PR Week (UK) articles from November 2003

PR Week (UK) archives from November 2003

Luther snaps up big guns Granatt and Buckby.(Luther Pendragon appoints Mike Granatt and Simon Buckby to join the consultancy as partners)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Luther Pendragon has lured head of Government Information and Communications Service (GICS) Mike Granatt and former campaign director of Britain in Europe (BiE) Simon Buckby to join the consultancy as partners. The pair will take up their...

Sainsbury's hires DTI veteran for top PA role.(Erica Zimmer, J Sainsbury PLC formerly of U.K. Department of Trade and Industry)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Sainsbury's has appointed Erica Zimmer, principal private secretary to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, as its top lobbyist. Zimmer joins the grocery retailer from the DTI at the end of January as head of public affairs and...

Govt pitches brief to push domestic violence helpline.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The Government is tackling domestic violence in the run-up to Christmas, with the launch of a telephone helpline for abused women, and is staging a pitch for PR support. COI Communications has shortlisted Band & Brown Communications, The...

Faliraki acts to abandon loutish image.(retains Doug Goodman Public Relations and the Saltmarsh Partnership)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Governors and hoteliers on the Greek island of Rhodes have drafted in PR support to restore its reputation as a family holiday destination, after the severe image battering over the summer of the resort town Faliraki. Travel specialists...

Future Tory leader Howard set to add Vaizey to his team.
November 7, 2003... Consolidated Communications board director Ed Vaizey is being lined up as a speech writer for Conservative Party leader-in-waiting Michael Howard. Although sources close to Vaizey insisted no formal job offer had been made by Howard's...

Former ASLEF media boss takes on T&G comms role.(Transport and General Workers Union appoints Andrew Murray)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) has appointed former ASLEF media and communications officer Andrew Murray as director of campaigns and communications. Murray replaces the T&G's previous comms chief Karen Livingstone, who quit...

Nasdaq consolidates European PR.(Nasdaq International briefs Gavin Anderson to handle relations with financial media and clients across Europe)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Nasdaq International, the world's largest electronic stock market, has pooled its European comms into a single account and handed the work to Gavin Anderson. The US technology exchange company, which will shut its Brussels-based...

BT Wholesale hires H&K to handle enlarged brief.(BT Wholesale Markets appointed Hill & Knowlton as sole public relations adviser for its consolidated business-to-business and broadband product account)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... BT Wholesale Markets has appointed Hill & Knowlton to be sole PR adviser for its consolidated B2B and broadband product account. H&K secured the account in a pitch against Lewis, Bite Communications and Band & Brown Communications, the...

Red or Dead label appoints Iroquois for clothes launch.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Red or Dead, the UK shoe brand started by fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, has hired Iroquois to spearhead the launch of its first clothing range in eight years. Iroquois was appointed this week to handle PR around the roll out of Red or...

STOP PRESS: Portillo speaker at forum.(Calendar)
November 7, 2003... PRWEEK FORUM: Former defence secretary and Tory leadership contender Michael Portillo has been confirmed as a speaker at the PRWeek Forum, which takes place from 24 to 27 November at the Oxford Belfry. For further information please contact...

STOP PRESS: Motorola denies Firefly speculation.(denied speculation it is to retain incumbent agency Firefly Communications on its UK public relations account)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... TECH: Motorola has denied speculation it is to retain incumbent agency Firefly Communications on its pounds 300,000 UK account. The company claimed it was still in discussions with PR firms, including its EMEA adviser Hill & Knowlton, as part...

STOP PRESS: Magnetic PR picks up accounts.(for Bridge the World and cruise liner Norwegian Coastal Voyage)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CONSUMER: Magnetic PR has picked up accounts for Bridge the World and cruise liner Norwegian Coastal Voyage, to run specialist travel campaigns for five-figure sums. Magnetic PR was launched last June and specialises in niche travel and...

STOP PRESS: Weber Shandwick/GJW appoints Smith.(Weber Shandwick/GJW Public Affairs has appointed Toren Smith as account director)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... APPOINTMENT: Weber Shandwick/GJW Public Affairs has appointed Toren Smith, a Lambeth Labour Councillor, as account director. Smith was recruited from the PPS Group, where he worked as an account director for four years.

STOP PRESS: Ocean Power brings in Buchanan.(Ocean Power Technologies retains Buchanan Communications)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... FINANCE: Ocean Power Technologies, the first wave energy company to list in the UK, brought in Buchanan Communications for the pounds 26 m-listing of the company on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) last Friday. Director Bobby Morse led...

STOP PRESS: McCollough joins Cubitt.(Huston McCollough has joined the international advisory board of Cubitt Consulting)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... APPOINTMENT: Former Merrill Lynch International co-head of investment banking, EMEA, Huston McCollough has joined the international advisory board of Cubitt Consulting. McCollough, who retired from Merrill Lynch in 2001, is advising the...

STOP PRESS: Villeroy & Boch appoints Parker Hobart.(ceramic manufacturer Villeroy & Boch UK appointed Parker Hobart Associates to its main public relations account)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CONSUMER: Ceramic manufacturer Villeroy & Boch UK, has appointed Parker Hobart Associates to its main PR account. The agency will handle PR for its tableware division and bathroom, kitchen and tile division.

STOP PRESS: Sports Awards establishes new category.(Sports Industry Awards: Best Use of Public Relations in a Sport Campaign)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... AWARD: The Sports Industry Awards has established a new award category: Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, including PRWeek executive editor Gidon Freeman. Entries for the award must be in by 9...

August.One hires Firefly's expert in analyst relations.(August.One Communications appoints Asid Mushtaq from Firefly Communications)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... August.One Communications has hired Firefly Communications analyst relations specialist Asid Mushtaq to head up its analyst team. The move comes as the company moves to consolidate its consumer and technology offering, after the merger with...

Microsoft shores up security with a Symantec expert.(Richard Saunders appointed)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Microsoft has hired Richard Saunders, communications chief at internet security firm Symantec, to bolster its PR efforts in the areas of computer security and corporate social responsibility. Saunders has joined Microsoft as corporate PR...

Tesco drops consumer agency Wonderful.(Wonderful PR)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Tesco has parted company with consumer agency Wonderful PR after six years, calling the end to an account understood to be worth around pounds 400,000. 'We had a very good relationship with Wonderful PR and were very happy with their...

Blood pressure drug puts Merck Sharp & Dohme top.(Cozaar public relations; includes Pharma Focus Anti-Hypertensives statistical table)
November 7, 2003... Merck Sharp & Dohme's Cozaar achieved the highest level of awareness among GPs out of eight drugs to combat high blood pressure in PRWeek's Pharma Focus. AstraZeneca/Takeda's Amias, Novartis's Diovan and BMS/Sanofi's Aprovel also achieved...

IPC talks to agencies over Loaded tenth anniversary.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Magazine publisher IPC is in talks with PR agencies over plans to promote the tenth anniversary of flagship men's monthly Loaded, which falls in May 2004. IPC senior press officer Edwina Jenner said: 'We are exploring opportunities for...

Conduit cuts PR21 ties after 11 88 88 lags competition.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Conduit, the Ireland-based directory enquiries company that operates the 11 88 88 service, has ended its relationship with PR21 as it struggles for survival against The Number and BT. A PR21 spokeswoman said the agency had come to the end...

Third of agencies facing a financial crisis says report.(public relations firms U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... A third of UK public relations consultancies face financial difficulty, a new survey claims. The analysis, carried out among 1,000 PR consultancies by financial publisher Plimsoll Publishing, suggests the estimated 4.1 per cent wage...

Match.com goes international with key appointment.(appointed Nigel Sharman as director of international public relations)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... US online dating agency Match.com has appointed Nigel Sharman as director of international PR. His promotion comes just six months after he was appointed to the newly created role of European PR manager. Sharman will be responsible for...

Blackwell's hires Morello for 125th anniversary year.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Academic book retailer Blackwell's UK has appointed its first external PR agency to oversee its 125th anniversary year in 2004. Morello has been hired after a three-way pitch for a range of projects to celebrate the book chain's history....

Canon signs up stars to help the Red Cross.(Canon Europe)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Canon Europe has signed up 80 international celebrities from the worlds of fashion, sport, music and film for a glitzy publicity campaign in which all proceeds go to the Red Cross. The stars, who include Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss, Nicole...

Tele2 launches assault on BT over cheapest UK calls.(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Swedish telecoms company Tele2 has launched a PR push that aims to show up BT as an expensive dominant player and position itself as a consumer champion. Tele2 hired Mantra last month to spearhead its UK launch. Mantra is working on the...

Kazoo wins UK brief for Sony digital TV.(Kazoo Communications, Sony (U.K.) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Sony UK has appointed Kazoo Communications to handle its nationwide integrated digital television consumer campaign. The brief includes marketing, trade and consumer PR activity, and will begin in March 2004 and run until June. Fees are...

Hogarth secures Marakon account to push UK profile.(Hogarth Partnership, Marakon Associates)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... International management consultancy Marakon Associates has appointed Hogarth Partnership its first PR adviser in an attempt to raise its profile among UK companies. Hogarth beat Gavin Anderson, Cubitt Consulting and GCI to the work last...

Mauritius Island Cruises hires McCluskey.(McCluskey & Associates International)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Mauritius Island Cruises, the luxury cruise line, has hired McCluskey International to promote its launch as it bids to be the first company to offer cruises purely around the island. The first seven-night cruise is due to sail on 9 February...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Richmond council prepares for end of comms review.(Richmond upon Thames, England)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Troubled London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has completed its best value review of communications, according to Westminster City Council head of comms Alex Aiken, who is on part-time secondment to the borough. Aiken leads Richmond's...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Aguilera supports SE domestic abuse push.(Christina Aguilera, Scottish Executive)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The Scottish Executive (SE) has drafted in pop singer Christina Aguilera to support its domestic abuse campaign. Aguilera, whose song OK draws on her own experience of 'living in a war called home' with a violent father, has pledged a...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Prostate Cancer Charity searches for director of PR.(public relations)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The Prostate Cancer Charity is looking for a new director of fundraising and PR to replace Phillip Wilson, who is leaving at the end of this month to become director of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Wilson's...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Govt campaign targets holiday makers.(United Kingdom Passport Service; report lost, stolen passports)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The UK Passport Service has hired TV travel show celebrity Jeremy Spakes to spearhead a national media relations campaign to highlight the Home Office's revamped procedure for reporting lost and stolen passports. The campaign - overseen by...

PUBLIC SECT0R: York on the hunt for head of marcoms amid PR revamp.(York, England)(marketing and communications)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... City of York Council has started a recruitment drive for its top PR job, along with three other key posts. The successful candidate will replace former head of marketing and communications Helen Edwards, who left to become head of comms for...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Meningitis Trust begins campaign.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CHARITY: The Meningitis Trust has begun a pre-Christmas campaign to raise funds in 24,800 primary schools. It will send out information packs to schools suggesting how children can raise money for the charity. The charity's Support for Life...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Glasgow City Council illuminations.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... GLASGOW: Glasgow City Council will promote its illuminations on the Victoria, Glasgow and George V bridges over the Clyde river from the 30 November. Council leader Charlie Gordon said: 'These bridge illuminations form an important part of the...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: EA Media Consultancy launches website design service.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... DESIGN: EA Media Consultancy has launched a website design service to help Christian organisations communicate more effectively. The new bespoke service aims to provide Christian charities, organisations and churches with high-quality websites...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Skybridge to support Michael McGrath.(the first disabled person to travel to North and South Poles)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CHARITY: Marcoms agency Skybridge is to support muscular dystrophy sufferer and businessman Michael McGrath in his bid to be the first disabled person to reach the north and south poles. The pole2pole event will inaugurate a campaign by the...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Hyndburn Council praised for efforts.(public relations U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... LANCASHIRE: Lancashire-based Hyndburn Borough Council has been praised for its internal communications and media relations efforts over the past 12 months in a review by consultant PPS. However, PPS account director Richard Evans said: 'There...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Train journey for puppy walker awareness.(Guide Dogs for the Blind Association)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CHARITY: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association organised a train journey in the Severn Valley last week to raise awareness of the work of the body's volunteer puppy walkers. The Severn Valley Railway's guide dog express ran from...

INTERNATIONAL: EU pitches pro-euro campaigns for 2004.(European Union)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... BRUSSELS: The European Union is staging a pitch for PR support for a 2004 campaign to promote the euro in the countries that will join the EU next May. Peter Blackie, head of the information and communication unit at the European...

INTERNATIONAL: Banque de France chief to steer comms team at ECBo.(Elisabeth Ardaillon-Poirier, director of communications, European Central Bank )(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank (ECB) has appointed Elisabeth Ardaillon-Poirier as director of communications. Ardaillon-Poirier joined the Frankfurt-based institution this week from her role as executive director of press and...

INTERNATIONAL: Weber Shandwick secures Pfizer brief.(Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Pfizer Inc. launch of Inspra)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Pfizer has appointed Weber Shandwick to handle PR for the US and European launches of its heart failure treatment Inspra. Manning Selvage & Lee and Ruder Finn also pitched for the contract, which is Weber Shandwick's second from...

INTERNATIONAL: Industry veteran to lead all comms at General Motors.(Tom Kowaleski, communications)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... DETROIT: Tom Kowaleski, vice-president of General Motors North America communications, has been appointed to head all the firm's communications from next January. Current vice-president of communications Steve Harris, who had considered...

INTERNATIONAL: Edelman finance head in Financial Dynamics US role.(Hollis Rafkin-Sax)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... NEW YORK/CHICAGO: Financial Dynamics has appointed Edelman global MD of financial communications Hollis Rafkin-Sax as vice-chairman of US operations. The move is the latest by the UK-based agency to grow its franchise in the US since the...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Further speakers for PRWeek US conference.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Further speakers have been announced for PRWeek US's upcoming healthcare conference, Pharma PR: The Real Direct-to-Consumer. Novartis Oncology executive director of global PR Gloria Stone will join a discussion on the impact of...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Endesa names Nadal.(Empresa Nacional de Electricidade, Fernando Nadal )(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... MADRID: Spanish power utility company Endesa has named Fernando Nadal as its head of external relations for Spain and Latin America, replacing Elias Ramos, who retired last month. Nadal will report to corporate comms chief Gabriel Castro, who...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Stearns Johnson to launch.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO: Former Golin/Harris International executive Tim Johnson is launching his own firm, Stearns Johnson, targeting consumer, financial, tech and professional services clients. Johnson was formerly worldwide director of G/H's tech...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Greenwell joins Fleishman-Hillard.(Mike Greenwell)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... ATLANTA: Mike Greenwell, former director of public affairs and community relations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's agency for toxic substances and disease registry, has joined Fleishman-Hillard as senior vice-president.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Rabel advises Iraqi journalists.(Ed Rabel)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... BAGHDAD: Veteran TV journalist and PR executive Ed Rabel has been in Baghdad giving media training advice to Iraqi journalists. Rabel works for Science Applications International Corporation, a contractor that is attempting to establish a...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Interpublic Group appoints Gardner.(Heide Gardner)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... NEW YORK: The Interpublic Group has appointed Heide Gardner in the newly created role of director of diversity. Gardner will work alongside senior management at agencies such as Weber Shandwick and Golin/Harris, to boost ethnic minority...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Skyy hires PR & Co and Rose Group.(Skyy Spirits L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO: Skyy Spirits, which makes Skyy Vodka, has hired PR & Company and The Rose Group to manage its PR. The former is handling corporate and product PR, while Rose is overseeing entertainment-related PR.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Greene makes first director of comms.(Vicki Greene, Massachusetts Biotechnology Council)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Former Weber Shandwick Boston life-sciences practice vice-president Vicki Greene has been made the first director of comms at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

MEDIA: C4 News revamps science coverage with Nature writer.(Channel 4 News appoints Tom Clarke)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Channel 4 News has appointed Tom Clarke as science correspondent with a brief to bring a 'fresh perspective' to coverage. He replaces the programme's long-standing science expert, Andrew Veitch, on 1 December. Clarke will contribute both...

MEDIA: Herald beefs up business.(Sunday Herald)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Scottish broadsheet the Sunday Herald has appointed Ken Symon as business editor as it prepares to boost its coverage of the sector. Symon, who had been freelancing for the Financial Times, is a former business editor of The Scotsman and...

MEDIA: MacUser poaches PCW deputy editor.(Personal Computer World, Nik Rawlinson)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... MacUser magazine has appointed Nik Rawlinson as editor. He joins from Personal Computer World, where he served as deputy editor for three years, and replaces Ian Betteridge who has now gone freelance. 'MacUser is an ideal platform for PR...

MEDIA BRIEF: EducationGuardian to be redesigned.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... THE GUARDIAN: EducationGuardian, the Tuesday G3 supplement of The Guardian, is to be redesigned from next week. Education editor Will Woodward says the new-look section will provide better-targeted help for teachers and give more prominence to...

MEDIA BRIEF: Sutcliffe publishing director of Future.(Andy Sutcliffe appointed publishing director of Future Publishing's London-based magazines)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... FUTURE PUBLISHING: Andy Sutcliffe has been made publishing director of Future Publishing's London-based magazines. The newly created role covers Total Film, T3, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Hi-fi Choice, United and Bang. He reports to Future...

MEDIA BRIEF: Quintessentially Magazine to be launched.(by Luxury Publishing)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... QUINTESSENTIALLY: Quintessentially Magazine, a spin-off from the private members club of the same name, is to be launched in February 2004 by Luxury Publishing. The quarterly title will go to 4,000 members worldwide and will be sold on...

MEDIA BRIEF: FT.com launches news alert service.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... FT.COM: Financial Times website FT.com is launching a news alert service based on key words chosen by subscribers. Emails on a company, business sector or individual that users have signed up to will be sent as news breaks. FT.com's two tiers...

MEDIA BRIEF: Official Xbox Magazine promotes Ogden.(Gavin Ogden appointed)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... FXM INTERNATIONAL: Official Xbox Magazine has promoted news editor Gavin Ogden to deputy editor. Ogden, who also runs the magazine's website, previously worked for games news portal FGN Online. The editor is Stephen Brown and the publisher is...

MEDIA BRIEF: Mother@work goes live.(online magazine)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... MOTHER@WORK: An online magazine targeting working mothers has gone live. Mother@work offers practical advice on family life, according to editor Denise Tyler, who also set up the site. The emphasis of the site is on women returning to work or...

MEDIA BRIEF: NME makes Needham deputy editor.(music weekly appointed former associate editor Alex Needham deputy editor)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... NME: IPC music weekly NME has made former associate editor Alex Needham deputy editor. Needham left Smash Hits in 1999 to become features editor of The Face before joining NME two years ago. He has also written for the Evening Standard's ES...

OPINION: St Michael will need Tory turncoats to dress him.(Michael Howard, Conservative Party (United Kingdom))
November 7, 2003... In 1997, when Michael Howard stood for the leadership of the Tory party, his campaign was about as successful as that of blue coke. Howard finished last, just about mustering double figures. The Daily Telegraph said at the time that he gave...

EDITORIAL: Productivity is key to successful firm.(public relations consultancies)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... UK PR consultancies need no reminding that the last three years have been pretty horrific, but if any further proof of this were needed, Plimsoll Publishing's research published this week - putting close to one in three firms on what it...

EDITORIAL: Public image is T&G's big challenge.(Andrew Murray appointed)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 7, 2003... Received wisdom says ten per cent of the reputation of trade unions is to do with how effectively they campaign, and 90 per cent is to do with how often they disrupt people's lives with strike action. Typically, therefore, they are very popular...

ANALYSIS: Royal Family botches PR over Burrell.("A Royal Duty" by Paul Burrell)
November 7, 2003... As former Royal butler Paul Burrell's book hits the shops and the dignity of the Royal Family, Adam Hill canvasses former palace insiders for their views on how the royals can salvage their increasingly battered reputation Damaging...

ANALYSIS: Are industry awards a key to greater things?(public relations industry)
November 7, 2003... PR industry awards are hailed as the pinnacle of professional achievement by some, but taken with a pinch of salt by others. So does an award influence future success? Hangover cures close at hand, on the morning after last week's PRWeek...

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Under Attack.(corporate public relations)
November 7, 2003... The worst thing you can do when your company is faced with a crisis is let employees find out from the media. Lexie Williamson reports on how best to prepare staff for difficult times Imagine you're on your way to work. You've tuned in the...

CAMPAIGNS: Audience hits 17m for return of 'Dirty Den' - Entertainment PR.(EastEnders public relations campaign by British Broadcasting Corp.)
November 7, 2003... Client: BBC PR Team: In-house Campaign: The return of Dirty Den to EastEnders Timescale: June-October 2003 Budget: approximately pounds 5,000 Yet younger viewers, whom all soaps are trying to cultivate, had no real idea of who he...

CAMPAIGNS: Pharmacists look beyond health press - Media Relations.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
November 7, 2003... Client: Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain PR Team: In-house Campaign: Raising brand awareness of the British Pharmaceutical Conference and Exhibition Timescale: July-September 2003 Budget: approximately pounds 5,000 ...

CAMPAIGNS: Florette Salad Week boosts season sales - Consumer PR.(Clarion Communications retainer)
November 7, 2003... Client: Florette PR Team: Clarion Communications Campaign: Launch of the first Florette's National Salad Week Timescale: April-July 2003 Budget: Understood to be five figures Objectives To gain mass consumer awareness of...

PROFILE: Richard Peel, Audit Commission - An angry leader who is unafraid of conflict.(United Kingdom)
November 7, 2003... Richard Peel is planning a new comms strategy at the Audit Commission There is something strange about veteran BBC and Independent Television Commission PRO Richard Peel leaving the glamour of broadcasting to join the Audit Commission, the...

DIARY: From balls to the size of people's tips, PR people really can talk funny.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... It was thoroughly enjoyable mingling with guests at last week's PRWeek Awards. Launch PR managing director Johnny Pitt and his fiancee, Butlins PR manager Rebecca Caradine, were spotted propping up the first-floor bar and saluting former...

DIARY: Financial Times keeps in the pink with a wrap on its Hong Kong block.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... The Financial Times is extending its marketing penchant for wrapping objects in its pink pages by surrounding its new Hong Kong offices in similar news print. The daily has stretched more than 20,000 square feet of fabric over the building it...

DIARY: IDS studies media page career developments.(Institute of Development Studies)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Scouring the appointments pages of a national newspaper, Diary was stumbled upon this gem: 'Communications Manager: IDS seeks an experienced professional to manage and take forward (its) ambitious communications programme... previous management...

DIARY: Ex-husbands could be key to Howard's return.(Michael Howard)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... PROs at Conservative Central Office hope Michael Howard's confirmation as leader heralds a turnaround in the party's fortunes. As he bids to take over at Number 10, Howard will be hoping for a little reputational change himself. He might...

DIARY: Major laughs for the satirist's change of voice.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Tory Party leaders come and go, but their chief satirists endure through the ages. Just two hours after the ousting of Iain Duncan Smith last Wednesday night, impressionist Rory Bremner was entertaining the 1,300-strong throng at the...

Calls for action after state of industry survey.(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... The results of the largest survey into the state of the PR industry for a decade have been unveiled this week. Unlocking the Potential of Public Relations: Developing Good Practice, a report jointly funded by the Department of Trade and...

Orange pitches its PA remit with new focus.(public affairs)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Orange is staging a pitch for its public affairs account in a review that threatens to end its six-year relationship with Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn (LLM). Eight firms submitted written submissions last week, in the opening stages of the...

Godson leaves his bank job to set up shop with Murray.(Rory Godson, Goldman Sachs and Co.; John Murray)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Goldman Sachs director of corporate affairs Rory Godson is quitting after just a year in the job to launch a financial PR shop in partnership with ex-Telewest director of policy and communications John Murray. The pair boast strong media...

Tories axe spin doctors in surprise cull.(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... The Conservative Party has axed at least three of its top PROs as new leader Michael Howard seeks to stamp his authority on its PR machine. The casualties include director of strategic communications Paul Baverstock, media director Nick...