PR News in Brief

This week’s PR news in brief (12-16 February)

Here’s a round-up of this week’s essential PR news, featuring account wins for ANM Communications and Camron PR, the Suzy Brown Bursary and the latest Cision webinar.

Building a tech brand with earned media


Staying ahead in tech PR requires constant innovation. There are big opportunities for brands that can communicate their propositions in ways that excite and inspire their stakeholders – and next week’s Cision webinar will help you do exactly that.

Marc Chacksfield, TechRadar’s interim global editor-in-chief, will outline how the title established itself as a leading tech brand over the past 10 years. Then, he’ll reveal what titles like TechRadar are looking for in a tech PR pitch.

Then, Kaizo director Steph MacLeod will highlight what sets tech PR apart from other sectors and give her top tips for building a successful tech brand with earned media.

Click here now to reserve your place and join us on Tuesday 20 February.

Thought leadership


Beth Gaudin, a senior consultant at Forster Communications, argues that wellbeing should be a top priority in PR and outlines how to design a wellbeing strategy that works.

Rory Green, videographer at specialist broadcast agency Shout! Communications, predicts how video content in the PR industry will evolve in 2018.

Launch director Niki Wheeler recalls this year’s Creative Shootout final and breaks down the key PR pitching tips communicators can take away from the event.

Account wins


Grayling has won competitive briefs for The United Nations Office for Project Services and The Health Foundation.

Pop-up mall company Boxpark has appointed W as its retained agency following a competitive pitch.

Educational broadcast charity the Royal Television Society (RTS) has appointed Bubble Agency to provide UK PR support.

National reinsurance scheme Flood Re has reappointed Hanover to deliver an integrated PR and public affairs strategy.

Footwear retailer Moda in Pelle has appointed Label PR to handle all press, influencer engagement and celebrity campaigns across its stores, concessions and websites.

Business and IT services company Ricoh has appointed Kwittken to an integrated comms brief. The agency will handle day-to-day media relations activity, as well as a cross-platform content programme.

French shoe brand Clergerie has selected ANM Communications to handle its press and publicity.

Zeitgeist will work with Printworks London to promote the venue’s relaunch as a live venue. It will reposition Printworks as a destination for live events and arts space, rather than a nightclub.

The Japan National Tourist Organisation has appointed Henman Communications to deliver a campaign to raise awareness of the country as a tourist destination ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. The campaign will run throughout the Six Nations, with former Wales international Shane Williams fronting the promotion.

Italian furniture designer and manufacturer Calligaris has hired Camron PR to represent the brand.

Coconut water brand Obrigado has appointed Focus PR to position it as a challenger brand with ambitions of becoming a staple product.

The Royal Atlantis Residences has selected Relevance International to handle its global PR. The agency will help to promote the company’s new luxury 43-storey hybrid hotel and residential building in Dubai, opening in late 2019.

Roof light manufacturer Roof Maker has appointed HROC as its PR agency following a competitive pitch. HROC will handle trade and consumer PR targeted at architects, builders and consumers.

Manchester-based personal injury law firm Horwich Cohen Coghlan has appointed Sugar PR to a legal PR and content marketing brief.

Agency news


Mason Williams Communications is launching a bursary in tribute to former colleague Suzy Brown, who passed away in 2017. The bursary is on offer to those looking to enter the consumer PR industry, with a winner selected each year. More information can be found here.

People news


M&C Saatchi PR has appointed Julian Cirrone to the newly formed position of creative director in its CREATE strategic and creative department.

Threepipe has appointed Abigail Hughes as a PR director. Hughes was an account manager at Threepipe in 2009 and re-joins the agency from Red Consultancy, where she led accounts including Huawei UK, Trainline and Heathrow Airport.

London’s Air Ambulance, the emergency service’s charity, has appointed Louise Robertshaw as its director of marketing and communications.

Speed Communications has appointed Sarah Firth to be its first creative director, working across all three of the agency’s divisions.

Cambre Associates has hired EU policy expert Nicolas Gyss to boost expertise in its tech practice to meet client demand.

Lombard International Assurance has appointed Olgert Gorani as head of marketing and communications Europe. He will lead the team responsible for delivering the company’s European  internal comms, media relations and marcoms.

PRCA news


The PRCA has promoted Matt Cartmell to deputy director general after five years leading the association’s communications, marketing and events.

The association has also launched its Diversity and Inclusion Guidelines to help improve diversity in the industry. The guidelines can be found here.

CIPR news


The CIPR has created a new think tank comprising 17 senior communicators from across the energy sector. The Energy Leadership Platform will engage on key issues relating to the industry.

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