Infinite Global appoints Tali Robinson as director to London office

/in /by

Infinite Global has appointed Tali Robinson as director to lead and expand its London-based property practice.

tali-robinson-bc

Tali Robinson

Robinson will focus on expanding the practice geographically and across a number of related sectors. She will counsel clients on strategic communications planning, brand-altering media campaigns, reputation management, large-scale mergers, crisis management and internal change.

Prior to this, Robinson worked with Farrer Kane and previously spent eight years at Infinite Global’s predecessor Spada.

Jamie Diaferia, CEO at Infinite Global, said: “Tali is a dynamic and innovative leader and a seasoned advisor to large property and professional services firms. She rejoins the management team at an exciting juncture, with the last year seeing a successful MBO, global rebrand and London office move, as well as the expansion of our in-house creative and design offering. The experience and connections she brings to the business will be invaluable in helping us build on this momentum.”

Robinson added: “This is an excellent opportunity to join a talented, creative and reputable team, at a crucial time of growth into new markets. I’m looking forward to helping drive the UK business forward as we continue to expand our footprint across key sectors such as property and construction.”

Interel appoints Carl Thomson as director

/in /by

Interel, the global public affairs consultancy, has appointed Carl Thomson as a director in its London office.

carl-thomson-bc

Carl Thomson

Thomson joins Interel at a time of expansion for the agency, which has won business from e-commerce platform Alibaba in London, Beijing, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Rome, among other clients.

Prior to this, Thomson was a director at The Whitehouse Consultancy and worked as parliamentary assistant to Theresa May and John Redwood when the Conservative Party was in opposition.

In May last year, he was elected to the Management Committee of the Association of Professional Political Consultants, an organisation he sits on alongside Interel’s Managing Partner, George McGregor.

Thomson said: “I’m excited to be joining the Interel team. At a time when politics is being shaped by the world around us, Interel’s integrated approach and global reach means it is ideally placed to help clients develop a strategic response to Brexit and overcome legislative or regulatory challenges in whatever marketplace they operate.”

McGregor said: “We’re delighted to welcome Carl to Interel. Carl has a fantastic reputation and is committed to providing the highest quality of service to his clients.

“We have ambitious plans for growth over the next few years and see this appointment as a way of strengthening our senior team and ensuring our clients receive the best possible advice in the post-Brexit landscape.”

PureCircle appoints Redleaf Communications

/in /by

Redleaf Communications has been appointed by PureCircle, a producer of stevia ingredients for the global food and beverage industry.

emma-kane-bc

Emma Kane

PureCircle is fully-listed on the London Stock Exchange and Redleaf will act as its financial and corporate PR advisor.

Emma Kane, Redleaf’s chief executive, and Rebecca Sanders-Hewett, David Ison and Susie Hudson will manage the PureCircle account.

Kane said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by PureCircle, a company operating in a truly dynamic market, and we look forward to working with the team to raise the company’s profile.

“Stevia is an important alternative to sugar in the global fight against obesity and as the leading producer of this globally PureCircle plays an important role in encouraging healthier diets around the world through the supply of natural ingredients to the global food and beverage industry.”

We Buy Any Home hands comms and content brief to PHA Media

/in /by

PHA Media has been appointed by home-buying company We Buy Any Home to handle its UK comms activity and content marketing strategy.

We Buy Any Home

We Buy Any Home

Founded by real estate entrepreneur Elliot Castle, We Buy Any Home says it can benefit homeowners, when selling their property, by providing an initial offer within 24 hours of contact, and can enable completion on a house sale in seven days.

PHA Media has been briefed to manage a targeted consumer PR campaign to position We Buy Any Home as a leader in the property-buying market.

The agency will also provide a content marketing strategy to drive traffic to the We Buy Any Home website and support the brand’s overall SEO strategy.

Paul Dodds, chief marketing officer at We buy Any Home, said: “There are many people out there who are struggling to sell their property, or need to sell quickly – and we are pleased to have partnered with PHA Media to help maximise our presence.”

Shelley Frosdick, director of PR at PHA Media, added: “We Buy Any Home is a fantastic service with a unique offering that sets itself apart in the property market.

“We are delighted to be working with them to deliver a joined up approach to their UK communications strategy that will raise consumer awareness of the brand, and ensure we are driving engaged traffic to the We Buy Any Home website.”

Buchanan wins Pan African Resources account

/1 Comment/in /by

Pan African Resources has appointed Buchanan to advise on its financial communications.

pan-african-resources-bc

Evander Gold Mines, South Africa

Buchanan will advise the gold producer on analyst, media and investor relations.

Bobby Morse, senior partner at the agency, will lead the team and is supported by Chris Judd.

The agency advises a range of international producers including Centamin – gold in Egypt and West Africa, Tharis – Chrome in South Africa, Petra Diamonds – South Africa and Tanzania – and more.

Prova appoints Simon Ward to head environmental team

/in /by

Prova PR has appointed Simon Ward as head of environment and cleantech.

simon-ward-bc

Simon Ward

Ward’s new role will involve heading up Prova’s environmental team, developing thought leadership, strategy, social media, creative ideas and overseeing campaign delivery for clients, including Turquoise International, Heru, ReFood and Geminor.

He said: “Joining Prova at this time of immense transformation is a thrilling opportunity and I can’t wait to work with some of the best and most creative thinkers in the environmental arena.

“As a sector, we are on the cusp of macro changes that will potentially rewrite the rulebook. The fallout from UK and US politics offers companies both legislative challenges and – for the most nimble – commercial opportunities which I believe we can help them realise.”

Aimee Postle, director of Prova PR, said: “Simon has been adding value to the Prova team as an experienced consultant for a number of months now and it is great news that he will be taking up the mantle of head of environment and cleantech as we grow this important side of the business.

“The environmental sector has undergone significant changes over recent years and we are working closely with our clients across international borders to deliver transformative growth opportunities. Simon’s passion for environmental PR, combined with a rigorous editorial background, makes him a very welcome addition to the Prova team.”

Hudson Sandler supports Ramsdens on AIM IPO

/in /by

Hudson Sandler is supporting pawnbroker Ramsdens on its proposed plans to become a publicly listed company.

ramsdens-bcRamsdens has announced its ‘intention to float on AIM’ – a move which should generate cash, raise the company profile and offer a way of incentivising staff with share options. The move is expected to raise £15.6 million.

Alex Brennan leads the Hudson Sandler team alongside Charlie Jack and supported by Fern Duncan.

Brennan said: “We are delighted to be working with Ramsdens on its proposed IPO and financial and corporate communications.  Ramsdens is a very strong, recognised brand with exciting growth opportunities and will form a valued part of our thriving consumer franchise.”

This week’s top trending features on Gorkana News

/in /by

Your bitesize update on the best PR opinion, interviews, events and insights on Gorkana News this week:

5-news-logoEvent: Media Briefing with 5 News
5 News editor Rachel Corp, assistant news editor Emma Greatorex and digital editor Jack Leather joined Gorkana this week to discuss how the programme can potentially reach a 5.5m weekly audience, why it’s different from competitors and how PRs should get in touch.

maria-boyle-mb-communications-2Opinion: Ten top tips on how to succeed in luxury PR
Last week, Maria Boyle, founder of MB Communications, was recognised as one of the world’s 25 smartest women working in luxury this year, according to Luxury Daily’s Luxury Women to Watch 2017. Here, she offers ten top tips on how to succeed in the luxury sector, advocating the need for aspiring luxury PRs to “get the basics right”. 

guy-cocker-bcInterview: Gorkana meets…Stuff Magazine
Guy Cocker, global editor-in-chief at Stuff Magazine, discusses why his childhood dream was to become Stuff editor, how the magazine is changing its editorial structure to keep up with tech and why PRs should meet the team during trade shows such as Electronic Entertainment Expo.

phil-caplin-2Opinion: Seven ways to make the most of broadcast media
Good Broadcast’s Phil Caplin shares some advice from Sam Taylor, executive editor of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One, and Tom Bateman, BBC News correspondent, on how comms and PR professionals can make the most of the broadcast media.

rebecca-evans-push-pr-2Opinion: Why we’re offering an insider view on PR
Push PR and The London Fashion Agency have launched a series of PR workshops to examine and evaluate practical questions and issues across the whole PR sector; from the constantly evolving media landscape, to budgets, managing client expectations and campaign activation, this meeting of minds aims to inspire and educate the future generation of media consultants. Rebecca Evans, EA at Push PR, tells us why.

kitty-parry-bcOpinion: Seven ways cybercrime requires a different kind of crisis comms
Kitty Parry, founder and CEO at Social Media Compliance – a company that assists businesses to achieve “compliant” social media status among staff – explains seven ways the rise of cybercrime requires brands to develop a different style of crisis comms.

 

 

Ready10 promotes TV presenter Emma Kenny and helps launch dating app “Shinder”

/in /by

Ready10 has been brought on board by TV presenter and psychologist Emma Kenny and product designer, performer and “ideas man” Shed Simove, who has just launched a new dating app “Shinder”, where he is the only man available to date.

Shed Simove has launched a new dating app "Shinder", where he is the only man available to date

Shinder

For Simove, Ready10’s brief will be to advise on strategy and publicity for his products and to raise his personal profile.

Ready10’s first brief was to handle the PR for Simove’s latest invention, a dating app where Simove is the only man available to date, called “Shinder“. He has already been responsible for a number of humorous product innovations in the past, including a book entitled What Every Man Thinks About Apart From Sex, which contains 200 blank pages, and the “Not So Smart Watch”.

Simove said: “From the first moment I met David and the Ready10 team I knew I wanted to work with them. They have enthusiasm and creativity by the bucketload and totally ‘get’ me and what I am after. I look forward to a look and fruitful relationship with them.”

Ready10 has also been briefed to educate consumers about Emma Kenny’s Make Your Switch website, which covers health, diet and fitness.

The agency will also promote the site’s ambassadors, which include This Morning’s Dr. Hilary Jones, and broadcaster and nutritionist Faith Toogood.

Kenny said: “It was clear from Ready10’s approach that they had a thorough understanding of our requirements, particularly within the PR-for-SEO field – an area which is critical to any online based business. We were most impressed by the effective campaigns they’d delivered for other brands and the enthusiasm and passion of the team. They are the perfect PR partner for us.”

David Fraser, MD of Ready10, added: “We are over the moon to be working with two such high-profile influencers.

“Shed is a ball of energy, one of the most creative people I have ever met and the perfect client partner for us. Behind the craziness of some of the ideas lies a serious product design business and I can’t wait for us to get stuck in and help Shed bring some of his amazing ideas to life.”

He continued: “Emma’s approach is totally refreshing and she’s bringing something different to her industry in the way Make Your Switch combines health and happiness with a sensible approach to nutrition. We believe that our approach of combining creative ideas with insightful data can really help deliver great results for Make Your Switch and we are delighted to have been brought on board.”

Seven ways to make the most of broadcast media

/in /by

Good Broadcast‘s Phil Caplin shares some advice from Sam Taylor, executive editor of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One, and Tom Bateman, BBC News correspondent, on how comms and PR professionals can make the most of the broadcast media.

phil-caplin

Phil Caplin

Broadcast media can present a challenge to much of the PR and comms industry. Not only are there hundreds of broadcast decision makers across TV and radio national and regional networks to get to grips with, sometimes radio and TV is seen as an afterthought when – like anything else – a successful campaign depends on planning.

This point was reinforced when two key journalists from the BBC – Sam Taylor, executive editor of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One and Tom Bateman, BBC News correspondent, joined us at Good Broadcast to talk about what makes a good story for them, the opportunities broadcast presents and how PRs can make the most of these.

It’s clear that while the BBC’s news operations are changing, its increasing focus on social platforms and data journalism present exciting new PR opportunities for the connected PR.

Here are just a few of the tips Tom and Sam shared which show how to make the most of broadcast and the BBC in particular.

1. It might sound like a paradox but organisations need to get on the ‘front foot’ when reacting to stories. In general, most businesses are simply not quick enough to offer interesting spokespeople when a big story breaks and so lose the opportunity to get their message across.

2. The BBC is continually looking for spokespeople with “genuine expertise” to offer. Not enough thought goes into finding key people within organisations with real insight and different perspectives to offer.

3. To power broadcast content and its social media channels, BBC News is increasingly looking for “real people with real stories” to feature. Case studies are vital and will help sell a story in Taylor’s view.

4. Businesses shouldn’t be scared of putting up their CEOs for interviews. The potential return usually outweighs the risk when appearing on high profile BBC networks.

5. And it’s not all about the CEO. The title of the guest is not as important as how compelling they are on air. If the story is a good one and they can offer insight then they don’t need to be the boss.

6. Press releases can be completely overwhelming for journalists. You have to question whether it’s the right approach, and keep it brief if you go down that route.

7. Weekends can be overlooked by PRs – there’s often an opportunity to get a spokesperson on the air on a Saturday and Sunday when there’s a substantial audience.

Phil Caplin is director at Good Broadcast. He works with brands to deliver a broadcast strategy and coverage on television, radio and online including HSBC, Nationwide, Amazon and Royal Caribbean.