PR Week (UK) articles from March 2007

PR Week (UK) archives from March 2007

Outside installs first agency MD.
March 2, 2007... The Outside Organisation - the agency best known for its work with stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Naomi Campbell - has recruited its first MD. The appointment comes as the agency bids to handle more consumer brand work....

McDonald's puts faith in staff as brand voice.
March 2, 2007... McDonald's - notorious for giving rise to the phrase 'McJobs' - wants to make its frontline staff 'brand ambassadors' - and will not discourage workers from blogging. Nick Hindle, the firm's UK PR chief, told a major conference this week:...

Grayling poaches Nestle press chief.
March 2, 2007... Nestle chief press officer Jayne Bassham has quit to join PR agency Grayling, working on its sprawling account for rival confectionery giant Masterfoods. Nestle produces brands including Smarties and KitKat, and Masterfoods' brands include...

Porter Novelli recruits Honor to run consumer arm.(Neil Honor)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Former Communique PR managing director Neil Honor has resurfaced at Porter Novelli with a remit to strengthen its UK consumer offering. Reporting directly to UK MD Jean Wyllie, Honor has taken the role of director of consumer marketing. ...

Eight agencies secure slots on first TfL roster.(Transport for London)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Transport for London (TfL) this week unveiled an eight-agency PR roster that will provide the body with external comms support over the next four years. Five agencies were chosen for a consumer and corporate roster and another three for a...

Independent's Kelner lauds Branson for response.
March 2, 2007... The Independent editor-in-chief Simon Kelner has hailed Sir Richard Branson's handling of the Virgin Trains derailment as 'genius PR'. Speaking at PRWeek's PR and The Media conference on Tuesday, Kelner said: 'Branson took the story away...

Tetra Pak bids for green credibility.
March 2, 2007... Swedish packaging firm Tetra Pak has brought in global corporate support as it looks to stress its green credentials. Tetra Pak - which is one of the world's largest packaging companies for milk, juices and other drinks - has hired Golin...

Walker becomes Hogarth director.(Hogarth Partnership appoints Julian Walker)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Julian Walker, the Gainsborough founder who rejected a move to College Hill, has joined Hogarth. Walker, who co-founded the now-defunct Gainsborough with Andy Cornelius and Duncan Murray, becomes a Hogarth director. 'Hogarth is now...

H&K ranked top agency brand.
March 2, 2007... Hill & Knowlton and Weber Shandwick are among six PR agencies that have been ranked as 'B2B superbrands'. The survey by global branding authority Superbrands put the agencies just two positions apart, in 365th and 367th respectively. The...

Mining giant Rio Tinto bolsters media team.
March 2, 2007... Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest mining group, has recruited Christina Mills to oversee global media relations. Mills joins the Anglo-Australian mining firm after ten years heading media relations at various major UK banks. She...

WS on New Orleans tourism brief.
March 2, 2007... NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau has brought in PR agency Weber Shandwick to help it woo tourist dollars. The city is battling to get back on its feet after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in...

News brief: InterContinental Hotels in hunt for director of comms.
March 2, 2007... Corporate: InterContinental Hotels Group is on the hunt for a director of comms for its London Park Lane Hotel. Previous comms director Rupa Haria left after just three months. InterContinental Hotels declined to comment

News brief: Appointment at United Nations.
March 2, 2007... Public affairs: The United Nations has appointed a new under-secretary-general for comms and public information. Kiyotaka Akasaka is currently deputy secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

News brief: Hamleys takes on Resonate.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: Hamleys has taken on Resonate after a three-way pitch The agency will focus on luring people to the Regent Street store at significant times such as Easter. Previously, Colman Getty promoted its Toy Awards, now part of Resonate's...

News brief: Barr Soft Drinks hires Staniforth.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: Barr Soft Drinks has hired Staniforth for the relaunch of Tizer later this month. The reformulated drink will contain ten per cent fruit juice. Staniforth is working with sister advertising agency BDH\TBWA and was appointed without a...

News brief: Redundancy at Opodo.
March 2, 2007... Corporate: Opodo has axed its pan-European head of comms post as part of a company-wide reorganisation. Gail Sinden has taken voluntary redundancy after five years in the role and left the company last week

News brief: Cadbury Trebor Bassett enlists Sputnik Communications.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: Cadbury Trebor Bassett has enlisted Sputnik Communications to promote Bournville, the first time the dark chocolate brand has used a dedicated agency

News brief: Banyan Tree Hotels ends relationship.
March 2, 2007... Corporate: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has ended a five year relationship with BGB Communications. The hotel developer has moved its UK PR operations in-house and appointed BGB account director Hannah Cadwallader to the newly created role of...

WestLB lures Bassett for top London post.
March 2, 2007... German investment bank WestLB has brought in Richard Bassett - an ex-Smithfield and Brunswick executive - as its head of corporate comms in London. Bassett, who joins from his own consultancy Norfolk Financial, replaces John Godfrey, who...

Thompson in MSN consumer move.
March 2, 2007... Microsoft's consumer internet business MSN UK has recruited Hazel Thompson, previously Yahoo! head of UK PR, to handle its consumer comms. Thompson joins MSN later this month in the role of consumer PR manager She will report to an as-yet...

Ed Intelligence to broadcast online.(Editorial Intelligence)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Editorial Intelligence, the networking group that created a media stir when it launched a year ago, is to venture into web TV. Its broadcasts will feature founder and CEO Julia Hobsbawm interviewing commentators including respected foreign...

Elton readies Euro tour.
March 2, 2007... Communique PR has signed a deal to promote Elton John's 'The Red Piano 07 Tour' when it comes to Europe in May. 'The Red Piano' is one of Las Vegas's most famous shows, performed regularly at Caesar's Palace. The European tour will perform...

News Brief: Appointment at WPP's Young & Rubicam Brands.
March 2, 2007... Agency: WPP's Young & Rubicam Brands - the marcoms grouping overseeing Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe - has hired ex-HSBC Holdings head of group marketing Peter Stringham as CEO. He replaces Ann Fudge, who retired last year

News Brief: TNS Media Intelligence acquires Cymfony.
March 2, 2007... Acquisition: TNS Media Intelligence this week announced from New York that it has acquired Cymfony. The 11-year-old company, based in Boston, US, is billed as an 'innovator in combining traditional and social media research and analysis'

News Brief: IncrediBull Ideas promotes magazine.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: IncrediBull Ideas is promoting a new men's lifestyle magazine that will hit the shelves next week. Switched On is being launched on 9 March by Trojan Publishing, publisher of the relaunched Penthouse, which IncrediBull also promotes

News Brief: City & Guilds brings in Cow PR.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: City & Guilds has brought in Cow PR as it plans to expand into new territories and markets. The vocational qualifications body recently hired Blue Rubicon for corporate comms (PRWeek, 23 February)

News Brief: Avance Group appoints GCI London.
March 2, 2007... Corporate: GCI London has been appointed by international outsourcing specialist Avance Group. The agency will provide press office support and strategic comms advice

News Brief: Mensah to use Frank PR.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: Notting Hill boutique Mensah is to use Frank PR - its first retained agency - to build the brand's profile. The agency was appointed without a pitch

News Brief: Mason Media launches campaign.
March 2, 2007... Consumer: Mason Media has launched a campaign for Energy 69. The agency is promoting the drink to trade and consumer audiences in the UK and selected overseas markets

Teletext readies brand overhaul.
March 2, 2007... Teletext has asked Taylor Herring to promote a major brand overhaul this month. The firm is keen to raise awareness of product innovations, including better TV services, mobile-based content and a revamped online presence (see Media...

Unilever enlists Kaizo for Flora 'heart health' drive.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Kaizo has landed a lucrative pan-European strategic comms brief with Flora. The London-based agency has been brought in on a retained basis by brand owner Unilever. The account is believed to be worth in the region of pounds 300,000. ...

Porter Novelli nets BA in North America.
March 2, 2007... New York: British Airways has selected Porter Novelli as its first agency of record for North America, following an eight-month search. PN - which already advises the airline in the UK - will work with BA on consumer, corporate, crisis and...

Public Sector: Haringey consults over car charges.
March 2, 2007... Haringey Council is consulting residents over proposals to implement controversial parking permit charges. The extended consultation started on 1 March and will run for six weeks Consultations typically last for three weeks. During...

Public Sector: Lambeth fills interim director job.
March 2, 2007... Lambeth Council this week appointed an interim director of campaigns and communications. Helen Coleman, previously a consultant for the Department of Health's National Healthy Schools Programme, will sit in the role for five months while...

Public Sector: Local govt expert Heaton takes Leics agency role.
March 2, 2007... Local government veteran Peter Heaton has joined Encore PR to beef up its public sector offering. Heaton has been head of comms at six county councils in the UK and joins Encore as senior PR consultant. He will work alongside director...

Public Sector: Procter takes senior Staffordshire comms post.
March 2, 2007... Staffordshire County Council has brought in freelancer Jenny Procter as head of comms and marketing for its Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate. Leading a team of six, Procter reports to head of directorate management support...

Public Sector: Munro & Forster bolsters team.
March 2, 2007... Munro & Forster Communications has recruited a brace of staff to its public and voluntary sector practice. Geronimo senior account manager Sam Morley has joined the agency as an account director. She reports to interim head of practice...

Public Sector: Breastfeeding PR stunt.
March 2, 2007... A group of St Helens women have been knitting breasts in a campaign to raise awareness among new mothers of the importance of breastfeeding The Helena Housing tenants have knitted the woolly boobs, which are used by breastfeeding trainers and...

Public Sector: Skills body readies website campaign.
March 2, 2007... The Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) is to bring in a consultancy to raise awareness of its learning and skills sector web portal. The Excellence Gateway - at excellence.qia.org.uk - aims to supply workers in the learning and skills...

Public Sector: Humberside Police beefs up comms department.
March 2, 2007... Humberside Police Force has trebled the size of its comms function in a bid to tackle its ailing reputation. Boosting the team from four to 12, the force has introduced its first staff dedicated to PR. Director of marketing and PR...

Public Sector: LSC North-West ends six-way pitch.(Learning Skills Council)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... The recently created Learning Skills Council (LSC) for the North West has brought in Preston-based The Write Angle PR and Marketing. The agency scooped the 18-month contract after a six-way pitch. The brief will see it raising the profile...

Public Sector: Councils better off bypassing media.
March 2, 2007... Running council communications must be a very frustrating experience at the best of times, and no more so than in London. As the latest annual figures from the Audit Commission show, not only does the capital have some of the...

Voluntary Sector: First agency hire for Manc hospice.
March 2, 2007... St Ann's Hospice in Greater Manchester has taken on its first agency. Golley Slater has been briefed to secure support from the corporate sector. The agency will also seek to capitalise on St Ann's current relationships with...

Voluntary Sector: Hepatitis C Trust targets students.
March 2, 2007... The Hepatitis C Trust has brought in agency support for a star-studded campaign to warn students of the dangers posed by the disease. Youth specialist Making Waves has been appointed by the trust - the only charity in the UK to focus...

Voluntary Sector: Redhead set to handle comms for Centrepoint.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Centrepoint has enlisted agency support as its policy and comms director takes maternity leave. Redhead PR has bagged a 12-month contract to handle strategic comms for the homelessness charity. While the Covent Garden-based agency will...

Voluntary Sector: ActionAid to put women's rights in the spotlight.
March 2, 2007... International development group ActionAid is gearing up for its first campaign focused on International Women's Day. The charity wants to raise awareness of the fact that women's rights are often not upheld in developing countries. These...

Voluntary Sector: Anthony Nolan to beef up marcoms.
March 2, 2007... The Anthony Nolan Trust is on the hunt for its first-ever marketing and comms director as it bids to raise its profile. The appointee will be responsible for stakeholder and media relations, taking charge of a four-strong marcoms team. ...

Voluntary Sector: Art Matters.
March 2, 2007... Children's charity NCH is hosting its annual Art Matters exhibition at the National Gallery in London. The scheme, run with Ernst & Young, showcases work by vulnerable young people. The paintings will be on display until 20 May

Public affairs: Save the Children in rethink after Weir departure.(Fiona Weir resigns)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... The top lobbyist at Save the Children has left and is looking for a new role in climate change or human rights. Fiona Weir quit the charity last week after five years as director of policy and comms, reporting to CEO Jasmine Whitbread. The...

Public affairs: 'Stop Smoking' in pre-launch hire.
March 2, 2007... The trade body representing professionals whose job is to help people quit smoking has brought in its first public affairs adviser. The newly formed British Association for Stop Smoking Practitioners (BASSP) has hired Munro & Forster...

Public affairs: Senior Murdoch lobbyist quits for ad industry role.
March 2, 2007... One of Rupert Murdoch's top lobbyists has left to oversee public affairs for the advertising industry. Jonathan Collett has quit his job as public affairs manager at News International to join the Advertising Association in the specially...

Public affairs: Gaming consultancy enlists start-up Open Road.
March 2, 2007... An international gambling consultancy has appointed start-up agency Open Road. It has been given a wide-ranging brief covering public affairs and media relations work. Global Betting and Gaming Consultants has brought in the agency as...

Public affairs: Physics body fills top comms post.(Institute of Physics Publishing appoints Beth Taylor)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... The Institute of Physics has appointed Beth Taylor to oversee media relations and public affairs. Taylor will join in April as director of comms, responsible for positioning the institute as the leading authority on physics. She will lobby...

Public affairs: Whitehouse nets ex-Finland aide.(Whitehouse Consultancy appoints Paula Pohja)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... The Whitehouse Consultancy has boosted its European nous with the appointment of a former adviser to the European Parliament. Paula Pohja joins Whitehouse after working in Brussels as assistant to the 100-strong Finnish Permanent...

Healthcare: Bausch & Lomb picks Tonic Life for Euro brief.
March 2, 2007... Bausch & Lomb has pulled its European account out of Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster and handed the business to Tonic Life Communications. The eye-care company's move comes around a year after Tonic lured Yvonne Mitchell from Biss Lancaster to a...

Healthcare: Lilly UK in restructure after Wake resigns.
March 2, 2007... Lilly UK comms manager Dominic Wake, a well-known figure in pharmaceutical PR, has left the company - and apparently quit the pharma sector altogether. Wake, who has worked at Lilly for just under three years, is now - according to PRWeek...

Healthcare: ABPI turns to FH on 'price' reform.
March 2, 2007... The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is using Fishburn Hedges to advise on how it should react to planned reform of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. FH is providing media relations and public affairs...

Healthcare: DermaSalve enlists agency to boost brand.
March 2, 2007... British skincare specialist company DermaSalve has brought in its first agency support to help boost brand awareness and its number of stockists. The Newcastle upon Tyne-based company appointed Haslimann Taylor after a three-way pitch. The...

Healthcare: At a glance - Pharma ups comms after OFT brickbats.
March 2, 2007... Hasn't the Office of Fair Trading just criticised the pharma industry? Yes, it suggested last week that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) - which caps the profits of drug companies on brands they sell to the NHS - needs to...

City & Corporate: Kroll swaps rival-owned FD with twin WPP team.
March 2, 2007... Risk consultancy Kroll has handed a combined corporate and financial account to two WPP agencies. Hill & Knowlton and Finsbury won the brief following a combined pitch. The pair's victory sees an end to Kroll's 12-month relationship...

City & Corporate: MS&L in Manchester move.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Capital MS&L has opened its first northern office in Manchester - breaking the London-centric trend of financial PR shops. The office is designed to help the firm better serve its clients that are based, or have a substantial presence, in...

City & Corporate: Musgrave leaves Smithfield post.(College Hill Associates appoints Sara Musgrave who resigns from Smithfield Companies Inc.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Smithfield director Sara Musgrave has joined the resurgent College Hill - taking some of her 15 clients with her. Musgrave joins College Hill as partner, jointly heading its technology, media and telecoms division alongside Adrian Duffield....

City & Corporate: British banks need to get personal.
March 2, 2007... I was once based in New York City, where I experienced the appalling treatment of customers that passed for 'service' from Manhattan's banks. When I returned to London I vowed never to be nasty about British banks again. But with each...

Technology: Edelman to offer analyst service.(Edelman London)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Edelman's London office is to launch a dedicated analyst relations service badged Edelman Affinity. The move comes four months after the agency recruited Jonny Bentwood as head of analyst relations from Metia - formerly Write Image...

Technology: Red prevails in McAfee repitch.(Red Consultancy)(McAfee.com Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Santa Clara, CA: The Red Consultancy has managed to hold on to its global McAfee account after the computer security firm staged a major review. Red's London office has co-ordinated all of McAfee's PR programmes and agencies across EMEA...

Technology: Amazon cements partnership with Idea Generation.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Amazon has rolled its entire UK PR brief into Idea Generation. The move comes as the online retailer - best known for selling books, DVDs and music - looks to broaden awareness of what can be bought on the site. Amazon has previously...

Technology: Yahoo! hands bulk of UK work to Hill & Knowlton.
March 2, 2007... Yahoo! has handed almost all its UK business to Hill & Knowlton. As broken on PRWeek.com this Monday, the appointment sees the internet firm part ways with Bite Communications, Brands2Life and Cohn & Wolfe. Yahoo! remains the world's...

Technology: EDM picks Harvard to spearhead comms campaign.(Electronic Document Management Group)(Harvard Public Relations)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... EDM - Electronic Document Management - has handed its entire UK B2B brief to Harvard. The firm, which processes 750 million documents a year, wants to highlight how the company's aspirations have changed under new senior management. ...

Technology: Kinross & Render in Exradia drive.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Kinross & Render is handling the launch of a new technology billed as being proven to protect people from the potentially harmful effects of radiation emitted by mobile phones and other wireless devices. London-based Exradia has appointed...

Media Relations: What the Papers say - Permira boss left to defend PE solo.(Permira Advisors)(Damon Buffini)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Damon Buffini, managing partner of private equity group Permira, spoke out in defence of his firm and his industry last week. Why? To calm 'the growing political storm' over the role of this 'burgeoning but secretive industry' (The...

Media Relations: Contact Book Update.(Daily Mail and General Trust appoints Harry Mount)(Business AM promotes Rupert Steiner)(Drinks International appoints Christian Davis)
March 2, 2007... PRESS George Parker, Brussels bureau chief at the Financial Times, is returning to London to succeed James Blitz as political editor. Blitz is to move to another senior role, yet to be announced. Parker's replacement has not been...

Media Relations: 2 Minutes with... Clare Alstin, Deputy editor, Stylefinder.com.
March 2, 2007... - This is the first time Conde Nast has launched an online title not affiliated to one of your print magazines. What are you setting out to do? Stylefinder is an online shopping and style guide for high-street and designer fashion and...

Media Analysis: Teletext makes a fresh connection.(Teletext Communications)
March 2, 2007... Teletext is rebranding this month, with enhanced TV services, access via Freeview and an online entertainment presence for the first time since 2004. Adam Hill finds its journalists also want to hear more from PR people. Teletext, the TV...

News Analysis: Can Coke regain favour in the UK?
March 2, 2007... With Weber Shandwick out, Coca-Cola is hunting for a replacement UK corporate agency. David Quainton assesses the challenges faced by the iconic brand. Coca-Cola is not just the UK's top-selling grocery brand - it is the world's...

News Analysis: Banks fall silent amid charges row.
March 2, 2007... Investigations into the legality of bank charges are seriously damaging the reputation of high-street names such as HSBC and NatWest David Singleton looks at how the industry is dealing with the tide of negativity. The silence of big banks...

Profile: Englishman in New York - Jonathan Sanchez, global chief communications officer, Euro RSCG Worldwide.(Interview)
March 2, 2007... New York City-based Jonathan Sanchez was in London last week, and put aside a couple of hours for PRWeek's interview. But all did not run smoothly. A courtesy call to his secretary before we meet reveals that Sanchez has had to suddenly...

Opinion: A certain princess still haunts the Royals.
March 2, 2007... In the week it was revealed that Prince Harry was going to war, royal headlines were again dominated by Princess Diana. A decade after the Paris car crash, the eternally iconic People's Princess was the subject of DVD giveaways, wall-to-wall TV...

Opinion: Branson keeps his public image on track.
March 2, 2007... Sir Richard Branson is a one-man PR machine and there is probably no public figure outside of politics who is more in tune with the demands of the media. But last week, Britain's favourite business tycoon probably faced the toughest test of his...

Editorial: 'Old' and 'new' media show mutual respect.(Editorial)(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... PRWeek's annual PR and The Media conference earlier this week featured the most diverse array of opinion formers to date. Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of The Independent, gave an impassioned defence of old media; James Montgomery, editor...

Opinion: Letter - Don't give applicants too high expectations.(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... I was not surprised by the results of the PRCA FrontLine Survey ('Survey finds most junior staff planning to quit PR', 16 February). The struggle to encourage junior executives into long-term careers is a trend that spans most marketing...

Opinion: Letter - Social media crucial part of comms mix..(Brief article)
March 2, 2007... Michael Bennett misses the point about social media when it comes to their value for PROs ('Not all of us are part of the blog revolution', 16 February). Yes, we know professional media aren't dying off completely, and Bennett's numbers...

Opinion: Letter - ...and are also read by 'traditional' hacks.
March 2, 2007... It seems to me that Michael Bennett's assertion that not all of us are part of the blog revolution rather misses the point. Blogs may not be read by many consumers, but they are read by key influencers who (you guessed it) influence those...

Opinion: Letter - No surprises from the latest women's mag.
March 2, 2007... 'We've just spent the past 18 months talking to 18 to 30-year-old women, and what they really want from a magazine boils down to two things: celebrities and high-street fashion,' reveals Look editor Ali Hall (2 Minutes With, 9 February). ...

Opinion: ViewPoint.
March 2, 2007... Cohn & Wolfe UK MD Geoff Beattie says more PR agencies need to realise that 'content creation' is the future of the industry. In the video-clip, he argues that advances in technology have created opportunities for PR agencies to create...