This week’s PR news in brief (28 August – 1 September)
Here is a round-up of all the essential PR stories, people news and account wins that have been announced over the past week.
Account wins
YO! has selected W as its retained consumer PR agency to spearhead the next phase of its evolution as it celebrates its 20th anniversary year.
Hong Kong Jockey Club has appointed Square in the Air to act as its UK PR and marketing representative ahead of the start of the 2017/18 Hong Kong racing season starting on Sunday 3 September.
Tryon Equestrian Partners, organisers of the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, has appointed Revolution Sports to manage international PR and media services for the event, which takes place from September 11-23 2018.
Chocolate company Barry Callebaut has chosen The Hub to handle the trade communications and customer marketing for its Belgian Chocolate brand, Callebaut, within the UK Foodservice channel.
The Good Exchange, a not-for-profit platform that helps charities get funding, has selected Finn Partners to build awareness of the brand and publicise its charitable giving in the UK.
Chicago-based wine purification company Üllo has appointed PHA Media to launch its unique product offering to the UK market.
Eyewear Publishing has appointed Bookollective as its retained agency to publicise one of its key titles this autumn, following a competitive pitch.
Green tea brand Vivid Matcha has appointed The Wern to manage its PR activity, engaged Testify as its new social media agency and selected Rhubarb’s Lucy Crook to create and implement its new marketing strategy.
People news
Ocado has appointed David Shriver to the newly created role of communications director. He will be responsible for strengthening Ocado’s engagement with its major stakeholders.
Citizen Relations welcomed Helena Fisher as its UK managing director this week. She will lead the agency’s London office.
Newgate Communications has appointed Craig Harrow as partner and head of its office in Edinburgh.
Will Tanner, who was deputy head of Theresa May’s policy unit until the recent general election, has joined Portland as its chief policy adviser.
Laura Trott, former special adviser to David Cameron, is also joining Portland as a partner in its corporate group, and No 10 deputy political director Nick Hargrave is returning to the agency as a corporate director.
Big Cat has welcomed Helen Gaskell as its new senior account executive. The former journalist in the Middle East will be responsible for content creation across a range of consumer and B2B accounts.
Agency news
Hotwire is launching pop-up offices in Minneapolis, Boston and Mexico City to provide support to current clients, strengthen its portfolio of consumer and tech companies and attract top talent.
Lisa Pantelli, Weber Shandwick’s former head of employee engagement and change management, has launched Become Communications – an employee engagement and internal communications consultancy.
Entrepreneur Richard Shell and PR director Chrissie Plunkett have partnered to launch The Twist Group, a PR and comms agency.
Ranieri and BlueJam Media have announced a strategic partnership. The affiliation will see the two companies to organically exchange skills and pitch together for future clients.
RMS PR has rebranded to RMS as part of its transformation to a fully-integrated marketing agency after 25 years in business.
Financial PR
Real estate and financial services company City of London Group (City of London) has engaged The PR Office to provide comms support for its “reverse takeover” of Milton Homes and an £11 million equity fundraising.
Patron Capital has completed its £1.8 billion acquisition of Punch Taverns with comms support from its retained PR agency, Redleaf Communications.
