Weber Shandwick enhances creative team

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Weber Shandwick London has brought in award-winning creative Janelle Feliciano from digital and social agency Deep Focus.

Pictured LtoR: Indy Selvarajah, James Nester, Janelle Feliciano and Luke Walker

Based in Weber Shandwick’s London office, Feliciano has been briefed to bolster its creative output and will focus on key digital and social clients across its consumer, corporate, healthcare, technology, and social impact practices.

She joins from ad agency Deep Focus London, where she launched Amazon Fashion in Europe with the body positive campaign, “I Wish I Could Wear”.

Prior to Deep Focus, Feliciano was at social agency Jam, where she worked with clients including Unilever, Nestle and Samsung.

While at Jam, she was behind “Tap to Give”, the world’s first charity turnstile which raised funds to provide clean drinking water for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

She launched her career at digital agency Weapon7, with the UNICEF campaign “Pinning their Hopes” – the first innovative charity campaign on Pinterest. And she was also selected by global creative leader Bob Isherwood to attend the 2014 Cannes Young Lions Creative Academy.

Feliciano has won awards at the New York Festivals, One Show, Creative Circle and Campaign Big Awards. On the side, she mentors young creatives for The One Club bootcamp and BIMA’s Digital Days.

In her new role at Weber Shandwick, Feliciano will report to UK and EMEA executive creative director James Nester, and work alongside creative directors Luke Walker and Indy Selvarajah.

Nester said: “I’ve been keen to recruit Janelle for a few years, she has buckets of talent and creative ambition. Her knack for social and influencer campaigns combined with the skills of the rest of the team here, will help us create more campaigns that explode free from their channels to become cultural.”

Feliciano added: “Throughout my career I have always preferred the road less travelled, doing things differently is what keeps creativity fresh and unexpected. Having experience in other communication disciplines, it makes sense to join such a globally recognised PR agency. I’m excited to work alongside James Nester and his team, to continue to create the innovative campaigns Weber Shandwick is known for.”

60 Seconds with Gutenberg’s Harjiv Singh

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Harjiv Singh, CEO and founder at Gutenberg, talks about the agency’s rebrand and shift towards a more integrated model, encompassing digital marketing. He says: “storytelling remains at the core of our services.” 

Harjiv Singh

You recently expanded your agency’s offering beyond PR. Why?
Gutenberg’s rebranding was a well-planned move that is very critical to our long-term positioning and growth as a company. The strategy behind the rebranding was to expand our client offering to include service lines with rapid growth across all our geographical markets.

Through this rebranding we have accomplished three things. First, we have built the full range of capabilities to address contemporary challenges faced by any chief marketing officer; second, we are integrating our offerings to focus on delivering measurable ROI for clients and through analytics and lastly, we have expanded towards the addressable market of US$227bn, by broadening our service offering to include digital, mobile, video and content in addition to our core strength in PR and storytelling.

Do you have more competition as a consequence?
Competition is something every business has to deal with. Whether it is at an industry level or at a geographic level. With the expansion of our business into an integrated digital marketing agency, we will now compete across a much wider spectrum of services that include digital, PR, mobile, video, and content.

Do you think there’s still room for specialist PR agencies?
I strongly believe that PR will remain central to any firm trying to build a brand credibly. At Gutenberg storytelling remains at the core of our services. A lot of specialist agencies will remain in areas like a crisis, financial and other areas that require a strong knowledge of the industry and its ecosystem.

Has your move towards a more integrated model led to new hires? How do you approach that challenge to find and train the best people?
We have been adding expertise across a variety of skills that allows us to provide integrated services for clients. Talent is the key in any service business. We are rolling out several training initiatives across all of our offices this year, which will help us  to keep pace with the rapid changes in our business.

What was behind your decision to split from Lumina last year?
We’d been going through a process for about a year of evaluating our business. My partner Hugh and I decided collectively our businesses are sufficiently different that it made sense to split up.

How do you anticipate the PR industry continuing to change over the coming decade?
PR will continue to stay important as part of the marketing mix in the coming decade. PR’s biggest value historically came through its ability to drive a brand’s third party credibility, and thought leadership helped to shape brand reputation. As mobile and digital become more important, PR will have an opportunity to engage across a wider array of services, bringing in its storytelling strength.

What will be your focus at Gutenberg for the duration of 2017? Do you have plans to further grow the business?
We have some exciting plans for 2017 to increase our team size, expand our geographical footprint and service line expansion. Most importantly, we want to continue to be the partner of choice for our clients with a strong focus on ‘customer delight’.

  • Singh is the founder and CEO of Gutenberg, a digital integrated marketing communications firm with offices in the US, UK and India. He works with clients across industries and organisations such as technology, real estate, government, investment management, academic and the non-profit sectors.

Opinion: how PRs and ‘real’ news organisations should tackle fake news

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Emma Morton, senior media strategist at Ruder Finn, on how the media industry can move forward from fake news.

Emma Morton

HOW did fake news leapfrog real stories?

By speaking out, celebrity heavyweights raised its profile. The press, politicians and social commentators spoke on it, plus the US President and Facebook chief. Sounding the alarm ramped up its news value.

Some of the noise was driven by those who aren’t sure what it looks like. Unfamiliarity with new media often triggers a rush to discover what it’s all about. There’s a touch of FOMO. Recall Twitter’s initial rise. People hashtag everything.

Many find it an amusing social media side show, posing no threat to the real thing. Established newspapers and digital sites should focus on delivering well-crafted news and analysis, they believe.

Gorkana’s UK Pulse data reveals that consumers trust real people – friends and family – for information, and rate radio more reliable than digital news and social media. Regional newspapers featured low on the survey’s ‘trust’ list.

Fake news should encourage greater investment in print and quality digital titles, funding investigation teams equipped to expose corruption and hold people to account. As traditional titles tell their readers that quality news has a price, the old fashioned ‘scoops’ and human interest stories must flow through.

Many owners of regional news groups continue to make first-rate reporters redundant, close town centre offices and outsource editing to ‘subbing hubs’ based hundreds of miles away.  You can’t ‘fake’ local news – reporters need to have an ear to the ground.

Fake news threatens to have the greatest impact on communicators with celebrity, food or healthcare clients. Flavour of the month eateries face a spate of phoney ‘look what I found in my bun’ or ‘former chef exposes truth about your salad’ pieces.

Healthcare implications include falsified reports and photos of medication ‘side effects’.  These stories could range from “I took this pill and turned green” to damaging messages that provoke fear and deter people from treatments.

Communicators must smooth the path here. Credible voices are needed to reassure the public if panic strikes. They can help organisations to deliver accurate information through the right channels and respond appropriately.

More than ever, communicators must hold their nerve. When fake news surfaces, they should remember the vital role they play, and ensure that their clients communicate with integrity.

  • Gorkana UKPulse is an annual research survey undertaken by Gorkana, facilitated through Opinion Matters. A sample size of 10,050 UK Adults (aged between 16-75) are asked more than 120 questions regarding their lifestyle, attitude and media consumption.
  • If you are interested in hearing more about UKPulse and how we can help identify media consumption habits of your key target audiences, please contact: [email protected]. 

Former We Are Boutique co-founder launches new digital business

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The former co-owner of PR agency We Are Boutique, Elliot Jones, has launched Zigzag Media in York.

Elliot Jones

Zigzag offers a digital-focused B2B service, has recently launched its website and has six staff members at launch, with plans to add more this year.

Jones said: “Companies aren’t looking for an ‘agency’ as such – they want an extension to their marketing department. Someone who understands their business needs and can help them set out and achieve their business objectives.”

The digital services offered by Zigzag include paid search, SEO and outreach, web development and content marketing.

Mr Jones’ previous roles span more than a decade in digital marketing, including a digital director role at Carat North and a head of digital role at MediaCom (formerly Brilliant Media) in Leeds.

Ryan Roodt will head up the digital department at Zigzag. Roodt also worked for We Are Boutique across brands such as DFS, Play.com, eBuyer and Virtual College.

Roodt commented: “I’m really pleased to be heading up the digital team at Zigzag. Our approach is simple – we aim to achieve a competitive return on investment for our clients. To achieve this, it is essential we employ knowledgeable staff across all accounts to ultimately deliver tangible results for our clients.”

 

Chaz Brooks Communications rebrands to brookscomm

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Surrey-based B2B PR and digital marketing agency Chaz Brooks Communications has rebranded to brookscomm after 20 years of trading.

Mandy Brooks

The agency has hired new digital marketing manager, Michael Bull, new social media expert, Nirvana Wright – who will assist in all areas of the business – and new operations manager, Jo McKenzie.

Mandy Brooks, managing director at brookscomm, said: “We have seen many changes over the last 20 years … but some things haven’t changed. We still work alongside our clients to successfully raise profiles and reputations of businesses and brands by getting the right message to the right person at the right time.”

brookscomm will offer a new service package to clients which incorporates more digital and social. According to the agency, ‘the rebrand was driven by research into the needs and demands of clients.’

A new website coincides with the brookscomm rebrand.

Threepipe launches new spirit enhancer range

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Threepipe has been chosen to manage consumer and trade media relations, as well as social campaigns, for new spirit enhancer Merchant’s Heart, which is being brought to market by Lucozade Ribena Suntory.

Merchant’s Heart

Following a testing phase, seven flavours will initially launch, including Pink Peppercorn and Hibiscus, which have been specifically designed to enhance spirits such as gin, mezcal and Cognac.

Threepipe will help connect the brand with related media, influencers and industry figureheads, as well as build Merchant’s Heart’s presence across key social channels.

Jason Sennitt, head of Merchant’s Heart, said: “We were really impressed with Threepipe’s insight, experience and ideas. Threepipe will be a key partner in our quest to educate consumers and the trade about how Merchant’s Heart can help to enhance the flavours of their favourite spirits, rather than to mask or overpower them.”

Jim Hawker, co-founder of Threepipe, added: “We are delighted to be working with Merchant’s Heart at such a critical time when it ramps up its consumer marketing activity. It’s a beautifully designed product from the inside out and we can’t wait to make the right introductions and get the brand seen and heard about in the right places.”

This week’s top trending features on Gorkana News

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Your bite-sized update on the best PR opinion, interviews, events and insights featured on Gorkana News this week.

PR Case Study: #essiexrankin
essie is a small, cult nail polish beauty brand loved by those-in-the-know, but with the ambition to become a household name. To increase brand awareness, Golin needed to turn it into a lifestyle brand that would be talked about, celebrated and purchased by the masses – not just a loyal few.

Opinion: why online reputation management is more important than ever
Dave King, CEO at digital reputation and intelligence firm Digitalis Reputation, on why online reputation management (ORM) is more important than ever.

Insight: How PRs can help when journalists are worried about trust in the media
Journalists across the world are showing concern about a perceived declining trust from the general public, but CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal and PLMR’s Ollie Lane say the media must work together to build trusted brands.

Ad Week 2017: PR, journalism and fake news 
The BBC and Buzzfeed joined Weber Shandwick at an Advertising Week Europe event on Monday (20 March) in a session titled: “Navigating the New Abnormal: A Brand Survival Kit in a World of Fake News”.


The Write Angle makes senior hires

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Lancashire-based marketing comms agency The Write Angle (TWA) has brought in Sally Fairclough as associate director and Jen Hill as client services director.

Jen Hill and Sally Fairclough

Fairclough (pictured right) has 16 years’ experience across both in house and agency roles in London, Sydney and Manchester. A specialist in creative campaigns, her previous clients include Iceland, Aldi, Bacardi, Specsavers and Marriott Hotels.

In her new role at TWA, Fairclough will be responsible for key accounts and also drive creativity and growth across the agency.

Hill (pictured left) joins TWA from Workhouse Marketing with 17 years’ experience in client and agency roles.

She will be responsible for growing TWA’s integrated offer. As client services director, she will also oversee and grow its ten-strong account management team.

Julie Cheston, MD at TWA, said: “Sally and Jen bring big agency and brand experience to our team. Their experience broadens our offer, bringing strong integrated and digital skills.

“This is an investment in the agency and gives us a solid platform for growth. I am excited about what we can achieve as a management team together.”

Senior Labour official to join Campaign Collective

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Nancy Platts, former Labour Party candidate in Brighton Kemptown and currently trade union manager in the office of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is to become a member of Campaign Collective.

Nancy Platts

Founded in February 2016, Campaign Collective is a social enterprise which helps charities, social enterprises, public service organisations and other campaigners benefit from “affordable professional communications advice and support”.

Profits from Campaign Collective are used to subsidise support for micro charities and community organisations, as well as help develop the next generation of communications professionals.

Platts has worked in comms and campaigns for over 30 years. including stints at the London Fire Brigade, Daycare Trust and Consumer Focus.

She has also held posts in the trade union movement, fought two general elections as a Labour Party candidate in Brighton and, most recently, was trade union manager in the Leader of the Opposition’s office.

Platts will join the Campaign Collective following the local elections, which take place in May.

She said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to work for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour leadership, but the time has come for me to move on.

“The Labour Party has been a large part of my life for nearly 20 years – from grassroots activist, then twice as a parliamentary candidate and now the Leader’s Office. It has been a journey fuelled by a passion and belief in the trade union and Labour movement and I feel fortunate to have met and worked with so many dedicated and talented people.

“I will continue to support Jeremy’s leadership and want to thank him for giving me such an incredible opportunity – it has been an experience I will always value.

“I am excited about becoming a member of the Campaign Collective social enterprise helping not-for-profit organisations benefit from affordable, professional communications advice and support. The Collective’s remote working ethos will also allow me to work nearer to my home in Brighton.”

Simon Francis, founder member of Campaign Collective, added: “Our members have worked with Nancy on and off for almost ten years and we are huge admirers of her principles, tenacity and campaigning skills. Nancy’s experience will complement that of other Members and help our social enterprise continue to broaden the services we can offer our clients in the charity, NGO and not-for-profit sector.”

The Forge wins Gousto reputation management brief

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The Forge Communications has been retained by food delivery company Gousto to handle its issues management in the UK.

Gousto

Gousto delivers fresh, pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions to people’s homes, and sends almost 400,000 meals monthly. It appointed The Forge following a competitive review process of reputation management and crisis handling in the food sector.

Carlie Wittred, PR manager at Gousto, said: “We were hugely impressed with The Forge’s food experience and handling of a crisis. The Forge will work with our in-house PR team to help manage our reputation and prepare our messaging as we continue to scale.”

Emma-Jo Jones, co-founder at The Forge, added: “We are delighted to be working with such an innovative and inspirational brand. We will use our expertise and knowledge to enhance and support the already fantastic team at Gousto.”

In the last six months, The Forge also won KIND snack bars and The Collective Dairy.