PR Week (UK) articles from February 2003

PR Week (UK) archives from February 2003

DTI and IPR join forces for industry research.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The Department of Trade and Industry has joined forces with the IPR to launch the largest study of the PR industry in almost a decade. DTI and IPR bosses are launching a study into best practice within the PR sector with the ultimate aim of...

Candover hires Tulchan for City PR.(Candover Investments PLC hires public relations firm Tulchan Communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Venture capitalist Candover - which was this week revealed as one part of a consortium involved in initial takeover talks with Trinity Mirror - has hired Tulchan Communications for its City PR. Tulchan, founded by Andrew Grant, beat Gavin...

PRWeek Top 150 entry form is now available online.
February 7, 2003... The PRWeek League Tables form, which is used to compile the annual Top 150 consultancy rankings, is being made available online for the first time this year. Consultancies wishing to be listed in any of this year's league tables can now...

Microsoft pitch for business division.(Microsoft Corp. seeks public relations firm to handle Business Solutions business in UK, Ireland)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Software behemoth Microsoft is staging a PR pitch for its business solutions division in the UK and Ireland. The group is on the verge of announcing its decision on the review, which is understood to include four agencies. Incumbent...

Cake and Outside to handle Carling sponsorship brief.(Carling Brewing Co. awards public relations contract to Cake, The Outside Organisation)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Cake and The Outside Organisation have emerged as joint winners in the pitch for Carling's music sponsorship PR work. The hire - made by Stuart Cain, head of sponsorship at Coors Brewers, which owns the Carling brand - marks the end a...

NPA comms revamp is put on hold.(National Pharmaceutical Association delays revamp of communications functions )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... A revamp of the National Pharmaceutical Association's comms function is 'taking a back seat' so the body can concentrate on its lobbying campaign to avoid deregulation of high street chemists. The review, which follows the departure of...

BAA plans in-house review as Bradley quits PR position.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Airports operator BAA is to restructure its in-house comms team. The move follows the announcement this week that its south-east airports comms chief Jenny Bradley is to leave at the end of March. Ian Hargreaves, BAA corporate and...

Two shops picked for Disney Channel corp/consumer PR.(hatch-group and Henry's House picked by Disney Channel UK)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Disney Channel UK has hired Henry's House and hatch-group following a four-way pitch. HH will handle corporate and trade work while hatch-group will handle consumer PR. Previously the entire account was held by hatch subsidiary MacLaurin....

August.One appointed to handle Jordans UK remit.(August.One Communications, Jordans Cereals)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Snacks and cereal firm Jordan's has handed August.One Communications its UK PR account. The agency replaces six-year incumbent Phipps PR, following a final three-way pitch that also included Cow and GCI Group. Phipps declined to repitch....

STOP PRESS: Palace reneges on decision.(St. Jame's Palace names Mark Leishman as assistant private secretary to Prince of Wales)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... ROYAL: St James's Palace has reneged on its decision not to replace Prince of Wales PR adviser Mark Bolland, who ceased working for the Prince last month to concentrate on his PR agency Mark Bolland & Associates (PRWeek, 10 January). The Palace...

STOP PRESS: Former Radio 1 head quits.(Polly Ravenscraft quits Taylor Herring Communications Ltd. to form PR Squared)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CELEBRITY: Former BBC Radio 1 head of press Polly Ravenscroft has quit Taylor Herring to launch her own agency, taking some of the firm's flagship celebrity clients with her. PR Squared launches with Gaby Roslin, Neil Morrissey and John Thomson...

STOP PRESS: Diageo hires Kaizo.(Diageo PLC hires public relations firm)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... ISSUES MANAGEMENT: Diageo has hired Kaizo to handle a global issues management brief for its Classic Malts division. The account was previously held by the now defunct Abel Hadden and Company.

STOP PRESS: Arup promotes manager.(Olivia Gadd named head of corporate communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... APPOINTMENT: Engineering and design firm Arup has promoted marketing comms manager Olivia Gadd to the role of head of corporate comms. She heads an 18-strong team based around the world and replaces Mike Hogan, who left late last year.

STOP PRESS: Golin/Harris confirms leave.(Golin/Harris International puts director Andy Sutherden on leave)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... SPORT: Golin/Harris International this week confirmed that director Andy Sutherden had been placed on gardening leave. It is believed he is to join Hill & Knowlton later this month as a director in the agency's sports marketing division.

STOP PRESS: Newscast agrees Camelot deal.(Newscast Ltd. to handle photography, media distribution for Camelot Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... SERVICES: Newscast has agreed a photography and media distribution deal with National Lottery operator Camelot. The deal includes handling photos of lottery winners locally and nationally, working alongside Camelot's retained regional agency...

STOP PRESS: Signet hires Aurelia PR.(Signet Group PLC, Aurelia Public Relations)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CONSUMER: Jewellery retail firm Signet Group has hired Aurelia PR to handle PR for its Ernest Jones stores. Haygarth PR continue to work on the group's H.Samuel brand.

STOP PRESS: Whitbread hires Full Fat PR.(Whitbread Hotel Co. hires public relations firm)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... LEISURE: The Whitbread Hotel Company has hired Full Fat PR on a project basis to handle three launches of its Travel Inn brand this year. The launches will be in Sheffield, Liverpool and London Docklands.

STOP PRESS: Brazen wins pitch.(Brazen Communications wins contract to promote Hasbro Inc.'s Action Man toy)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CONSUMER: Brazen has won a two-way pitch against Mason Williams to promote Hasbro's Action Man toy. Brazen's brief also includes GI Joe, Transformers, K'Nex and Micro Machines. Action Man was promoted last year by Lexis PR.

War threat prompts GICS crisis PR review.(Government Information and Communications Service)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The 'current threats' of war and global terrorism have prompted a full-scale Government review of crisis PR handling. As reported on www. prweek.com (31/01/03) Fiona Dick, press secretary of standards watchdog the Wicks Committee, will next...

Douglas and Zeta Jones hire WS for litigation PR brief.(Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones hire public relations firm Weber Shandwick)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas have hired Weber Shandwick to handle media relations surrounding their High Court action against Hello! magazine. WS's strategic media group, headed by vice-chairman Michael Prescott, is now...

Safeway and ntl deals give boost to financial PR scene.
February 7, 2003... The takeover battle for Safeway launched last month by Morrison buoyed the City PR market and marked the first major bidding war since Vodafone's play for Mannesman three years ago. Northern supermarket chain Morrisons hired Citigate Dewe...

Sherry Institute of Spain set to stage UK PR repitch.(seeks public relations firm to promote sherry in United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The PR contract to promote sherry in the UK is up for grabs, with a pitch to be staged in March. The Sherry Institute of Spain - which is affiliated to the Spanish Embassy in London - and Spanish sherry-producers' trade organisation...

Borkowski PR to promote 40.(Channel 4 hires public relations firm to promote new television drama)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Borkowski PR was last week hired to promote 40, a three-part drama for Channel 4 that will hit the screens in the spring. Director Dee McCourt leads a three-strong account team reporting to C4 deputy head of press and publicity Yvonne Taylor,...

Mecca-Cola set to hire UK PR shop ahead of launch.(Mecca-Cola Beverage Co. set to hire public relations firm Charles Andersen Group)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Mecca-Cola - a France-based soft-drink firm seeking to cash in on global anti-American sentiment - is set to hire a British PR agency ahead of its UK launch next week. Mecca-Cola - which is on sale in the Middle East and France - is to...

FD International plans MBO bid in Cordiant sell-off.(management buy-out to be launched )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FD International bosses are poised to launch an MBO bid as parent firm Cordiant Communications this week began breaking up the troubled marcoms firm. FD insiders said that while negotiations have not yet started, the management team is...

Check Point puts UK and Europe PR brief out to tender.(Check Point Software Technologies )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Global internet security firm Check Point Software Technologies is pitching its UK and Europe PR business. The Cambridge-based UK division of the firm, which is headquartered in the US, is reviewing the account, currently handled by Beattie...

The Tote picks College Hill as first corporate agency.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Pool-betting group The Tote has hired its first corporate PR agency in a bid to speed up its long-mooted privatisation. College Hill Associates has also been hired to distance The Tote from the corruption allegations that have tarnished the...

Eastoe leads move to Edelman PA.(Susan Eastoe joins Edelman PA's public affairs practice)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Three senior members of staff at lobby shop Westminster Strategy, including COO Susan Eastoe, have quit to join Edelman's beefed up public affairs practice. Eastoe joins Edelman PA this week in a newly created role as an executive director...

Marcoms review at Scarborough Building Society.(is staging a pitch for public relations support)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Scarborough Building Society is staging a pitch for PR support as it overhauls its external marcoms agency requirements. Marketing and development general manager Paul Draycott, who joined SBS four months ago, is co-ordinating a review of...

Haygarth group appoints its joint MDs from within.(promotes Sophie Daranyi and Robert Goldsmith)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Marcoms group Haygarth has promoted PR chief Sophie Daranyi and direct marketing head Robert Goldsmith to joint MDs. Daranyi and Goldsmith - formerly directors - take over the day-to-day running of the agency, reporting to CEO Stephen...

HC's Twigg to head Nexus consumer unit.(Harrison Cowley to lead consumer team at Nexus Communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Nexus Communications has lured Harrison Cowley director Alan Twigg to lead its 40-strong consumer team. Twigg is set to join Nexus on 10 February, ending the agency's seven-month search for a successor to Anna Hooper. Hooper quit last...

Vauxhall selects RSM to run 2003 motorsports job.(firm will handle public relations for Vauxhall Motors )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Vauxhall Motors has hired RSM to handle its motorsports PR for the 2003 racing season. RSM won the business after a two-way pitch and replaces ProAction, the incumbent agency for the past two seasons. Vauxhall - which this year...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Jarman joins Cambridgeshire police comms.(Cambridgeshire Constabulary appoints Hywel Jarman head of communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Cambridgeshire Constabulary - the force dealing with the Soham tragedy - has appointed Hywel Jarman as its first permanent communications head for a year. Jarman joins the force as head of corporate information at the end of March from...

PUBLIC SECT0R: WWF UK claims success in animal trafficking laws.(World Wildlife Fund UK)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The World Wildlife Fund UK is claiming a major success in its lobbying campaign for tougher penalties for illegal animal traders. Following a targeting of the Criminal Justice Bill, which is progressing through Parliament, the charity now...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Alliance calls for an investigation into Safeway bids.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... An alliance of organisations, including Friends of the Earth and the National Federation of Women's Institutes, is lobbying for an investigation into the likely takeover of Safeway. The alliance has now sent a letter to Trade and Industry...

PUBLIC SECT0R: NICS to grow expertise with 20 shops.(Northern Ireland Civil Service quadruples number of rostered public relations agencies)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The Northern Ireland Civil Service has quadrupled the number of its rostered agencies, who will compete for pounds 3m worth of promotional work. Following a regular review late last year the five-strong list has been increased to 20, in a...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Evangelical body names Le Feuvre as head of media.(Evangelical Alliance hires Cathy Le Feuvre)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... The Evangelical Alliance has hired former ITV religious programming producer Cathy Le Feuvre in a bid to boost the body's broadcasting presence. She joins as head of media reporting to communications director Gill Dandy and with...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Members confirmed.(coalition campaigns for charity law overhaul)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CHARITY COALITION: Amnesty international UK, Cancer Research UK, British Red Cross and the NSPCC have been confirmed as four members of a 15-strong coalition campaigning for an overhaul of charity laws. The full list of members will be revealed...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Council launches campaign.(Glasgow City Council campaign to encourage voter registration)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... GLASGOW: Glasgow City Council launches its Vote for Me campaign this week in a bid to increase those signing up to the electoral register. The campaign is launched by the council's youth spokesperson councillor Catriona Renton and comes ahead...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Breakthrough Breast Cancer income rise.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CHARITY: Breakthrough Breast Cancer is claiming a 29 per cent rise in income in its latest figures. The rise to pounds 7.3m from July 2001 to July 2002 has been put down partly to the success of campaigns including Fashion Targets Breast Cancer...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Community Channel line-up.
February 7, 2003... COMMUNITY CHANNEL: The Community Channel's line-up for February includes a week of programming on marriage and relationships from 9 to 15 February, animal welfare from 16 to 22 February and men's health issues from 23 February to 1 March.

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Hospital wins two awards.(Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital wins Institute of Public Relations East Anglia Cream Awards)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... AWARDS: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has won two awards at this year's Institute of Public Relations East Anglia Cream Awards, the Best News letter Gold Award for its publication The Pulse and a Silver Award in the Best Low Budget...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Media relations campaign launches.(Comic Relief fundraising)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... COMIC RELIEF: A media relations campaign launches this week to promote this year's Comic Relief charity fundraising push. Harrison Cowley, which has been hired to handle the campaign, will promote the event - this year themed as 'The Big Hair...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEFS: Greenpeace hires Spring PR.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... ENVIRONMENT: Greenpeace UK has hired Spring PR to support its annual forest conservation campaign for the second year running. This year's campaign includes promoting recycling among two target groups of authors and furniture designers. The...

INTERNATIONAL: FCO holds pitch to assist in rebrand of UK in China.(UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office staging a pitch for public relations agency)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... BEIJING: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is pitching for a PR agency to help run a pounds 10m campaign to rebrand the UK in China. The British government has ordered the comms initiative after recent poll results, which reveal...

INTERNATIONAL: Edelman European president quits.(Rosanna D'Antona to launch her own agency)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... MILAN: Edelman European president Rosanna D'Antona is quitting after 12 years with the group to launch her own agency. D'Antona leaves in March to launch an as yet unnamed PR consultancy to be based in Italy. She said she is in negotiations...

LETTER FROM AMERICA: Planning for crises in business is not a luxury.(Editorial)
February 7, 2003... As shocking survey results reveal that corporate America is still failing adequately to plan for crises, PROs can take the lead in convincing clients to be prepared, writes US commentator Paul Holmes To paraphrase Michael Corleone in The...

INTERNATIONAL: Owens plans wide review of PR in new position at Aventis.(David Owens promoted to head of global product communications )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY: Pharmaceutical giant Aventis has promoted former V-P of global marketing for cardiovascular products David Owens to head of global product comms - the firm's most senior PR post in the US. The position was formerly...

INTERNATIONAL: Ketchum France merges with DDB to raise capability.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... PARIS: Omnicom is merging Ketchum France with the PR operations of sister ad brand DDB as part of a plan to offer clients a full marketing services capability. The merger will see 30-strong Ketchum France relocate to DDB's Paris offices by...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: gsk hires GCI Group.(GlaxoSmithKline has hired firm to handle global communications for migraine product)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... NEW YORK: GlaxoSmithKline (gsk) has hired the GCI Group to handle global communications for its migraine product Imigran. The account, run out of the agency's New York and Chicago offices, will cover all markets where the product is sold,...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: EdF hires director.(Electricite de France hired Philippe Mechet as director of communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... PARIS: French power giant Electricite de France (EdF) has hired Philippe Mechet as director of communications. Mechet was formerly a specialist in opinion polls at Taylor Nelson Sofres and joins from TNS France, where he acted as...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Irish Venture hires external PR.(Irish Venture Capital Association hires Simpson Financial & Technology)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... DUBLIN: The Irish Venture Capital Association has hired external PR support for the first time, hiring Simpson Financial & Technology. The IVCA has tasked Simpson with raising its profile and making it 'the voice of venture capital in Ireland'....

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Affinity chooses Hill & Knowlton.(to handle pan-European public relations and communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... BARCELONA: Spanish pet food Affinity, part of consumer-goods group Agrolimen, has chosen Hill & Knowlton to handle pan-European PR and comms. H&K's Barcelona office will launch a corporate PR campaign and handle international press for...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Philip Morris completes rebrand.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Philip Morris, which owns tobacco firms Philip Morris USA, Philip Morris International and Kraft Foods, last week completed its rebrand to Altria - derived from the Latin word for 'high'. The firm said the rebrand reflected its desire...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Global Action to launch PR tools.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... CYPRUS: PR network Global Action Group, headquartered in Cyprus, is launching three PR tools -Client Empowerment, FeaturesGalore and Press Phile - in March, to help clients get the most out of their PR budgets. The toolkits include guidance for...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: LLC joins International PR Network.(Lisa Lori Communications)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... NEW YORK: US consumer lifestyle agency Lisa Lori Communications has joined International PR Network - a global network of independent PR firms. LLC is one of five agencies to join the 30-strong network, founded in 1995.

MEDIA: McConnell to edit Emap retirement magazine Yours.(Valery McConnell appointed editor of Yours magazine)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Emap has named Valery McConnell as editor of Yours magazine, replacing Neil Patrick who is to retire. McConnell, who previously worked at IPC as deputy features editor of Family Circle, joined Emap in 1997 as editor of Pregnancy and Birth...

MEDIA: Schedule revamp at five.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Terrestrial broadcaster five is set to ramp up its current affairs and factual programming in the coming year. New series of House Doctor, Hot Property and 5th Gear are planned along with a return to the popular documentary strand with...

MEDIA: Music launch for 'disenfranchised' fans.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Future Publishing is to launch new music monthly Bang targeting a 'disenfranchised' market of young rock and roll fans. The magazine aims to tap into the growing market of fans for bands such as The White Stripes, The Strokes and The...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Pratley to join Guardian.( Nils Pratley is to join The Guardian as associate city editor)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... THE GUARDIAN: Sunday Times business columnist Nils Pratley is to join The Guardian as associate city editor. Pratley, who is also a former editor of Sunday Business and TheStreet.co.uk, will concentrate on features and analysis. The Guardian's...

MEDIA BRIEFS: BBC names BBC editor.(Mike MacFarlane appointed BBC London executive editor)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... BBC LONDON: The BBC has named the weekend editor of BBC TV news Mike MacFarlane as BBC London executive editor, covering all the Corporation's London output. He replaces Jane Mote who is to become controller of digital service The Community...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Western Mail reporter appointed editor.(Simon Jones)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... WESTERN MAIL: Western Mail reporter Simon Jones has been appointed editor of North London and Herts Newspapers, which includes titles such as the Enfield Gazette. He succeeds Justine Woods who resigned just before last Christmas. The stable...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Financial Times names correspondent.(Joshua Chaffin appointed Washington business correspondent)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... FT: The Financial Times has named Joshua Chaffin as its Washington business correspondent. Chaffin replaces Peter Spiegel who now covers defence on the paper. Chaffin's brief includes the Justice Department and various business and financial...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Times Newspapers launches magazine.(Sunday Times Travel)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... SUNDAY TIMES: Times Newspapers has launched glossy magazine Sunday Times Travel. The 180-page magazine, which costs pounds 2.95, is produced by River Publishing and is edited by Sunday Times travel section contributor Brian Schofield. Schofield...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Dennis to launch magazine.(Dennis Publishing to target young US moviegoers with new movie magazine)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... MOVIE MAG: Dennis Publishing is to launch an as yet unnamed magazine targeting young moviegoers in the US. The project is being overseen by Dennis Publishing's US president Stephen Colvin who said there was still a market for a magazine...

MEDIA BRIEFS: Sky News to copy Daily Mirror.(female reporting team)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... SKY NEWS: Sky News is hatching a plan to copy the Daily Mirror newpaper's 3am girls through its own team of glamorous female reporters. The three young women are BBC presenters Kate Silverton and Tessa Dunlop along with an unnamed third team...

Blair may regret his stance on the House of Lords.
February 7, 2003... Tony Blair may be losing the argument on war with Iraq, but in Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schroder has been winning his anti-war PR battle - I was in Berlin at the weekend and the only person I met who backed the war was a Brit living there....

EDITORIAL: DTI spotlight can only benefit PROs.
February 7, 2003... Any PR consultant contacted by the Department of Trade and Industry or the IPR as part their joint research project into the state of the industry announced this week should co-operate fully with their work. The more information that can be fed...

DIARY: Morgan joins Wales show to discover bright, young politician hopefuls.(Steve Morgan of Morgan Allen Moore)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Former Al Gore PR adviser Steve Morgan - now MD at Welsh public affairs firm Morgan Allen Moore - has found a novel way to re-engage young people in politics. Morgan is spending his spare time as one of four 'judges' for ITV1 Wales series...

DIARY: Harverson may be on Man Utd's PR side but Baggies' Mace is tops.(Manchester United's PR man Paddy Harverson)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2003... Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion ('The Baggies') may be at the opposite ends of the Premiership but it's pleasing to know solidarity exists between their PR men. During a recent interview on football365.com, Old Trafford PR chief...

DIARY: Special advisers hit by Forth's forthrightness.(Member of Parliament Eric Forth)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Special advisers took a bashing at last week's panel discussion run by the Society of Conservative Lawyers at Portcullis House, Westminster. MP Eric Forth was scathing in his attack: 'If a minister can't do his job without special advisers...

DIARY: Hipwell just may live to regret a PRO's day yet.(James Hipwell departs public relations firm Max Clifford Associates)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Former Daily Mirror City Slicker James Hipwell says he has 'done his time in the wilderness' on news last week of his departure from Max Clifford Associates. After a three-year investigation into share dealing by the DTI, Hipwell is hoping...

DIARY: Biggar's surprise at 40th birthday celebration.(Burson-Marsteller CEO Allan Biggar)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2003... Colleagues and family of Allan Biggar successfully kept the Burson-Marsteller CEO in the dark last week for his surprise 40th birthday party. On the day, Biggar was told by wife Bridget to wear a dinner jacket in the evening, leaving him...

Prodi's chief spokesman takes new EC role.(Jonathan Faull; European Commission)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... European Commission president Romano Prodi's chief spokesman Jonathan Faull is to quit for a non-PR job at the EC. Faull's responsibilities will be split in the wake of his departure, with deputy Reijo Kemppinen stepping up to the top...

Railtrack's Clark joins SABMiller in top PR job.(Sue Clark)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Brewing giant SABMiller has hired former Railtrack PR chief Sue Clark as its first director of corporate affairs. As Clark's appointment was announced this week, she confirmed she is to review the corporate PR and public affairs functions...

Bell Pottinger set to handle brand and PA job for MFI.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... MFI Group - the UK's largest furniture retailer - has consolidated the bulk of its PR work into Bell Pottinger Communications. BPC, which has handled consumer and ad hoc public affairs work for MFI for the past 11 months, has been appointed...

Orange axes corp role as Lewis leaves.(Denise Lewis)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Orange is to scrap its director of corporate affairs post after the departure of Denise Lewis from the role. Lewis leaves next month and her duties, including overseeing a 50-strong team in five departments and a pounds 10m comms and events...

Michael Jackson drafts in advisers.(Bashir interview requires PR effort; Bell Yard Communications)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Michael Jackson drafted in crisis PR advisers last week during the media onslaught following his interview with Martin Bashir. As reported on www.prweek.com (07/02/03) Jackson's UK lawyers called in Bell Yard Communications. Jackson was...

HBOS brings more PR work in-house in strategy move.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Banking giant HBOS has taken a further swathe of its media relations work in-house as Beattie Media completed a notice period this week. Beattie is the third agency to lose out after the group's decision to shun agencies for what Bank of...

UBS sues Sports Mondial over Uefa soccer episode.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Banking giant UBS is suing a hospitality firm for a corporate event that it claims backfired and damaged its reputation. According to a lawsuit filed at the High Court, UBS claims that event organiser Sports Mondial served 'warm beer and...

Warner Brothers hires Booth for Euro role.(Catriona Booth)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Warner Brothers has hired former Brunswick associate partner Catriona Booth as its first Europe-based corporate PR head. Booth has taken the newly created role of international corporate comms director. This role was previously covered by...

DIY giant names Communique to raise awareness.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... Focus Wickes - the DIY giant formed by the merger of Focus Do It All, Wickes and Great Mills - has named northern PR firm Communique as its consumer and corporate PR agency. Communique won the brief after a pitch believed to have included...

STOP PRESS: Tables form available online.(PRWeek League Tables form for 2003)
February 14, 2003... TOP 150: The PRWeek League Tables form for 2003, which consultancies must complete by 7 March to enter the Top 150 rankings, is available online. Consultancies that complete the form are also automatically entered into the range of...

STOP PRESS: Bank of Ireland hires Maitland.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2003... FINANCIAL: Bristol & West parent company Bank of Ireland has hired The Maitland Consultancy after a year-long communications review. Maitland takes the brief from incumbent Smithfield Financial. Agency chairman Angus Maitland and consultant...