PR Week (UK) articles from November 2006

PR Week (UK) archives from November 2006

Mocked Kazakhs plan PR fightback.
November 3, 2006... As the eagerly awaited film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan goes on general release today, Kazakhstan has confirmed plans to bring in PR agency support. The former Soviet country has been...

B-M cash gaffe: drugs client faces sanction.
November 3, 2006... A top drugs company is to be named and shamed for 'bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in' the pharma industry following a Burson-Marsteller blunder. The action will be taken against Janssen-Cilag, part of Johnson & Johnson,...

UK CEOs best at handling crises.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... UK business leaders are way ahead of their international counterparts in crisis management skills, according to a new report. Businesses in the UK are more likely to offer a public apology in times of crisis and are less likely to 'run for...

Cadbury ushers in Blue Rubicon after sales slide.
November 3, 2006... Cadbury Schweppes, which recalled more than a million chocolate bars this summer, has contracted Blue Rubicon to advise on corporate PR. The move comes as the confectioner looks to put the travails of the past few months behind it: just...

B-M remains silent after ruling.(Burson-Marsteller)
November 3, 2006... Burson-Marsteller opted to remain tightlipped this week after Janssen-Cilag (J-C)'s failed appeal in the cash-for-attendance scandal (News,p1). The agency's acting London CEO Jonathan Jordan told PRWeek he had no comment on the episode...

Gym targets Xmas gorgers.(LA Fitness International)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Gym chain LA Fitness is to use icas PR for a New Year drive to attract and retain customers who have piled on the pounds over Christmas. The six-month brief, won without pitch, will revolve around a 'national health-check' planned for next...

Shortlisted WAR snubs PRide Awards.(Ware Anthony Rust)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The CIPR this week expressed 'disappointment' at Cambridge-based agency Ware Anthony Rust's decision to withdraw from its forthcoming East Anglia PRide Awards. The agency - which is nominated for six awards at the 30 November ceremony -...

Oil firm Total in agency shootout.
November 3, 2006... French oil company Total is reviewing its UK corporate and consumer support, putting five-year incumbent August.One Communications on alert. Total, the world's 12th-biggest company by revenue, is in the midst of an agency pitch process,...

Homebase prepares to call in Yellow Door.
November 3, 2006... Homebase is on the verge of signing up trendy fashion house Yellow Door as it battles a downturn in DIY shopping. PRWeek understands that incumbent agency GCI is destined to find itself out in the cold - despite having been on a four-strong...

Trident gum plots campaign in UK.
November 3, 2006... Trident, the world's second-largest chewing gum name, is on the hunt for UK PR representation as brand-owner Cadbury Schweppes prepares to launch the product in the UK. 'The launch is planned for some time in the first half of 2007, but an...

Fuse snapped up by Weber venture.(Fuse PR has been acquired by Racepoint Group)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Fuse PR has been acquired by North American consultancy Racepoint Group. Racepoint - which is part of Larry Weber's marketing services company W2 Group - acquired the London tech agency this Wednesday. The move follows weeks of...

H&K reviews PiranhaKid's future.
November 3, 2006... Hill & Knowlton this week maintained that its youth marketing agency PiranhaKid is still 'a living part' of its business despite a dwindling headcount. PiranhaKid now has just five staff - who also work on H&K accounts - down from 15...

News brief: Louis Hotels uses MTI Communications.
November 3, 2006... CONSUMER: Louis Hotels, owner of the Corcyra Beach hotel in Corfu where two British children tragically died last week, is using incumbent agency MTI Communications to handle crisis comms. The Cyprus-based chain said it was too early to comment...

News brief: Moussaieff uses Bleach Media for promotion.
November 3, 2006... CONSUMER: Celebrity jeweller Moussaieff has taken on Bleach Media to promote its new flagship Bond Street store. It is targeting wealthy Russian expats, promoting Moussaieff's work with Hollywood A-listers such as Scarlett Johansson.

News brief: Musgrave quits Identity PR.
November 3, 2006... AGENCY: Former Drapers editorial director Eric Musgrave, who joined fashion agency Identity PR earlier this year as director and partner (PRWeek, 2 Mar), has quit after just eight months to return to freelance journalism.

News brief: Passion for the Planet briefs Ideal PR.
November 3, 2006... CONSUMER: Passion for the Planet, the digital radio station that focuses on the environment, has briefed Ideal PR to raise the profile of founder Chantal Cooke. Ideal PR was set up this summer by ex-Hills Balfour Synergy associate director...

News brief: Essien uses Caroline McAteer.
November 3, 2006... SPORT: Chelsea FC midfielder Michael Essien is using celebrity publicist Caroline McAteer to handle UK media relations. McAteer represents Swedish Arsenal stalwart Freddie Ljungberg and former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse.

News brief: Kiss singer uses Beatwax in promotion.
November 3, 2006... CONSUMER: Kiss lead singer Gene Simmons is using Beatwax to promote his new reality show Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, ahead of its UK airing next year. The Sky One show stars Simmons, his wife Shannon Tweed and their two children.

News brief: Hearn and Fawkner-Corbett leave BBC.
November 3, 2006... AGENCY: Julie Hearn and Louise Fawkner-Corbett have left their job-share position as BBC head of pictures to set up picture publicity agency Push Pictures.

News brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
November 3, 2006... In our 29 September issue, PRWeek described Dean Wading as joint MD of TNS. He is in fact deputy MD.

Owen in Lansons digital media job.
November 3, 2006... Former Revolver Communications director Matt Owen has resurfaced at Lansons Communications. He has joined in the newly created role of head of digital media and is briefed to grow the new-media work handled by the agency, which is best...

Borders readies Xmas sales bid.
November 3, 2006... High-street book and music retailer Borders has tasked Brave PR with boosting sales in the pre-Christmas period. The agency's brief is to build brand awareness for both Borders and Books etc stores, and promote in-shop celebrity signings....

West Indies rum group retenders UK contract.
November 3, 2006... BARBADOS: The West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association is to put a contract for UK marcoms support out to tender, following an increase in campaign funds from the EU. The Barbados-based body originally pitched the account 18...

WS brings in first talent director.(Gina Ramson-Williams appointed as a talent director at Weber Shandwick )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Weber Shandwick has created the role of group talent director. The company has hired Gina Ramson-Williams, previously HR director at WPP media-buying agency Mindshare, to take the role. Ramson-Williams effectively replaces HR director...

3 Monkeys lands payroll body brief.(Institute of Payroll Professionals signed 3 Monkeys Communications)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The payroll profession is poised for an image makeover as its trade body prepares to apply for chartered status. The Institute of Payroll Professionals has signed up its first PR agency, 3 Monkeys Communications, in an attempt to 'sex up'...

Queensland plans UK drive.
November 3, 2006... Queensland has taken on London agency Hills Balfour Synergy for a UK brief aimed at boosting visitor spend in the Australian state. The aim is to attract 'sticky money' - travellers and tourists who are likely to spend longer in the area....

WH Smith's Heath in top comms job.
November 3, 2006... WH Smith has promoted its corporate responsibility manager to its most senior communications role. Sarah Heath has been promoted to head of comms and corporate responsibility, replacing former head of comms Louise Evans. The latter quit...

Wales plans Walk of Fame in Cardiff.(Freshwater Group's Hollywood-style Celebrity Walk of Fame )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Freshwater UK is to promote the launch and development of a Hollywood-style Celebrity Walk of Fame in Cardiff. The 'walk' will be launched by Wales's first minister Rhodri Morgan and Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise this Friday. It will...

Horlicks shortlists firms for back-to-basics drive.(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Malted night-time drink Horlicks is seeking help for a back-to-basics campaign, only two years after bringing in Borkowski PR to target younger people. Brand owner Glaxo-SmithKline has shortlisted four agencies for a brief that targets...

Bell Pottinger pulls Ozone into De Facto.
November 3, 2006... Bell Pottinger this week merged healthcare agencies De Facto Communications and Ozone, killing off the latter brand. The new 25-strong consultancy - De Facto Communications - will be run by De Facto CEO Richard Anderson, with Ozone chairman...

Wild Card secures Young's fish brief.
November 3, 2006... Young's Seafood has handed its six-figure consumer PR account to Wild Card. The Grimsby-based company, the UK's largest seafood firm, wants to enhance its reputation as a specialist fish supplier. Wild Card MD Kate Wild said the agency...

Public Sector: NI's Translink in transport review.
November 3, 2006... Northern Ireland bus and rail service Translink is holding a pitch to raise the profile of public transport in NI and improve Translink's image. Incumbent Morrow Communications has worked with Translink since 2000 and intends to repitch....

Public Sector: EC's Washington delegate becomes UK press chief.
November 3, 2006... The European Commission's mouthpiece in Washington Anthony Gooch has relocated to London to become UK head of press. Previously the official spokesman for the EC's delegation in the US, Gooch joined its UK media operation this week. He...

Public Sector: Brahm launches Bradford office.
November 3, 2006... Leeds-based agency Brahm has opened an office in Bradford to help develop its public sector portfolio. The office is located at Velocity Bradford - a business incubator specialising in digital and technology firms - which is funded by...

Public Sector: Warwickshire puts benefits account out to tender.
November 3, 2006... Warwickshire County Council is searching for an agency to improve benefits uptake. The brief, worth over pounds 200,000 annually, will run for three years. An initial awareness campaign for council staff will be followed by an external...

Public Sector: N. Ireland readies food campaign.
November 3, 2006... Invest Northern Ireland (INI) has taken on its first PR agencies to promote the region's food throughout NI, the Republic of Ireland and England. Kavanagh Communications will target UK and RoI grocery trade titles, farming journals and...

Public Sector: Capital campaign pulls in recyclers.
November 3, 2006... More than a quarter of Londoners who saw or read about Recycle Western Riverside's campaign are recycling more, says MORI. The campaign, which kicked off in April, centres around dramatic images of landmarks covered in waste (PRWeek, 28 April)....

Public Sector: Groups attack citizenship class plans.
November 3, 2006... The Government's latest attempt to promote community cohesion has come under fire from pressure groups. Sustainable Families, which campaigns for local authorities to better promote social cohesion, has likened proposed citizenship classes...

Public Sector: Astronomy council puts global brief up for grabs.
November 3, 2006... The body responsible for monitoring the universe and seeking evidence of extra-terrestrials is on the hunt for its first PR agency. The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is to merge in April with sister organisation...

Public Sector: Fireworks warning from London firemen.
November 3, 2006... London Fire Brigade has beefed up its annual firework safety campaign following the introduction of new legislation. The campaign, being handled by an enlarged press team, is reminding residents that firework-related anti-social behaviour...

Public Sector: Politics in London just got interesting.
November 3, 2006... We all have our least favourite TLAs (three-letter abbreviations), but some should never have been created in the first place. Take the ALG, or Association of London Government, as it was until recently called. Not only was this body...

Voluntary Sector: Think-tank lures Guardian's Day.(Julia Day for a new senior comms role Institute of Development Studies)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has snapped up Media Guardian assistant editor Julia Day for a new senior comms role. Day will become head of comms at the IDS Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability...

Voluntary Sector: ActionAid to tackle retail power in fair-trade drive.
November 3, 2006... Development charity ActionAid is planning a major campaign to force UK retailers to increase prices paid to suppliers in developing countries. The charity has commissioned a study into how the buying power of UK shops affects the...

Voluntary Sector: Arts & Business names comms/marketing chief.
November 3, 2006... Arts & Business has snapped up an ex-director of events and branding agency PCI Fitch to become its first comms and marketing director. Sebastian Paul, who joined the charity last month, said he would be looking at how the A&B brand is...

Voluntary Sector: Crimestoppers in Spanish focus.(campaign aimed at UK criminals who are living overseas)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Crimestoppers is launching its first campaign aimed at UK criminals who are living overseas. Operation Captura is focusing on southern Spain's Costa del Sol. Crimestoppers is targeting English-language media, such as weekly Sur, which...

Voluntary Sector: Forster Company in CSR team hire.
November 3, 2006... The Forster Company has appointed Shine Communications' account director Melissa Heyn to join its CSR team. Heyn has joined as projects director and is currently working on The Forster Company's corporate social responsibility briefs. ...

Voluntary Sector:Opera singer's poppy appeal.
November 3, 2006... Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins is the face of the Royal British Legion's 2006 Poppy Appeal. This year's appeal is raising awareness of the legion's work with veterans of recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as previous conflicts....

Public Affairs: Precise nabs Lewis's Booth for top corporate post.(poached Lewis appointed as a director)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Precise Public Affairs has poached Lewis PR head of PA Clive Booth to take the newly created role of director of corporate affairs. He joins on 6 November, reporting to Precise agency chief, director Robbie Macduff. Booth will be part of...

Public Affairs: RSPCA set to hold PA agency pitch.(Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, LLM Communications )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... The RSPCA is reviewing its public affairs account as it seeks to raise awareness of the relevance of animal welfare across the policy spectrum. Head of external affairs David Bowles said the charity wanted to pursue 'links into agendas...

Public Affairs: Steere quits APCO to lead Europe PA drive for MS&L.
November 3, 2006... BRUSSELS: Peter Steere has quit as EMEA director of strategic communications for APCO after just five weeks to spearhead a Europe-wide assault on the public affairs market for Manning, Selvage & Lee. Steere, a Swedish national, joined...

Public Affairs: Parkinson's body brings in Connect.
November 3, 2006... The Parkinson's Disease Society has chosen Connect Public Affairs as it bids to step up its profile among the policy community. Connect will provide the society with strategic advice and parliamentary monitoring services. The move...

Public Affairs: Babcock to make fresh agency hire.
November 3, 2006... Support services firm Babcock is in talks over the appointment of a PA consultancy, having recruited John Gardner to take the new role of head of government relations. Gardner was director of comms at the Chemical Industries Association until...

Healthcare: C&W lands Neocate cows-milk allergy brief.
November 3, 2006... Cohn & Wolfe has wrestled the global account for SHS International's cows-milk protein allergy portfolio from Weber Shandwick after a head-to-head shootout. It will co-ordinate a campaign involving countries such as China that will focus...

Healthcare: Depleted MS&L turns to ex-Solaris MD Carr.
November 3, 2006... Manning Selvage & Lee has hired Peter Carr to bring some stability to its 14-strong London health practice. Carr takes responsibility for UK and international programmes for clients such as Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, Novartis Consumer...

Healthcare: Oraldent picks WAR for Gengigel campaign.
November 3, 2006... Dental products supplier Oraldent is to use the Cambridge-based marcoms agency Ware Anthony Rust to handle a campaign for its Gengigel brand. WAR pitched against undisclosed agencies to win the brief, which will see it promoting fresh...

Healthcare: Illman set to host CIPR health event.
November 3, 2006... 'Patient groups and the pharma industry working together - good or bad PR?' is the topic of a forthcoming debate in London. Former Guardian health editor John Illman will chair the event, which is being convened by the CIPR's Health &...

Healthcare: At a glance - Expert urges action on counterfeit drugs trade.
November 3, 2006... Who is saying what? In a book, Coincidence Or Crisis?, launched last week, Peter Pitts argues that drug companies must do more to tackle the problem of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain. The World Health Organisation claims...

City & Corporate: WPP to roll out Buchanan brand across Middle East.
November 3, 2006... RIYADH/LONDON: WPP is to capitalise on the burgeoning Middle Eastern financial markets by launching its City PR brand Buchanan across the region. The global marcoms group plans to open 15 financial and consumer PR offices under the moniker...

City & Corporate: Cubitt lands Cagney brief.(Cubitt Consulting)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Cagney, the AIM-listed marcoms group run by former Ogilvy & Mather group chairman Paul Simons, has called in Cubitt Consulting as it plots an acquisition spree. Cagney, which boasts Brian MacLaurin Associates' eponymous head as...

City & Corporate: Bumper pay-day for Goldman exec.
November 3, 2006... LONDON/NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs last week promoted its global head of corporate comms to partner status - instantly making him one of the world's highest-paid comms professionals. Former Brunswick staffer Lucas van Praag was one of two dozen...

City & Corporate: The gender game belittles everyone.
November 3, 2006... It is a long time since a company achieved the range and depth of coverage that mining giant Anglo American bagged last weekend following the appointment of its new chief executive,who had been headhunted from aluminium business Alcan. ...

Technology: Teamspirit lands 3V voucher brief.
November 3, 2006... Teamspirit PR is handling next week's UK launch of 3V, a pay-as-you-go voucher scheme aimed at enabling fraud-free online shopping. The agency has sealed a retained one-year contract to promote 3V, which is aimed at teenagers over the age...

Technology: Bite to plug 'green' video conferencing benefits.(Bite Communications, Polycom)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... A video-conferencing firm has brought in Bite Communications to encourage greater take-up of its technology as part of a 'greener' lifestyle. The appointment comes as environmental concern tops the media agenda in the wake of this week's...

Technology: Johnson King scoops biometric security account.
November 3, 2006... California-based biometric security specialist DigitalPersona is to use Johnson King for UK PR. The company has been developing fingerprint identification for computer systems for nearly a decade. This is the first time DigitalPersona...

Technology: Mobile content firm brings in Tion.
November 3, 2006... Red Circle Technologies - which provides ring-tones, music, 'wallpaper' and video for mobile phones - has appointed web marketing and PR outfit Tion London. It is the first time the Dublin-headquartered company has brought in a PR agency...

Technology: Cybertrust hands UK brief to ITPR.
November 3, 2006... Global data security giant Cybertrust has awarded its UK account to Surrey-based agency ITPR. VP Communications had held the account for the past two years. Cybertrust, headquartered in Virginia, with 30 offices worldwide, claims to be...

Technology: Pingu viral targets students.
November 3, 2006... Cartoon character Pingu is featuring in an online campaign that is being aimed at students. In-house PROs at Hit Entertainment, which owns the rights to the cartoon, have created a viral campaign to target students after research showed the...

Media Relations: What the papers say - Madonna lashes out over adoption.
November 3, 2006... Madonna, the self-styled queen of pop, lashed out at the world's media last week in response to the controversy over her adoption of Malawian baby David Banda. 'Madonna slams media over Malawi adoption row' (The Times, 25 Oct). Speaking on...

Media Relations: Contact book update.
November 3, 2006... Press Bliss editor Lisa Smosarski is to edit Emap's More. She replaces Donna Armstrong, who is to edit New Woman Australia. Alison Begbie will be acting editor of Bliss until a permanent replacement is found. Meanwhile, Emma Pryer, former...

Media Relations: 2 minutes with ... Helen Johnston Editor, NW.(Interview)(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Why has New Woman changed its name to NW? I won't beat around the bush - the glossy monthly market is not in the most robust shape, and we are not going to sit by and let the magazine trail off, after 17 or 18 years. So we are reacting by...

Media Analysis: BBC sports rethink divides opinion.
November 3, 2006... Veteran sports news journalist Mihir Bose will start work as the BBC's first sports editor in January. Ahead of his arrival, Adam Hill gauges opinion on his appointment among sports journalists and PR professionals. The BBC's appointment...

News Analysis: Private equity in public offensive.
November 3, 2006... In reaction to mounting criticism over their methods, private equity companies are striving to show that they are good for business. David Quainton reports. One in five Britons employed in the private sector works for a company backed by a...

News Analysis: Mental health NGOs seek sympathy.
November 3, 2006... With high-profile figures such as Alastair Campbell and David Blunkett admitting to battles with depression, mental health is high on the media agenda. But NGOs claim coverage is insensitive, finds Sarah Robertson It is three years since The...

Profile: Stealth bomber - Fraser Hardie, Senior partner, Blue Rubicon.
November 3, 2006... It has been a cracking few days for Blue Rubicon. Not only was it named Consultancy of the Year at the PRWeek Awards last week, but during our interview with the London-based agency's supremo, gleeful squeals and exclamations of 'we won!' can...

Editorial: McCartney divorce is harming all involved.(Editorial)
November 3, 2006... Just what are the communications objectives involved in handling something as sensitive and personal as a divorce? The question persists as the McCartney vs Mills battle reaches its discordant crescendo across tabloids and broadsheets, with...

Editorial: Brown is the new green, thanks to report.(Gordon Brown )(Editorial)
November 3, 2006... Last week, the Tories showed us how not to launch a policy document, and this week, Gordon Brown showed them how. David Cameron has spent most of his time as Conservative leader trying to steal the Lib Dems' thunder by concentrating on the...

Editorial: Why graduates are in need of reality check.(Editorial)
November 3, 2006... Good to see so many consultancies, big and small, upping their graduate intakes this year (The Grads are Back, p 24). And because these consultancies are, on average, picking one candidate from every hundred applicants, the quality of people...

Letter: WS is unwise to plug youth in its ranks.(Letter to the editor)
November 3, 2006... So the new Weber Shandwick is just five years young (advert in PRWeek, 6 October) and beneath this slogan are pictured five attractive people (all over five, but perhaps not yet 30) with incredibly impressive titles and saying incredibly...

Letter: Let those without sin cast the first stone.(Letter to the editor)
November 3, 2006... Your contention that 'Bogus bloggers will always be found out' (Leader, 20 October) made me laugh out loud. If you want to bring tears to my eyes follow it up with a leader headlined 'PR renounces third-party endorsement (TPE) tactics'. ...

Letter: At least I know that I'm not called Toby ..(Letter to the editor)
November 3, 2006... Beware the survey. This technique to gain exposure is increasingly viewed by the media, and indeed the public, with cynicism - and in many cases, disdain. Imagine then, when I read that 'a special study for PRWeek reveals most PROs can be...

Letter: My best hire.
November 3, 2006... Emma Wright, MD of icas PR, on the 'enthusiastic' Holly Porter 'Holly joined icas PR's B2B corporate team in 2000 as a senior account executive. Right from day one we were all bowled over by her boundless enthusiasm, especially for the...

Campaigns: CIPR pride awards 2006/07 scotland.(The Omega 3 Group, 3x1 Public Relations )
November 3, 2006... Winner: best use of media relations Omega 3 Group puts oily fish on the menu Campaign Heart Healthy Omega 3 Client: The Omega 3 Group PR team 3x1 Public Relations Objectives To explain why oil-rich fish can reduce the risk of...

Campaigns: CIPR Pride Awards 2006/07 Scotland.(Edinburgh Council, In-house )
November 3, 2006... Winner: Issues & crisis management Edinburgh keeps calm as G8 protest descends Campaign: The G8 Summit Client: The City of Edinburgh Council PR team: In-house Timescale: March-July 2005 Budget: pounds 150,000 Bob Geldof publicly...

Campaigns: CIPR Pride Awards 2006/07 Scotland.(Pagoda Public Relations, Electoral Commission )(Brief article)
November 3, 2006... Winner: Public sector programme Speed-dating SMPs get to meet the electorate Campaign: Introducing Scotland to Political Speed Dating Client: The Electoral Commission PR team: Pagoda Public Relations Budget: Undisclosed The issue...