PR news round-up (1-5 October)
Here’s a round-up of the week’s top PR news, featuring crisis comms analysis from Cision’s Megan Taylor and account wins for Ready10, Milk & Honey and AprilSix Proof.
The four steps to building a foolproof crisis comms response
Megan Taylor, senior client insights manager at Cision, provides examples from the Insights team illustrating the need for speed when a crisis situation hits.
Interview
Ian Hood, CEO and co-founder of Babel PR, explains why he started the agency, talks about working internationally and being on the end of a rant from Kelvin MacKenzie.
Account wins
Destination Star Trek, the biggest Star Trek convention in Europe, has appointed to Ready10 to handle PR and comms around the show later this month. The agency will provide pre-show support, creative consultancy and handle all press around the event, while also overseeing event PR for the 40+ Star Trek cast who will be present, including William Shatner and Jason Isaacs.
The Elf on the Shelf has appointed Mason Williams Communications to handle its PR and events programme.
Milk & Honey will handle PR for broadcast specialist markettiers4DC, where it will build the brand’s position as leaders in their sector.
Future Publishing has appointed Storm to manage an integrated PR and social campaign for its The Photography Show and The Video Show events.
The Royal Institution has appointed Riot Communications to promote its annual Christmas Lectures.
Marriott International has selected Smarts Communicate to deliver a tailored comms campaign to drive publicity around the hotel chain’s Distinctive Select Brands portfolio in Europe.
Professional services data platform Intapp has appointed AprilSix Proof to lead its UK PR and influencer brief. The agency will execute a strategy to promote the platform to the professional services sector through media relations, influencer engagement and thought leadership.
Drinkable hangover supplement producer HangZing has appointed Palm PR to manage its UK launch through an integrated campaign.
Fitness app creator Freeletics has hired Blueprint Sports to handle its global PR and influencer marketing strategy.
Responsibly-sourced gemstone supplier Gemfields Group has appointed Maria Boyle Communications to handle consumer PR for both its Gemfields and Faberge brands.
Health and wellness channel FMTV has selected WHITEHAIR.CO to handle all press and publicity around its new docuseries TRANSCENDENCE.
Technology company Improbable has appointed Dynamo PR to support its strategic comms and promote its cloud-based game development platform SpatialOS.
Workwear brand Scruffs has appointed Tank to raise awareness of its products to tradespeople through targeted trade press activity.
Medical and health technology company Atlantic Therapeutics has appointed ROAD to provide PR support for its INNOVO product.
Digital retailer Studio has selected Havas PR as its retained influencer outreach agency. Havas is tasked with instigating and managing multiple influencer ambassador partnerships to promote the company’s wares.
TicketCo, the events payment software firm, has appointed Fortitude Communications as its retained UK strategic comms agency.
Blockchain-based art platform CryptoNumiz has appointed Jargon PR to generate media awareness and raise the profile of the platform.
People news
Brands2Life has appointed Kinda Jackson as managing director of its digital practice. She will sit on the agency’s board and manage its digital and social team.
Digital financial adviser company Wealth Wizards has appointed Elizabeth Basten as CMO. Basten will have oversight of the firm’s PR and comms function.
TALK.GLOBAL has appointed Suzy Socker to its leadership team as board director.
Liz Lean PR has hired Claire Hardy as a director. She will work alongside managing director Liz Willingham to enhance the agency’s product and service offering.
Tom Parker, chairman of PR and public policy agency Cambre, has been named president of the British Chamber of Commerce EU and Belgium.
Agency news
Good Relations North MD Jo Leah and Good Relations CEO Richard Moss
Good Relations has acquired The Little Big Agency, founded by Jo Leah. The agency will be renamed to Good Relations North, with Leah to become managing director of the northern office and join Good Relations’ executive team.
Consumer PR agency Escapade has launched a sister brand, Elevation Marketing, to support SMEs operating in the food and drink industry.
Legal PR specialists Byfield Consultancy and Eliott & Markus, have formed a strategic alliance to work together on international legal sector clients requiring European and wider EMEA PR representation and support.
Awards news
The Creative Shootout has opened entries for its 2019 edition. Agencies from across marketing disciplines are invited to create a campaign for A Plastic Planet, a non-profit which looks to highlight the effect of plastic pollution and look to dramatically reduce the amount of plastic packaging used in food and drink.
Agencies must enter their submissions by 30 November. More details can be found at www.creativeshootout.com.
