Lansons handles Metro Bank LSE listing

Lansons advised Metro Bank on its successful listing on the London Stock Exchange last week. Metro Bank raised £400m through a private placement to existing and new shareholders before listing its shares on the Main Market last Thursday. Lansons has advised Metro Bank on all external communications since before its 2010 launch when it became […]

New comms lead at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Sam Lister, the Department of Health’s comms director, is moving to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) as group director of comms. Lister has spent the last four-and-a-half years at the Department of Health (DH), where he has led several government comms programmes including the domestic handling of Ebola, the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge, […]

Behind the Headlines with LEWIS’ Ranj George

Ranj George, head of consumer at LEWIS UK, on why agencies need to get better at valuing their staff, the need to love, live and breathe PR to succeed, and how he dreams of running a pick’n’mix shop in Shoreditch. Before I reach the office in the morning, I’ve already… Watched BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain, skimmed through two […]

JFA Systems appoints Rooster PR

JFA Systems, a travel reservations systems provider, has appointed its first PR agency, Rooster PR, to push its UK media launch. Following a competitive pitch, Rooster is launching JFA Systems to media in the UK, managing its press office and raising brand awareness among national and trade publications. JFA Systems, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this […]

Poundland briefs FleishmanHillard Fishburn

Retail chain Poundland has hired FleishmanHillard Fishburn to handle its consumer PR and social media following a competitive pitch. The new arrangement is put in place this month and will include brand campaigns, content planning and press office activity. Gill Stewart, head of marketing & space, Poundland, said: “We went through a stringent pitch process and FleishmanHillard […]

JPES appoints Miles Donohoe as director

Comms consultancy, JPES Partners has hired Miles Donohoe to join its expanding London team as director. Donohoe will join JPES’ management team and will have responsibility for growing the company’s client base within the wider financial services market. Julian Samways, managing director at JPES Partners, said: “This is a very exciting time for the company and, […]

Mason Williams launches Mum, Baby and Parenting division

Mason Williams PR has launched a Mother, Baby and Parenting division, with initial clients and projects including baby mattress brand SleepCurve, pure fruit snacking bar Fruit Heroes and an ambassadorship programme for preschool development specialist Lamaze, featuring Coleen Rooney.  Headed by senior consultant Victoria Barker and senior director Joanne Greer, the division is on the hunt for more opportunities […]

Astro Gaming selects KINC to expand reach

KINC has been named as the first UK marketing agency for video gaming headset brand Astro Gaming, with a brief to develop a PR and marketing strategy to target new audiences for the brand. Astro creates video gaming headsets and equipment across multiple platforms, and its products are recognised as the official audio gaming headset […]

Lucy Legh joins Headland as director

Headland has appointed Tulchan’s senior communications adviser, Lucy Legh, as director. After a decade of working with Tulchan, Legh joins Headland’s 37-strong team and she brings extensive experience of advising companies on how to communicate their investment case and corporate strategy to the media and capital markets. Chris Salt, CEO at Headland, said: “Lucy’s appointment is another significant […]

Vigo appointed by health group Premaitha

Strategic comms group, Vigo, has been appointed by Premaitha Health to advise on capital markets communications. The Premaitha account team will be led at Vigo by director Ben Simons and account director Fiona Henson. Simons said: “Premaitha is at the forefront of an emerging multi-billion pound market for non-invasive prenatal testing. Its leading CE marked system is […]