PR Week (UK) articles from October 2006

PR Week (UK) archives from October 2006

Borkowski PRO in celeb email spat.
October 6, 2006... Entertainment and consumer agency Borkowski PR has 'disciplined' a consultant for an email gaffe that found its way to inboxes of rival agencies and national journalists. Business development director Adrienne Merrill sent an email last...

Tommy Sheridan brings in fresh media support.
October 6, 2006... Controversial MSP Tommy Sheridan has taken on former Scottish Socialist Party press officer Hugh Kerr as he fights the latest allegations from the News of the World. Kerr has worked as a freelance journalist since 2004, but worked closely...

Former Virgin Atlantic chief joins FirstGroup.
October 6, 2006... Former Virgin Atlantic corporate affairs director Paul Moore has resurfaced at FirstGroup, the UK's largest transport firm, as group PA and comms director. In the newly created role Moore will sit on the Scotland-based plc's senior...

The PowerBook: deadline looms.
October 6, 2006... The PR industry's most influential people have just three days left to complete their questionnaires to appear in the UK's first Who's Who-style directory for the sector. All online questionnaires must be completed by midnight, Monday 9...

Philpotts heads Four's move into entertainment.
October 6, 2006... Four Communications has set up an entertainment arm and lured Paul Philpotts, chief operating officer at global film industry consultancy DDA, to run it. As MD, Philpotts will work with clients in the film, TV and music industries, and is...

Icas wins United Biscuits amid partial agency MBO.(partial management buyout, icas PR)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... United Biscuits has handed its consumer and trade relations account to icas PR, ending an eight-year relationship with Cirkle Communications. The United Biscuits brief sees icas taking over publicity for a range of iconic brands, including...

A1GP puts WS on global account.(Weber Shandwick to promote the World Cup of Motor Sports)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Weber Shandwick is running a multi-country campaign to promote A1GP - billed as 'the World Cup of Motor Sports' - through its 2006-2007 season. The 12-race competition features teams from 25 countries. The second A1GP series kicked off...

Ericsson moots hire for wireless/broadband brief.
October 6, 2006... The world's largest supplier of mobile phone services, Ericsson, is tendering a contract to promote its UK infrastructure business. The brief, which is likely to prove attractive for B2B tech specialists, will see the appointed agency...

McGarahan takes Citigate position.(appointment of Tony McGarahan in Citigate Dewe Rogerson Ltd)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Tony McGarahan, the comms adviser to Equitable Life through the Lord Penrose inquiry, has joined Citigate Dewe Rogerson. McGarahan worked as a consultant for Equitable after its near-collapse in 2000 and subsequent investigations into its...

Hasgrove reveals AIM ambitions.
October 6, 2006... Manchester-based marcoms group Hasgrove is considering an AIM-listing so it can acquire more agencies. Hasgrove, which was formed in 2004, is speaking to financial PR companies about possible representation in the event of a listing. ...

Outside will plug X-Factor winner.(The Outside Organisation, ITV PLC)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Outside Organisation has reclaimed the account to promote the winner of hit ITV pop show The X-Factor, one year after losing it to Neil Reading PR. Outside is retained by Simon Cowell's record label, Syco. It held a similar brief -...

GCI to woo retailers to Heathrow Terminal 5.
October 6, 2006... BAA Retail is to use GCI London to attract retailers - and, when it opens, shoppers - to Heathrow airport's new Terminal 5. The agency will devise an international campaign around the opportunities offered by the landmark project in the...

Royal Carib man quits for Cargill.
October 6, 2006... Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) comms director Paddy MacGregor has resigned to join US agriculture group Cargill. He will become head of corporate comms, Europe and Africa, when he joins Cargill in November, reporting to European comms...

News Brief: BBC moves Kellie.
October 6, 2006... MEDIA: The BBC has moved head of brand and planning Helen Kellie to the new role of head of marketing, communications and audiences for BBC Vision. She effectively replaces former head of TV publicity Vanda Rumney, who has been handed a new...

News Brief: Allen & Overy appointment.
October 6, 2006... CORPORATE: 'Magic circle' law firm Allen & Overy has appointed General Motors' European manager of business affairs David Crundwell as its first global head of comms.

News Brief: Clifford to advise.
October 6, 2006... CRISIS: Comms Bolton Wanderers FC manager Sam Allardyce has drafted in Max Clifford to advise on media handling following the BBC's Panorama investigation into 'bung' allegations, aired last month.

News Brief: Turner questioned.
October 6, 2006... PUBLIC SECTOR: Downing Street director of government relations Ruth Turner was last week questioned by police over the cash for peerages inquiry. Downing Street this week confirmed that she remains in post.

News Brief: Havas suffers drop.
October 6, 2006... AGENCY: Havas, owner of the Euro RSCG brand and Maitland, suffered a pounds 12.8m drop in operating income to pounds 37.7m in the first half of 2006. The figures, affected by its advertising and direct marketing interests, sent shares tumbling...

News Brief: Ridley appointed.
October 6, 2006... CONSUMER: Clogau Gold, the Welsh firm that produced Princess Diana's wedding ring, has appointed Paul Ridley Ltd as its first agency.

News Brief: Adventis profit.
October 6, 2006... AGENCY: Adventis, the AIM-listed group that owns property and financial PR agencies, posted a 52 per cent profit hike to pounds 799,000 in its first-half results. It has earmarked pounds 2m to acquire more agencies.

News Brief: Clarification.(Correction notice)
October 6, 2006... Mastercard Europe head of comms Paul Vandermoere joined from Lufthansa, not from the Association of European Airlines as reported (29 Sep). He had been seconded to the AEA but had returned to Lufthansa briefly before joining Mastercard. AEA...

News: Conservative Party Conference - Tories look to blogging to engage public.
October 6, 2006... From Webcameron to Wideo Video, new media was the talk of the town in Bournemouth earlier this week. Bournemouth was a policy-free zone this week, with the focus of the Conservative Party Conference on the need to present a softer image and...

Ogilvy's James bemoans consultation.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Conservative Party vice-chair Margot James, one of the healthcare comms sector's most influential practitioners in recent years, has slammed the Government over its 'cynical' attitude to public consultation. At an Electoral Reform Society...

CEO urges fresh climate change laws.
October 6, 2006... A FTSE-100 chief executive has called on the Government to update legislation on climate change. Speaking at a Friends of the Earth fringe meeting, Scottish and Southern Energy CEO Ian Marchant said regulation was currently 'input'- rather...

Public Sector: Durham Uni loses stalwart Seacroft.
October 6, 2006... Durham University's long-serving head of media and public affairs has left to pursue freelance interests. After joining in 1986 as an information officer, Keith Seacroft worked to raise the profile of the university. His latter position...

Public Sector: Gallagher leaves Cambridge post.
October 6, 2006... East Cambridge District Council has outsourced its communications to Cambridgeshire County Council following the departure of its press officer, Sean Gallagher. The county council has consequently expanded its team to 12 with the addition...

Public Sector: Milton Keynes strives to 'challenge perceptions'.
October 6, 2006... The much-maligned town of Milton Keynes is to get an image makeover with a three-year campaign to attract businesses and create around 12,000 jobs. The area's investment body, Invest Milton Keynes, wants to counter negative perceptions and...

Public Sector: Acas uses GCI in wake of anti-ageism legislation.
October 6, 2006... The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has brought in GCI following the introduction of age-discrimination laws. A campaign will position Acas as an impartial authority on the legislation, said GCI group account director...

Public Sector: Devon puts waste brief up for grabs.
October 6, 2006... Devon County Council is reviewing agency support for its 'Don't let Devon go to waste' campaign. The drive - which began in October 2002 - will now focus on social groups less likely to recycle, such as young men, and 'low performing'...

Public Sector: Edgar leaves BAE to run Glasgow's comms team.
October 6, 2006... Glasgow City Council has hired former Scottish Labour Party head of comms Colin Edgar to be its head of PR and marketing. Reporting directly to CEO George Black, Edgar oversees a team of 22 at the authority. Edgar - the naval ships...

Public Sector: L'pool promoted in Cannes.
October 6, 2006... Investment body BusinessLiverpool is on the hunt for an agency to promote the city at the world's largest property forum. The city council and private sector joint venture wants to attract investors and raise its profile at Mipim, which...

Public Sector: EC comms report slated for March.
October 6, 2006... The European Commission is planning to publish the findings of its 'Have Your Say' consultation exercise next March. Citizens were invited to give feedback on the commission's 'White paper on a European Communication Policy'. The deadline...

Public Sector: Govt comms staff now feel nervous.
October 6, 2006... As Labour members tremble in anticipation of the looming leadership campaign, parts of Whitehall tremble with fear. A change of leader means changes of ministers - and that's a risky time for Whitehall's communication directors. I vividly...

Voluntary Sector: Marrow donor bid to use TV channel.
October 6, 2006... The Community Channel is launching an appeal to encourage ethnic minorities, particularly black people, to donate bone marrow. The channel will screen documentary Saving a Stranger on 19 October in a bid to highlight the 'desperate...

Voluntary Sector: Mental health body set for awards.
October 6, 2006... The Mental Health Media Awards has brought in its first external PR support in 13 years to boost coverage of this year's ceremony. Furner Communications has been briefed to raise awareness of winning and shortlisted entries and highlight...

Voluntary Sector: Alzheimer's Society lures ex-GMC man for top role.
October 6, 2006... The Alzheimer's Society has enlisted former General Medical Council comms boss Andrew Ketteringham as director of external affairs. Ketteringham joined the Alzheimer's Society on Monday, having left the GMC's director of policy and...

Voluntary Sector: Teachers' TV comms boss joins eye charity Orbis.
October 6, 2006... International eye charity Orbis has lured Teachers' TV comms co-ordinator Hugo Coelho to be its first comms manager. Coelho, who joined Teachers' TV six months ago, said the newly created Orbis role would give him the chance to work across...

Voluntary Sector: BCC links up with fashion retailer.
October 6, 2006... Breast Cancer Campaign has teamed up with boutique fashion brand M&Co, giving it access to the chain's mainly female customer base. As well as selling the charity's sparkly pink jigsaw pins, ribbons and T-shirts, M&Co will promote the...

Voluntary Sector: Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
October 6, 2006... Survivors of breast cancer are fronting Cancer Research UK's All Join Together campaign, launched for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Plastic ducks are on sale at the charity's outlets.

Public Affairs: Neilson to join Periodical Publishers' Association.
October 6, 2006... Kerry Neilson, European PA manager at the Advertising Association, is leaving to become the magazine publishing industry's top lobbyist. Neilson joins the Periodical Publishers' Association on 16 October as director of legal and public...

Public Affairs: Parriss becomes Blueprint partner.(appointments)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... LONDON/BRUSSELS: Blueprint Partners has installed Debbie Parriss, the ex-MD of the former Countrywide Porter Novelli, in a partner and shareholder role. Parriss joined Blueprint around six months ago as an associate. She is now running a...

Public Affairs: Warner leaves Lexington to advise Jowell at DCMS.(Lexington Communications)(director Nigel Warner)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has snapped up Lexington Communications director Nigel Warner to be her special adviser. Warner will become her main aide on comms, as well as providing policy advice, when he assumes the post at the end of...

Public Affairs: Permira to hire as private equity firms criticised.
October 6, 2006... Permira, the private equity firm that owns a number of UK blue-chip companies, has entered talks with PA agencies. The search for PA support comes amid heightened concern that private equity firms are piling debt on the companies they...

Public Affairs: Cemex names PA and CSR director.
October 6, 2006... Cement maker Cemex has raided its trade body, the British Cement Association (BCA), to fill a new director of PA and corporate responsibility for Europe role. Martin Casey left the BCA last month, and has been replaced as head of public...

Public Affairs: WS Belfast man in move to Chambre.(Chambre Public Affairs)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Chambre Public Affairs has signed up Weber Shandwick Belfast account manager Terry McErlane for a newly created senior consultant position. McErlane - who worked on clients including Tourism Ireland and the Police Service of Northern...

Healthcare: Pfizer puts key Lipitor account up for grabs.
October 6, 2006... NEW YORK: Pfizer, the world's largest drugs firm, is reviewing the global PR account for Lipitor, its best-selling drug. PRWeek understands that pitches are set to take place within the next few weeks in New York. The review is certain...

Healthcare: H&K's Noble defects to Edelman.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Edelman has poached Hill & Knowlton managing director of medical comms David Noble. Noble expects to leave H&K later this month before starting at Edelman in early November as head of BioScience International, its medical comms offering....

Healthcare: Chandler Chicco in MMD alliance.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... US-based healthcare consultancy Chandler Chicco Agency has established a 'strategic alliance' with PR and PA outfit MMD. The partnership aims to give MMD - which has 18 offices across central and eastern Europe - greater access to the US...

Healthcare: Clew secures UK Vetmedica brief.
October 6, 2006... Boehringer Ingelheim's veterinary arm Vetmedica has called in Clew Communications to handle trade and consumer campaigns. The London-based health specialist agency is promoting products including Metacam (pain relief for dogs), Vetmedin...

Healthcare: At a Glance - Antisoma ups comms for cancer 'breakthrough'.
October 6, 2006... Why is the biotech company in the news at the moment? Last week it released data from a phase II trial of an experimental lung cancer drug, currently called AS1404. In trials, 34 patients using the new drug on top of a course of...

City & Corporate: Bid for US chip maker lifts purchase group advisers.
October 6, 2006... Finsbury returned to the top of Deal Watch last month after its involvement in the consortium bid for US firm Freescale Semiconductor. The pounds 10bn deal dominates PRWeek's latest chart, with US consultancies Abernathy MacGregor Group and...

City & Corporate: Smith quits Brunswick role.
October 6, 2006... Swiss packaging firm SIG has hired Brunswick, in the week the agency was hit by the announcement that partner Mike Smith is defecting to rival Finsbury. SIG, a 150-year-old firm with a history in sectors as diverse as firearms and tilting...

City & Corporate: FD promotes IPO of potash group.
October 6, 2006... MOSCOW: Financial Dynamics has been brought on board by Uralkali, Russia's largest producer of potash. The firm accounts for around ten per cent of the global production of potash, which is used to make fertiliser, glass and soap. FD's...

City & Corporate: Consultants: how they disappoint us.
October 6, 2006... If management consultants in Britain had any PR sense they would impose a self-denying ordinance to ban any of their number from taking on government work for 12 months. They really would benefit from having a lower public profile. But...

Technology: Power of Digg.com highlighted at ad:tech event.(Digg.com)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... News website Digg.com has become the most influential website of its type, a panel of social media PR experts has declared. The site enables users to send in and rate news articles, websites, blogs and other posts. They are promoted to its...

Technology: LogicaCMG lures Lewis's Fisk for media relations.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... IT services giant LogicaCMG has recruited Lewis PR partner Louise Fisk (nee Metcalfe) to boost its corporate media team. Fisk started last week as corporate media relations manager at London-based LogicaCMG. She is part of an eight-strong...

Technology: Write Image opts for Metia rebrand.(Write Image)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... London-based tech agency Write Image has rebranded itself as Metia. The change to Metia - a word that CEO Steve Ellis conceded 'does not mean anything' - coincides with a relocation of 130 staff from Regent Street to St Martins Lane. Ellis...

Technology: Edelman secures domain account.
October 6, 2006... The organisation that holds the register of domain names for mobile websites has handed a global PR brief to Edelman. CompanyCare Communications previously represented .mobi after winning a seven-way pitch last year (PRWeek, 9 Dec 2005)....

Technology: AxiCom enters Madrid amid Spanish tech boom.
October 6, 2006... LONDON/MADRID: AxiCom has opened an office in Madrid to take advantage of Spain's fastgrowing IT sector. The outpost is the London-based tech specialist's seventh wholly owned office. The others are in the UK, France, Germany, Italy,...

Technology: Telent uses GBCS for B2B support.
October 6, 2006... Telent, which comprises the remains of the former Marconi group, has handed a B2B contract to Nottingham-based GBCS PR. The telecoms service provider, which supplies companies including Cable & Wireless, is seeking to move on from its...

Media Relations: What the Papers say - On-the-spot fine U-turn confuses.(proposal of instant fines for violent crime in United Kingdom)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Proposals to extend on- the-spot fines to include assault and threatening behaviour were unequivocally slammed in the media. 'Fury at instant fines for violent crime,' ran The Daily Telegraph headline (29 September), as police officers and...

Media Relations: Contact Book Update.
October 6, 2006... PRESS Mike Gilson has joined The Scotsman as editor. He was previously editor of Portsmouth's The News. City AM editor David Parsley is taking time off to care for his wife, who has been diagnosed with cancer. He will continue to write...

Media Relations: 2 Minutes with... Simon Caney, Editor-in-chief, Sport.
October 6, 2006... Weekly freesheet Sport launched last week. Does the capital really need it? The freesheet market is changing rapidly - especially in London - but there is nothing like this available. Sport was hugely successful in Paris, where it launched...

Media Analysis: Meet the kings of political blogs.(Conservative Party)
October 6, 2006... The Conservative Party this week hosted a 'blog surgery' at its annual conference, while leader David Cameron has just launched his own blog. Alex Black asks three popular right-wing bloggers what keeps them posting. Whether breaking...

News Analysis: Universities use their brand power.
October 6, 2006... Under new financing rules, universities can now set their own 'top-up fees'. With freshers' weeks now under way, Sarah Robertson looks at the comms techniques used by universities in their bid to attract students. Universities face a...

News Analysis: Belief in CSR work begins at the top.
October 6, 2006... The CEO of Diageo insists that commitment to social responsibility, and the degree to which it is embedded in company culture, must start with business leaders. Astute business leaders should not treat reputation as a 'tick-box hygiene...

Profile: Brand guardian - Shaun Williams, director of corporate affairs, Guardian Newspapers Limited.
October 6, 2006... From dragging a tripod across an Ibizian beach for BBC1's Holiday to replacing David Cameron as director of corporate affairs at Carlton Communications, Shaun Williams's media career has been nothing if not varied. This month - just over a...

Opinion: Tabloid prey need PROs as much as lawyers.(public relations officer)(Column)
October 6, 2006... Britain's stars and celebrities (and yes, there is a difference), princes and politicians, footballers and businessmen are all under a media spotlight of unprecedented intensity. We have the world's most voracious tabloid press, embracing...

Opinion: Cameron's gimmicks reek of Number 10.(David Cameron )(Interview)
October 6, 2006... David Cameron must have cursed his decision to place an 'exclusive' pre-conference interview with The Sunday Telegraph, not only because of the way the paper spun the story, but because it printed the article alongside a poll in which the...

Editorial: No tension between morals and profits.(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... CSR can be a woolly concept, verging on a cliche. Some corporations pay lip-service to it, without ever really connecting with the sentiment. But those attending the Clarion Awards last Friday, of which PRWeek was again an enthusiastic...

Opinion: Letter - We need tech-savvy kids, not the cliches.
October 6, 2006... I was not surprised to read that many PR and comms courses are woefully unprepared for the reality of PR ('PR colleges ill-prepared for new-media explosion,' 22 Sep). From the previews of the latest films and music to the names of...

Opinion: Letter - Stressed? Maybe you need a Samaritan.(Letter to the editor)
October 6, 2006... I was interested to read your feature on stress ('One day - two stories of stress,' 29 Sep). It makes sense that comms jobs are stressful, as PROs need to deliver to deadline. Samaritans' own recent research has found that PR people...

Opinion: Letter - Pun-filled releases are no joking matter.(Letter to the editor)
October 6, 2006... Simon Eden needs to read more newspapers if he imagines that journalists find puns, alliteration or tricksy headlines in a press release appealing (Letters, 29 Sep). Such things just hasten its route to the circular filing cabinet. Sorry,...

Opinion: My Best Hire - Melanie Betts.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Gill Craig, chair of The Whiteoaks Consultancy, on the 'determined' Melanie Betts. 'I interviewed Mel twice. The first time, while I loved her attitude and enthusiasm, I turned her down due to lack of experience. So, in typical Mel...

Campaign: B2B Special - Websites shamed over disabled access - Media Relations.
October 6, 2006... Campaign: Disability web access Client: Nomensa PR team: Immediate Future Timescale: 15 March-31 May 2006 Budget: pounds 8,000 Charities campaigning on behalf of the visually impaired say poor website design contributes to...

Campaign: B2B Special - HR firm reveals sport's impact on staff morale - B2B.
October 6, 2006... Campaign: The Impact of Sport on the UK Workplace Client: Hudson PR team: Fishburn Hedges Timescale: April-June 2006 Budget: Undisclosed OBJECTIVES To position Hudson as an expert commentator on talent management and employee...

Campaign: B2B Special - Chip maker unveils first mobile poly-band tuner - Technology.
October 6, 2006... Campaign: Mirics launch Client: Mirics Semiconductor PR team: EML Timescale: June-July 2006 Budget: Undisclosed When Hampshire-based start-up Mirics Semiconductor developed the world's first poly-band TV and radio tuner - which...

Clarion Awards: Campaigns for the common good.(public relations)
October 6, 2006... The winners of this year's Clarion Awards illustrate the sophistication of modern CSR campaigns. Mary Cowlett assesses a selection of the winners. At last Friday's third Clarion Awards, PR practitioners were recognised for their...

Technology: What can it do for me?(public relations)
October 6, 2006... Robert Gray asks whether PR practitioners could be developing better ways of promoting tech products. 'The speed of technological change' is a phrase frequently used in the media. It creates an image of a fast-paced world in which the...

Diary: PR teams awarded at PRCA's FrontLine.
October 6, 2006... PRWeek had a great time at Tuesday's PRCA FrontLine Awards, compered by director-general and MD Patrick Barrow - clearly in his element centre-stage. Lexis PR swaggered home with four awards, Nelson Bostock Communications won three, while...

Diary: Trade mag weighs up spec firms' PR.
October 6, 2006... Diary found trade title Optician's latest editorial an interesting read, effectively bemoaning the power of Glasses Direct's 'PR machine' in contrast to that of 'behemoth' Specsavers. Glasses Direct, it says, has 'press guru Brian...

Diary: Agency MD saddles up for web channel.
October 6, 2006... Healthcare Solutions MD Sarah Rogers, is - a jodhpur-clad Diary learns - one of the investors in an equine broadband TV channel due to launch this week. Rogers, the horse-loving former Hill & Knowlton director whose Surrey-based agency...

Diary: Rucksack chaos at Bell Pottinger night.(Bell Pottinger Public Affairs)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Diary can report a slightly traumatic end to an otherwise jolly evening last Thursday that saw loads of Bell Pottinger Group bigwigs and PRWeek's editorial team convene for a few drinks at the Covent Garden Hotel. As he prepared to leave...

Diary: Hit or miss... Bereavement Register makes Blunt headlines.
October 6, 2006... James Blunt's song 'Goodbye My Lover' has come first in a poll of songs most requested at funerals. The survey was carried out by Eulogy! on behalf of client The Bereavement Register. The story was pitched initially to national media, but even...