lives of female role models written by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo.
Luxury online retailer The Modist has selected The Communications Store to represent it in both the UK and US markets.
Vaporizer firm PAX Labs has appointed KINC to manage its comms and raise brand awareness in key European markets following a competitive pitch.
Fashion brand Hope’s founder Nanya McIntosh has appointed PHA Media to implement an integrated comms strategy. The agency will manage a targeted consumer campaign to create maximum exposure for McIntosh.
Portrait Communications has announced that is has won briefs to handle PR for decorative paint expert Annie Sloan and home accessories and gift brand Fenella Smith.
Agency news
Ketchum has created an executive committee reporting to London CEO Jo-ann Robertson and hired Jamie Robertson as MD of corporate and public affairs.
Strategic communications consultancy Madano has launched a new technology practice and appointed Dominic Weeks as head of technology.
APR Communications and Neville McCarthy have merged to form ANM. The combined agency will offer PR, digital, influencer design and experiential comms services and will be led by managing partners Annabel McAvoy, Dominic McCarthy, Louisa McCarthy and Alix Robson.
People news
Property giant Grosvenor Britain and Ireland has appointed Rachel Garstang as head of media relations. She will assume the role later this month.
Quill PR has appointed Emma Murphy, a former director of Citigate Dewe Rogerson’s corporate practice, as a director.
Strategic comms and engagement consultancy JBP has promoted James Hargrave, James Hinchcliffe and Julie Williams to its senior management team. Hargrave becomes policy and communications director, Hinchcliffe is now strategic engagement director and Williams is promoted to operations director.
Kelly Teasdale has joined Portrait Communications as senior associate director. Previously head of PR and partnerships at Lee Broom, she will oversee a Portrait’s Annie Sloan and Fenella Smith accounts.
Empica has appointed Darren Bane as PR manager and Hannah Mead as PR assistant. Bane will lead the agency’s media training work and crisis management for clients, while Mead will support Empica’s account managers and work on clients’ social media portfolios.
Comms consultancy FWD has appointed Santi Dharmawan as account manager. Dharmawan will bring her international experience to the consultancy’s global clients, having previously managed Burston-Marsteller’s Corporate and Public Affairs Practice in Indonesia.
Opinium Research has appointed Emily Dickinson as business development and marketing director. Her role will include management of Opinium’s PR and comms programme.
Political consultancy Rasmussen Global has appointed Jonas Parello-Plesner as senior adviser. He will use his expertise to enhance the consultancy’s strategic advice on China.
