Chris Sanderson

Chris Sanderson revealed as Cision World Tour London keynote

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Renowned brand strategy consultant Chris Sanderson is to be the keynote speaker at next month’s Cision World Tour summit in London.

Open to a select group of PR and communications professionals, the event will shine a light on the data and technology breakthroughs transforming earned media in 2017.

Sanderson, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, will provide his expert insights into the macro trends driving modern PR strategy and will outline how you can leverage them to create opportunities for your business, charity, agency or brand.

Reserve your place at this event.

Following global summit events in Chicago, San Francisco and New York, a raft of industry leaders will meet at Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel on Tuesday, June 6, for an afternoon of connections, cocktails and conversation.

Cision CEO Kevin Akeroyd and CMO Chris Lynch will welcome attendees to the event. They’ll kick off proceedings with discussion and debate, and will look into how combining great storytelling with data science is helping brands uncover influencers to share their stories, craft content that gets read and link coverage with customer behaviour.

Next, a panel of industry personalities chaired by CIPR president Jason MacKenzie will discuss how to establish a win-win relationship between your brand and the media.

Faced with declining public trust, shrinking deadlines and a new emphasis on emotion over fact the media landscape is changing fast. Against this backdrop, our panel will delve into the best ways to re-imagine your marketing and communications strategies in 2017.

Finally, Sanderson will round off the day by sharing his insights into the impacts, consequences and opportunities the latest industry trends are creating for PR professionals.

“The rise of earned media – including comms and PR – is upon us,” said Cision CEO Kevin Akeroyd. “History tells us it must apply the same formula as paid and owned media have: infusing technology, data, measurement and business intelligence.”

He added: “The Cision World Tour brings together the communications industry’s leading professionals to help decipher the most common barriers to obtaining this critical mix.”

Click below to reserve your place, and join us as we take an in-depth look at the tech breakthroughs changing the face of modern communications.

Reserve your place at the Cision World Tour in London now.

Cision World Tour London

Ranieri buys French agency Reflexion Publique

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Consumer technology and lifestyle agency Ranieri has acquired Reflexion Publique as part of an ongoing acquisitions strategy to bolster its European PR, social and influencer network.

Ranieri team

Led by Franck Ambre, Reflexion’s Paris-based team of eight manages clients including Olympus, Tile, UBTech, Blue Microphones and Libratone.

Reflexion has been delivering specialist technology communications since 1999, and has worked closely with Ranieri for nearly ten years.

“Our shared clients have always been delighted with how our integrated approach maximises on their investment,” said Ambre. “This collaboration allows us to work in tandem with Ranieri, sharing best practice, resources and expertise to offer our clients best-in-class service and results.”

Ranieri founder, Pietro Ranieri said: “Our clients are increasingly looking for us to manage European-wide communications campaigns and Reflexion’s reputation in France is unsurpassed in the consumer technology space. We know Reflexion well and the team has the same feel and tailored approach to the communications mix that we have here at Ranieri.”

Custard Communications wins Whittlebury Park brief

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Whittlebury Park and Whittlebury Hall and Spa have appointed hospitality marketing and PR agency Custard Communications on a six-month contract, following their recent merger.

Custard Communications wins Whittlebury Park brief

Custard Communications will raise awareness of Whittlebury Park’s merger with Whittlebury Hall and Spa

Reporting to marketing manager Natasha Hatwell, the Woking-based agency will raise awareness of the merger and position the resort as the ultimate destination for weddings, leisure breaks, corporate events and conferences.

Other client wins for Custard this year include the Malvern Hills retreat, The Cottage in the Wood and the Petersham Hotel in Richmond, Surrey.

Custard’s managing director, Petra Clayton said: “We are delighted Whittlebury Hall and Spa and Whittlebury Park have joined our portfolio of luxury hotel clients around the UK. We’re excited to be reaching out to each of their audiences and are looking forward to some clever campaigning to showcase their outstanding AIM Gold accredited facilities.”

MagnaCarta Communications hires former Edelman Africa chairman François Baird

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MagnaCarta Communications has appointed communications management leader François Baird as non-executive chairman.

François Baird

Baird is founder and chairman of Baird’s US LLC and of British headquartered international communications management consultancy, Baird’s CMC. MagnaCarta is a member firm and directors Denise Gee and Simon Hardie are also partners in Baird’s CMC, the agency with 34 partners in 17 countries who employ approximately 500 people.

Baird was Chairman, Africa at Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, as well as founder and former chairman of Baird’s Renaissance, a communication management consultancy based in Johannesburg, which was acquired by Edelman in 2013.

Gee said: “This appointment will drive the growth of MagnaCarta and will help deepen its expertise in strategic communications management consultancy for the global banking and financial technology marketplace.

“The global market for financial technology is valued at over $480 billion with rapid anticipated growth in the years ahead. In an increasingly fragmented media and marketing landscape, communicating the purpose and visualising the benefits of your product or service – to both customers and stakeholders – is critical to success.

“Traditional sales, marketing and engagement are changing as rapidly as commerce. François’s appointment brings to MagnaCarta a wealth of international experience, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the financial services environment.”

Baird said: “Fintech is mission-critical for the future of the financial world. However, if ever an industry needed to persuade people of its benefits, and demonstrate the value it creates, it’s fintech, where innovation is often a heady mix of new thinking and opportunity, but difficult to explain and understand.

“MagnaCarta is therefore critical to the mission of fintech, in helping organisations and companies across the spectrum to transform their engagement, sales and communication strategies, at a very exciting time for the industry.”

NHS Confederation launches its first comms conference

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NHS Confederation’s Communications Conference 2017 will be its first ever event dedicated to giving comms leads insight on how to approach their work.

Lawrence McGinty

The Comms Conference will take place in Liverpool on 14 – 15 June and will look to provide practical tips and techniques for getting the most out of limited resources. It will also offer networking opportunity for communications professionals from across the NHS and will provide a range of tools and guidance.

Delegates will be invited to discuss the current health comms climate and share ideas on how to address the challenges they face, such as how to deal with “fake news” and strained resources. Sessions will discuss social media best practice, including how to create high-impact social campaigns, and how to go viral.

There will also be sessions on crisis communications, staff engagement, and how to measure and demonstrate the impact of communications work through evaluation.

Speakers include Alicia Custis, head of communications at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which won Crisis Communications Campaign of the Year at the 2016 UK Public Sector Awards, Tom Scott, professional YouTuber, and Cheryl Douglas, head of media research & jobs, Gorkana.

Lawrence McGinty, chairman of the Medical Journalists Association and former ITN science editor, will chair the conference.

McGinty said: “Communications is an increasingly fundamental component of NHS trusts’ daily lives. The challenge now is to make sure communications professionals are able to do their jobs as efficiently and effectively as possible.

“Journalists are also relying more and more heavily on communications teams for stories and to develop news angles. This conference will allow NHS communications professionals to come together and help each other find fresh ways to get the health service’s story into the headlines in the right way.”

Cision is delighted to be media partner for the event.

Tickets are still available to book online.

Hotwire Group hires Barbara Bates as CEO

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Barbara Bates has been appointed as Group CEO at Hotwire, following the departure of Brendon Craigie in March.

Barbara Bates

Bates was most recently North American CEO of Hotwire following the acquisition of her agency Eastwick, an integrated communications agency in Silicon Valley.

Bates will report to Matthew Melhuish, CEO of parent company Enero, and she will oversee Hotwire’s Global Leadership Team comprising Andy West, Adrian Talbot, Alex MacLaverty and Heather Kernahan.

Kernahan will continue to lead Hotwire’s US operations in her role as President, North America.

Bates said: “It’s an honour to lead an agency with the ambition and passion abundant in Hotwire. There is a constant drive for innovation and fresh thinking and it is my goal to lead the charge as we spread our wings even further, opening up new markets, services and opportunities across the world.

“We are totally focused on delivering an exceptional experience for our clients and our team, challenging the standard agency model, and I can’t wait to show the world what we’re made of.”

Melhuish added: “Barbara has the experience and skill to nurture the huge appetite and opportunity there is for growth within the business, and she brings a fresh perspective and a background of challenging the norm that will bring out the ‘edge’ in Hotwire.

We have already seen a number of international successes as a result of the acquisition last year and I am sure this will continue as Barbara works with the existing GLT and our team around the world to take the business to even greater heights.”

China Southern Airlines hands UK brief to Rooster PR

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China Southern Airlines has appointed Rooster PR as its first ever UK PR agency, following digital and social media campaigns for Asia’s largest airline, which saw seasonal bookings double.

China Southern Airlines

In its new, extended PR remit, Rooster will promote the airline’s 4-star service and lower transfer times to destinations across China, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and the carrier’s new twice-daily service from Heathrow to Guangzhou, which launches on 1 June 2017.

Nick Newman, commercial manager for UK and Ireland at China Southern Airlines, said: “Rooster’s digital activity has had an immediate positive impact on our UK sales and we’re delighted to have them on-board as our PR agency as we continue to expand in the UK market.

“We’ve got a number of big announcements coming up and are confident we have the right agency to help us realise our ambitions in the UK.”

Rooster MD James Brooke added: “Adding the world’s fourth largest airline to our growing aviation portfolio is a fantastic achievement for Rooster, allowing the team to complement our sales-focused digital work with media relations and creative story-telling.

“With a huge, modern fleet and a focus on customer service, we’ll be helping drive bookings, boost the airline’s profile and make a bigger mark on the UK long-haul aviation market.”

Peregrine Communications appoints Quill PR’s Marina Fraser Harris

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Peregrine Communications, the specialist marketing communications and design agency, has appointed Marina Fraser Harris as associate director.

Marina Fraser Harris

Fraser Harris joins Peregrine from WPP-owned Quill PR, having worked there for ten years across a range of clients within the asset management and wealth management sector.

She joined Quill from the marketing communications team at Credit Suisse Asset Management.

Alan O’Sullivan, director at Peregrine Communications, said: “We are pleased to welcome Marina into our expanding team. The combination of her asset management and marketing communications experience – both agency-side and in-house – will be valuable to the business as we continue to grow.

“In the coming years, we plan to build on our reputation as the agency of choice for any financial services client seeking integrated solutions across digital, marketing and communications – working from our hubs in London and New York.”

Harris added: “I believe financial services companies are increasingly moving towards integrated marketing communications solutions and looking for one agency that can meet all their needs. I’m excited to have joined the high-level, dynamic communications and design team at Peregrine and look forward to helping to grow the business further.”

Leidar hires Brunswick’s Phil Riggins

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Leidar has appointed Brunswick’s Phil Riggins as partner to further strengthen its brand and reputation insight practice.

Phil Riggins

At Leidar, Riggins will help clients understand and manage the “intersection” between brand and reputation. He will help develop Leidar’s offering on brand and reputation management, with an emphasis on applying measurement and campaign practices to its clients’ challenges.

Riggins is based in London and will advise clients globally and across Europe.

He joins from Brunswick where he was a partner advising clients on reputation, brand and issues management. Also, he co-led Brunswick’s Insight practice.

Rolf Olsen, Leidar CEO, said: “Leidar is founded on the idea that brand and reputation go hand in hand, and we are delighted to strengthen our insight and strategy consulting with such a highly regarded international expert as Phil. His experience in all aspects of reputation and issues management fits our focus on providing clients with the best advice as they chart their course.”

Riggins said: “I’m very pleased to be joining Leidar. The team understands how hard it is for businesses to deliver their messages in an increasingly complex communications environment, especially with the growing pressure to manage brand and reputation together to avoid disconnects.

“We share the belief that listening first before engaging with the audiences we are trying to influence increases a business’s likelihood of success. We’re looking forward to working together to help clients navigate this challenging communications landscape.”

FTI Consulting to advise McKay’s communications

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McKay Securities has appointed real estate and built environment specialist FTI Consulting to advise on its corporate and financial communications.

FTI Consulting’s Dido Laurimore

Dido Laurimore, FTI’s senior managing director and co-head of its real estate practice, leads the team supporting the property investment company.

Laurimore said: “McKay is a well-respected business with a clear focus on growth, backed by a strong management team, so naturally we are pleased to be able to support them on the next stage of the company’s journey.

McKay’s CEO, Simon Perkins added: “We wanted to complement our growth plans with the appointment of a PR firm with the knowledge and reach to support this strategy. FTI offered the right blend of skills and experience, and we look forward to working together.”