PR Week (UK) articles from October 2007

PR Week (UK) archives from October 2007

Boris will sack PROs if he wins.
October 5, 2007... Tory London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has pledged to slash the number of PROs working for the mayor. Johnson made a barnstorming address to the party faithful at a fringe meeting at this week's Conservative Party conference. He...

Sky begins agency review.
October 5, 2007... BSkyB is looking for a new agency to help it connect more positively with consumers and aid its corporate goal to boost subscriber numbers. Ketchum, the agency that has worked on Sky's consumer PR for the past three years will not be...

H&K brings in Smith to boost corporate pharma work.(Hill and Knowlton UK)(Stuart Smith)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Stuart Smith, the former Edelman UK CEO who was squeezed out in April, has resurfaced at rival agency Hill & Knowlton. Smith joins on 1 November as chairman of corporate and healthcare UK, a position specially created for him. Smith will be...

Motorola rejigs its comms team after departures.
October 5, 2007... Motorola has restructured its communications team following a raft of departures earlier this year. The loss-making mobile phone company has promoted Stephanie Forrest, PRmanager for its network infrastructure division, to global head of...

Edelman division moves into producing content.
October 5, 2007... Edelman is moving into territory traditionally inhabited by advertising agencies with the formation of a new division devoted to creating and distributing content. Dubbed 'Contentment', the unit will also use PR to amplify the activity....

Agency to boost Tokyo's 2016 bid.(Weber Shandwick)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Weber Shandwick is to provide public relations support for Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. The agency will develop a global comms strategy for the Tokyo 2016 bid committee. The pitch was led by Weber Shandwick's Tokyo office...

Imperial Tobacco UK shifts account to its own team.
October 5, 2007... The world's fourth largest international tobacco company has taken its UK trade PR account in-house, parting ways with long-term agency Publicasity. Imperial Tobacco UK denied the move indicated that the company is scaling down its...

Hogarth begins search for suitor.
October 5, 2007... City agency The Hogarth Partnership has been put up for sale by its six shareholders, led by managing partners Chris Matthews and John Olsen. The board plans to review its options in a 'structured' manner, with the hope of finding a...

Freud's Mahon defects to Iris.
October 5, 2007... Freud Communications' deputy creative director has left the firm to join Iris PR as board director. Laura Mahon, who joined Iris this week, becomes one of three board directors at the agency, and has a new-business remit. Iris, which...

ACAS brings in GCI as strike action mounts.(Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)(GCI Group Inc.)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), seen as the final route to avert strike action, has brought in GCI as its first retained agency. The appointment comes as the service deals with a resurgence in strikes. ACAS...

Agencies ally to aid biofuels body.
October 5, 2007... The body representing the UK's renewable energy suppliers has called in agency help to increase public support for biofuels, seen as an important means of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Phil Hall Associates and public affairs agency...

News Brief: Severstal brings in FD.
October 5, 2007... CITY: Russian steel giant Severstal has brought in FD to advise on a hostile approach for London-listed gold-mining firm Celtic Resources The agency was hired after Celtic rejected Severstal's initial bid last week.

News Brief: Frank PR enlisted.
October 5, 2007... CONSUMER: Iconic US footwear brand Steve Madden has enlisted Frank PR as it launches in the UK. The brand is a favourite of actresses Darryl Hannah and Kirsten Dunst, and singer Rihanna

News Brief: BSkyB poaches chief.
October 5, 2007... IN-HOUSE: BSkyB has poached the London Stock Exchange's public affairs chief to fill its top lobbying post. David Wheeldon replaces Martin Le Jeune who left to help set up the Open Road consultancy earlier this year

News Brief: Sauce division.
October 5, 2007... CONSUMER: Restaurant PR outfit Sauce Communications has opened a brand division, headed by ex-Red Consultancy director Hannah Norris. The division's wins include fresh spice company Mighty Spice and Rick Pott's Imaginative Cuisine

News Brief: Dilmah Ceylon tea appointment.
October 5, 2007... CONSUMER: Dilmah Ceylon tea has appointed Van Communications to help it launch in the UK this month. A four-strong team will focus on positioning Dilmah as 'fairer than fair trade'

News Brief: Nolan sets up agency.
October 5, 2007... AGENCY: Former Harrods spokesman Conor Nolan has set up a boutique marketing and media relations agency in Cornwall. Nolan was previously personal spokesman and marketing co-ordinator for Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed

News Brief: OXO takes on MCG PR.
October 5, 2007... CONSUMER: US kitchen gadget company OXO has taken on MCG PR for its UK launch. To promote the firm, whose tongs are used by Nigella Lawson, the agency plans to 'tap into the British love of good food'

News Brief: Pork Farms appoints Finn.
October 5, 2007... CONSUMER: Pork Farms has appointed Leeds-based Finn to handle a word-of-mouth and PR programme, following a three-way pitch

News Brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
October 5, 2007... Severn Trent public affairs manager Andrew Marsh arrived at the end of June from the Consumer Council for Water, not Ofwat where he worked five years earlier (PRWeek, 28 September)

PR boss Ahmed to leave Domino's.
October 5, 2007... The PR chief at Domino's has resigned, bringing to an end a 12-year association with the pizza delivery brand. Bernadette Ahmed, UK PR and comms controller for the US-listed firm, will go freelance next year and is hunting for her...

Zavvi calls in Borkowski to boost Virgin takeover.
October 5, 2007... Virgin Megastores' new owners have turned to Borkowski PR as the entertainment chain prepares to rebrand as Zavvi later this month. Zavvi completed a management buyout of the brand, including the iconic Piccadilly Circus store in London,...

Skoda mounting digital campaign.
October 5, 2007... Digital comms specialist Reading Room has been brought in to boost Czech car brand Skoda's online clout. Skoda has hired the agency to promote it as a 'manufacturer of happy drivers' through a digital campaign. Reading Room will relaunch...

Public Sector: Geronimo to plug DCSF Diploma.
October 5, 2007... The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has selected Geronimo PR to handle a campaign to promote the new Diploma qualification for young people. Geronimo was appointed following competitive pitches throughout July, managed...

Public Sector: Energy Savings Trust steps up light bulbs drive.
October 5, 2007... The Energy Saving Trust is ratcheting up comms activity to promote the use of energy-saving light bulbs. The move has been prompted by environment secretary Hilary Benn's announcement last week of plans to phase out of inefficient bulbs by...

Public Sector: OGC snares BBC comms chief for top media role.
October 5, 2007... The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), the unit that handles purchasing for the Government, has brought in a BBC comms chief as its new head of media relations. Liam English will target national and local press as part of the OGC's comms...

Public Sector: LGDC to review comms strategy.
October 5, 2007... The chair of the recently formed Local Government Delivery Council (LGDC) has said it will need to 'think very clearly' about its communications strategy to ensure it has 'real legitimacy'. Tameside MBC chief executive and LGDC chair Janet...

Public Sector: Cambridgeshire to offer health checks on buses.
October 5, 2007... Cambridgeshire County Council has launched a campaign to offer free health checks on board its new park and ride buses. The 'heart and ride' campaign, launched on 27 September, follows the pounds 2.8m purchase of a new fleet of 21 greener...

Public Sector: CIPR awards ceremony recognises excellence.(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Norfolk Council wiped the floor at this year's CIPR Local Government Group awards, clinching five gongs, including the coveted Communicator of the Year award. The council also scooped Best Consultation Campaign, PR on a Shoestring and Best...

Public Sector: Wake up call on partnerships.
October 5, 2007... The Audit Commission's senior comms account manager Mike Browne warned conference delegates that changes to the way in which councils are assessed should not be ignored by PROs. The comprehensive performance assessment is being replaced by...

Public Sector: CIPR slams eClips cash cow.
October 5, 2007... The director general of the CIPR led a barrage of criticism of the Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA) in a heated debate at the conference about charges for reproducing newspaper content. Colin Farrington accused the NLA - which offers...

Public Sector: Local politicians should talk politics.
October 5, 2007... It will need the combined thoughts of both our profession's representative bodies if the now-ageing Publicity Code is to be relevant in the 21st century. That sums up the theme of three speakers at the CIPR (Local Government Group)...

Voluntary Sector: Peers reveal best lobbying method.(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Four out of five peers claim that face-to-face meetings in Westminster are the best way for charities to make contact with them, according to a survey by think tank nfpSynergy. The not-for-profit research consultancy's latest Charity...

Voluntary Sector: Citizens Advice in comms revamp.(Simon Bottery, Sarah Miller and Mark Atkinson)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... A restructure at Citizens Advice has seen three senior comms roles scrapped. Director of comms Simon Bottery will leave at the end of the year, while head of media Sarah Miller has just taken up the head of news post at the Charity...

Voluntary Sector: Commission to overhaul charity campaign rules.
October 5, 2007... The Charity Commission is proposing changes to its guidance on campaigning that will clarify the types of activities that charities can undertake. The regulatory body is currently consulting a group of charities about its suggested...

Voluntary Sector: RNIB's McDonald takes Diabetes UK top comms job.
October 5, 2007... Diabetes UK has lured Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) news group manager Paul McDonald to head its comms department. As head of press, McDonald leads a team of six and is also responsible for the six-strong web team. ...

Voluntary Sector: Save the Children reveals chairman.
October 5, 2007... Alan Parker, founder and chairman of Brunswick, is to replace Nick MacAndrew as chairman of Save the Children's board of trustees in 2008. MacAndrew said: 'Alan's long-standing commitment to the voluntary sector, coupled with his business...

Voluntary Sector: Charity has delegates in a spin.
October 5, 2007... Children's charity 4Children called for an end to the 'life chances lottery' at last week's Labour Party conference. Delegates were invited to sign up to its eight-point manifesto, displayed on the back of a roulette wheel to illustrate the...

Public Affairs: AMEC drops Good Relations to follow O'Keefe.(James O'Keefe)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Good Relations has suffered a setback after losing a major client to the new lobbying shop set up by its former public affairs supremo James O'Keefe. Engineering giant AMEC informed Good Relations MD Teresa-Ann Dunleavy of its decision to...

Public Affairs: Abrahams quits LLM for Ofcom.(David Abrahams)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... FD-LLM is to part company with yet another of its senior staffers, with partner David Abrahams the latest lobbyist to head for the exit door. Abrahams is quitting public affairs altogether and will take a policy-focused role at Ofcom,...

Public Affairs: Lloyds TSB reviews PR in complex environment.
October 5, 2007... Lloyds TSB is reviewing its public affairs agency requirements, putting incumbent Edelman on alert. The move comes weeks after the bank brought in ex-Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) official Rosa Wilkinson to oversee public...

Public Affairs: Novartis seeks agency to support drug launches.
October 5, 2007... Drugs firm Novartis is on the hunt for a public affairs agency as it prepares to launch a record number of medicines. The Swiss-owned company is poised to hand out a wide-ranging brief covering all aspects of its work. It has contacted six...

Public Affairs: LDA brings Fisher in for new role.(London Development Agency)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... The former long-serving top lobbyist at Royal Mail this week resurfaced at the London Development Agency (LDA), set up by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to drive sustainable economic growth in the city. Mick Fisher quit Royal Mail at the end...

Public Affairs: PAC looks closer at lobbyists role.
October 5, 2007... The Public Administration Committee is considering who to call to attend oral evidence sessions this autumn, after receiving a raft of written submissions to its lobbying enquiry. The deadline for interested parties to submit written...

Healthcare: Agencies pour scorn on Tory drug pledge.
October 5, 2007... Agencies have reacted with scepticism to Tory plans to speed up drug approval processes in the UK. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley this week hit headlines by pledging that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence...

Healthcare: Clark to head C&W UK health arm.
October 5, 2007... Former Cohn & Wolfe (C&W) UK healthcare joint MD Jeremy Clark has returned to the UK to head up the agency's healthcare arm. Clark is back in the UK less than one year after relocating to the US He will not resume his role as joint MD but...

Healthcare: Edelman pair to bolster health.
October 5, 2007... Edelman has bolstered its healthcare division with two appointments as it continues to expand its London team. The agency has brought inthe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence senior medical editor Jaimella Espley, who...

Healthcare: Just Health nabs Cancer UK PRO.
October 5, 2007... Independent healthcare shop Just Health has poached Cancer Research UK's science press manager to boost its consulting team. Nick Stewart joins the healthcare agency as a consultant and will work across the agency's existing clients, which...

Healthcare: At a Glance - DoH flu jab campaign targets youngsters.
October 5, 2007... Flu jabs are just for old people, right? That is certainly the perception. But this year, the Department of Health's annual flu campaign, launched last Friday, recommends that you should also get the jab if you have a serious heart or...

City & Corporate: Maitland claims top spot for sluggish September.(Maitland and Associates Inc.)
October 5, 2007... Maitland has grabbed top spot in this month's Deal Watch after an uncharacteristically slow September saw no agencies break the pounds 10bn barrier. The last month, which has seen fluctuating world markets and the Northern Rock crisis in...

City & Corporate: Fox promises BSA review.(Mark Fox)(Business Services Association)(British Venture Capital Association)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Mark Fox, the director of comms and public affairs at the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) will conduct an agency review when he becomes chief executive of a lobby group for outsourcing companies next month. He also plans to...

City & Corporate: Fishburn Hedges win npower work.
October 5, 2007... Npower has handed a corporate and financial brief to Fishburn Hedges. The agency was brought in to handle UK financial media and corporate announcements for the RWE-owned firm because its activities affect so many UK investors and...

City & Corporate: BA's green route is no new departure.
October 5, 2007... When British Airways announced its biggest new aircraft order for a decade late last month, the press release was unlike anything that has accompanied such an order by the airline before. The previous big announcement a decade ago was when...

Technology: Mustard to plug Jays audio range.
October 5, 2007... Swedish headphone and accessory maker Jays has ushered in Mustard PR for the UK launch of a range of headphones. The firm, which manufactures accessories such as earphones and headset adapters for mobiles, mp3 players and other portable...

Technology: Everest Poker brings in ex-Sportsman PR chief.
October 5, 2007... Everest Poker, one of the three most popular poker sites in Europe, has brought in the former comms chief of now-defunct betting newspaper The Sportsman and revamped its agency support. In his new role as European PR and events manager, Ed...

Technology: Dubit enlists Wolfstar for strategic comms review.
October 5, 2007... Youth research consultancy Dubit has brought in new tech agency Wolfstar to undertake a strategic review of the company's PR output. The review, to take place throughout October, is expected to lead to a new programme in early November....

Technology: Vyke uses Say for UK trade brief.
October 5, 2007... Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) firm Vyke Communications has appointed Say Communications on a UK corporate and trade brief. The pounds 50,000 account is to 'build brand recognition' and establish Norwegian firm Vyke as 'pioneers of...

Technology: Hudson wins web music business.
October 5, 2007... Entertainment specialist Hudson PR has been brought in to launch a website that purports to bridge the gap between Facebook, MySpace and iTunes. ShowMeHowToPlay.com is a music networking site allowing artists to promote and sell their...

Technology: Web networking on the map.(Social Media Portal)(Elemental Communications)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Online social networks have been mapped by new site Social Media Portal (SMP). Developed by Australia-based web agency C2, SMP maps networks created by social networks, user generated content (UGC), blogs, podcasts and search engines. The site...

Media Relations: What the Papers say - Arnie fails to spur Tory 'fightback'.(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... The spectre of Gordon Brown and a snap general election loomed over the Conservative conference this week and overshadowed David Cameron's promise it would be the start of the 'great Conservative fightback'. Despite strong speeches by Tory...

Media Relations: Contact book update.
October 5, 2007... PRESS The Guardian has appointed Polly Curtis as education editor. She was previoulsy health correspondent. David Turner, who was Tokyo correspondent, is now education correspondent at the Financial Times. Turner replaces Jon Boone,...

Media Relations: 2 Minutes with... Tim Beynon, Editorial director, Total Youth Football and Footie.(Interview)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... WHEN DID THE MAGAZINES LAUNCH? Total Youth Football was launched at the end of September. Our free players' magazine, Footie, launched at the same time and is being distributed in the UK by professional and grassroots youth football clubs...

Media Analysis: Deciphering the Telegraph signals.
October 5, 2007... The Telegraph brand is at a crossroads, with the editorial distinction between its daily, Sunday and online formats blurring and progress towards a seven-day news operation. Robert Gray asks what it means for PROs. Flamboyant, disgraced...

News Analysis: Communicating at a time of crisis.
October 5, 2007... Aid agencies in disaster zones need to rethink how they work with the media if they want to get the word out and the donations rolling in, writes Kate Magee. The complex and often fractious relationship between aid workers and journalists...

Profile: BT's charming agent of change - Zoe Arden, Director of communications and inclusion, BT Retail.(British Telecommunications PLC. BT Retail)(Interview)
October 5, 2007... Zoe Arden should have arrived for her interview wearing star-spangled hot pants and a golden headdress. Because - by all accounts - BT Retail's comms director may actually be Wonder Woman. Not only does Arden have a busy and successful...

Opinion: Be wary of being cheery to journalists.
October 5, 2007... In the days before computers and health and safety, the spike was a central feature of every newspaper and magazine office. A sharply pointed metal rod mounted on a wooden base, it was used to impale the typewritten stories of the day deemed...

Opinion: Cameron forgets about hugging hoodies.(David Cameron)
October 5, 2007... What ever happened to David Cameron's 'wanting the sun to shine' message from last year's Tory Party conference? What happened to 'hug a hoodie?' What happened to green taxes or Cameron's promise of no irresponsible unfunded tax cuts? The...

Editorial: Roddick illuminates dark days of spin.(Anita Roddick)(Editorial)(Obituary)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Here we go again. Not just the verbal jousting that marks the start of the phony election season. But also the now-familiar adoption by the Tories of a 'more spinned against than spinning' positioning, accusing Gordon Brown of using his visit...

Opinion: Letters - Northern Rock puts on late late PR Show.(Letter to the editor)
October 5, 2007... I am glad to see that Northern Rock has finally brought in a PR agency to help restore customer faith (News, 28 September). But why did it take so long? A lasting dent has already been made in customer trust towards its brand and the...

Opinion: Letters - We are still at the tip of Facebook iceberg.(Letter to the editor)
October 5, 2007... Last week's piece on the 'Facebook backlash' (Analysis, 28 September) highlighted that, when it comes to using the site as a comms platform, we are barely scratching the surface. There have been some notable successes - such as the NUS...

Opinion: Letters - Luke Blair's Ken and Boris claim is curious.(Letter to the editor)
October 5, 2007... How strange that Luke Blair, writing in his column about the battle between Boris and Ken (News, 28 September), compares staff working for the London Mayor in a professional capacity to staff working for the Conservative candidate in a...

Opinion: ViewPoint - Word of mouth may not be flashy but it works.(3 Monkeys Communications)(Tristan Pineiro)(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Tristan Pineiro, senior account director at 3 Monkeys Communications, urges PROs to try alternative methods of communications. In this week's podcast - available at www.prweek.com/uk - Pineiro says comms professionals often get so...

Campaign: Festival Special - Brothers gets back to its festival roots - Bestival.
October 5, 2007... Campaign: Brothers Cider Bestival sponsorship Client: Brothers Cider PR Team: SLAM PR Timescale: August-September 2007 Budget: Undisclosed To build on the brand's music heritage and engage with its target audience of 18- to...

Campaign: Festival Special - Match.com seals Glasto sponsorship with a kiss - Glastonbury.
October 5, 2007... Campaign: The Match.com Big Kiss Client: Match.com Agency: Cherish PR Timescale: May-July 2007 Budget: pounds 65,000 OBJECTIVES To get Glastonbury's muddy revellers to stop and share a kiss, generating press coverage and...

Campaign: Festival Special - Bacardi mixes with star couples on Isle of Wight - Isle of Wight Festival.
October 5, 2007... Campaign: Bacardi B-Live Halo Festival Amplification Client: Bacardi Agency: Shine Communications Timescale: June-August 2007 Budget: pounds 25,000 OBJECTIVES To raise awareness of Bacardi at the festivals and win coverage in...

Clarion Awards: Making a difference.
October 5, 2007... Proof that CSR is taking the world by storm was in evidence at this year's Clarion Awards. Alex Black reports. If there are still people out there who are sceptical about the impact CSR is having on business, it would have been a pity if...

Evaluation Round Table: Rapid response.(Interview)
October 5, 2007... The impact of digital media has been wide reaching. Robert Gray talks to a round table of experts about keeping on top of monitoring and evaluation. Today's media landscape is vast and sprawling, encompassing the blogosphere and online...

Diary: Falmouth PR course gets them young.
October 5, 2007... As any East-European gymnastics coach in the mid-80s would have asserted - between battering seven-year olds learning to perfect a double-twisting Yurchenko - it is best to get them while they are young. In this spirit, University College...

Diary: Two-handed tricks while in the toilet.
October 5, 2007... Presumably, key lessons on Falmouth's burgeoning PR course include 'how not to write weird press releases' and 'not making nonsense conclusions from surveys'. Ticking both boxes in spectacular fashion is a circular from media monitoring...

Diary: PR score for land of the Golden Fleece.
October 5, 2007... If the work of The PR Office is to be believed and pleasantness is what you are after, then you could do much worse than travel to Georgia. Founder Shimon Cohen's agency has been feverishly working to gain as much coverage as it can for the...

Diary: A gourmet's guide for Gateshead.
October 5, 2007... Diary was delighted at the response to its appeal for good eateries in Gateshead, after the experience of freelancer Andrew Fisher (PRWeek, 28 September). At least five agencies offered to submit a review. But first with afully fledged...

Diary: Hit or Miss... Rainbow of coverage for Radiohead.(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... If any band would want to eschew the tag of 'PR hit of the week', it's probably those confirmed haters of most things, Radiohead. But the musical maestros gained an upsurge in coverage for their soon-to-be-released album In Rainbows by...

Diary: Let's Meet at - Eslington Villa.(Brief article)
October 5, 2007... Reviewed by Sarah Hall, joint head of office, Golley Slater Newcastle. Contrary to freelancer Andrew Fisher's recent suggestion (Diary, 28 September) you don't have to look far to find a good eatery in Gateshead. One of the best is...

Robinson ditched by Consolidated.(Brief article)
October 12, 2007... Consolidated Communications MD Sarah Robinson has been ousted in a boardroom coup. The industry veteran, who had run the agency since 1999 and led an MBO in 2001, was ditched after the board decided Consolidated needed 'a change of...