Hogg Robinson Group hires FTI Consulting

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International corporate services company, Hogg Robinson Group plc, has appointed FTI Consulting as its retained financial and corporate communications adviser.

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John Waples

The FTI team will include senior managing director John Waples, managing directors Elspeth Rothwell and Matthew O’Keeffe and director Alex Le May.

David Radcliffe, chief executive of Hogg Robinson Group, said: “We see this appointment as an important part in the group’s evolution, and are delighted to welcome on board a new team to help us communicate that journey. We were impressed by FTI’s approach to the organisation and look forward to working with it to bring that vision to reality.”

Waples added: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Hogg Robinson Group, and to be delivering financial and corporate communications support. As an organisation helping support businesses around the world to achieve their goals, it has a fantastic story to tell and we look forward to working with the team to do that.”

Earlier this week, FTI was appointed retained financial communications adviser for Mediclinic International.

Clarion launches in-house video production service

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Clarion has launched a new in-house production arm to complement the company’s existing suite of digital and content creation services.

The agency will have a team of producers, editors and camera operators on board and offer a range of services including filming, photography, editing, motion graphics and animation, time lapse video, event and corporate videos and social media clips.

For its first project, the team produced a news video for Aldi to launch the brand’s Back to School uniform range and showcase the quality of the clothing by road testing it on four active children.

As part of the investment in video content production, the agency will also be training all staff in video production skills.

Amanda Meyrick, Clarion CEO, said: “Online video is now at the forefront of PR services. We’re ideally placed to deliver it given our heritage in producing engaging and shareable earned media content that appeals to journalists and their readers, isn’t overly branded, yet still delivers against our clients’ campaign objectives.”

Lombard International hires group marketing and comms director

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Lombard International Assurance, the global leader in wealth structuring solutions for the high-net -worth market, has appointed James Gatoff to the new role of group marketing and communications director.

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James Gatoff

Gatoff will lead large-scale organisational change, transformation, commercial development and communication programmes. He joins Lombard International from a group marketing and communications director role at FNZ, a global financial technology company. Prior to joining FNZ, Gatoff was group communications director at Friends Life group, where he led the global communications team for three years.

Gatoff will take responsibility for corporate communications, group marketing, media relations and internal communications worldwide, and will report to executive chairman at Lombard International John Hillman and CEO Europe Axel Horger.

Hillman said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jamie to Lombard International to lead the marketing and communications teams. His experience and background in cross-media communications will greatly support our growth ambitions. We’re at an exciting stage in our evolution and I very much look forward to working closely with Jamie as we continue to grow opportunities in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia.”

Gatoff added: “I have known Lombard International for many years and have been impressed with their innovative approach and service solutions for the high-net-worth market. I’m delighted to be joining Lombard International and I’m looking forward to working with the strong global leadership team to help further the growth of the business, and realise new global opportunities.”

M&A activity in PR jumps for the third quarter of 2016

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Merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity in PR has jumped in the third quarter of 2016 with 28 deals – nearly as much as the entire first half of the year – according to marcomms and technology advisor Results International.

The first half of the year saw 36 deals made. The results also show that there has been a 75% rise in M&A activity since the second quarter of 2016. During this time there were six UK acquisitions, keeping it in second place behind the US in M&A volume.

Third quarter results are showing the same trend of increasing M&A in the sector that has been developing since the start of 2015.

A quarter (25%) of these deals involved the acquisition of specialist PR agencies in sectors such as healthcare, technology and retail. The deals included Next Fifteen Communications‘ purchase of Pinnacle Marketing Communications, a UK-based technology vertical PR and digital marketing specialist, and Four Communications buying Packer Forbes, which specialises in healthcare PR.

Keith Hunt, managing partner at Results International, told Gorkana: “The likes of Teneo, WPP and Edelman already have a significant PR presence, but the value of the channel has increased dramatically as more marketing services activity moves towards a content-based model. They want to reinforce their existing generalist PR credentials with specialist expertise in vertical sectors.”

On the results, he said: “The recent past has seen a lot of content and social media businesses encroaching on PR’s space and the growing volume of M&A highlights that PR is pushing back. There are still some highly attractive acquisition targets in the sector and a lot of the bigger networks are looking to kick-start their presence in PR and reinvent themselves.

“Specialist agencies continue to rank among the most appealing prospects for larger groups who already have their more generalist PR requirements covered. Agencies with strong client lists and expertise in sectors like tech and healthcare have become increasingly sought after.

“The past two years have seen an increasing level of interest in PR acquisitions, both from groups in the sector and broader marcomms networks. The ability to deliver great content, both offline and via digital, has always been a strength of the public relations industry and is becoming an increasingly critical part of the overall marcomms experience.”

  • For the research, Results International used an in-house team to track all PR deals using a combination of desk-based research, deals forums and direct intelligence from buyers and sellers. 

Gorkana meets…The Travel Magazine

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Sharron Livingston, managing editor at The Travel Magazine, on turning her hobby into a full-time job, the impact of two million Twitter followers and why Monte Carlo and India’s Amritsar are her dream destinations.

The Travel Magazine started as a hobby to share some travel tips with friends and family. When and how did you realise it was going to become a proper magazine?

It may sound bizarre but The Travel Magazine still feels like a hobby. I love all things travel and can talk about it endlessly. The Travel Magazine is a fantastic outlet.

However, when we reached a Twitter following of two million earlier this year, the penny finally dropped that we do in fact have a “proper magazine”. The aim now is to encourage engagement and to this end I have recently started working full time on the site.

In 2009 you decided to switch to online with the help of digital marketing expert Martino Matijevic. Can you tell us what challenges you faced and what are the differences, if any, between print and online?

It was a severe learning curve and sometimes painful. The fact is when people read something online they don’t have the patience to read narrative. We had to reduce the bounce rate. We had to learn the power of the succinct word and meeting a need for the required information head on. We are still learning and evolving to keep up with the needs of the modern traveller.

What role does social media play for the magazine? 

Social media is paramount for the existence of The Travel Magazine. We use a social media model. Without anything in print, the internet is the only mode of communication we have. Thankfully it’s a huge and varied space and we use it to tell our stories and inform readers about worthwhile trips, news and products. It works well for us.

What makes The Travel Magazine different from other outlets in your sector?

The Travel Magazine is a successful mix of editorial and social media expertise. The two used to be regarded as entirely separate. We are learning that these two strands of communication can be seamlessly symbiotic.

Who is the typical The Travel Magazine reader?

Over 70 percent of our readers are between 25 and 54. They tend to be on the look-out for new experiences and seek out hotels that meet their needs. Some say that the site is currently too general. We agree. We are currently working on creating niche sections – romance, families etc. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter – we will keep you posted.

How can PRs help with content?

Keep in touch. Let us know what is going on with your clients. I don’t mind being bombarded. Invites are appreciated too. With so many new sections to be populated with content I would love to hear from you.

Is there anything you definitely won’t cover?

If it’s to do with travel, we will cover it.

How and when do you like them to get in touch?

There are several ways. Choose the one that you feel most comfortable with:

Drop me a line by email, [email protected],

Alert me on Twitter: @travelmagazine

Send a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTravelMagazine

Or just call: 07956 122 842

And finally, which top three destinations  would you most like to visit/review and why?

I’ll go anywhere in search of experience, culture, or even just a rest. However, Monte Carlo has alluring glamour and Amritsar (India) has its golden temple. These are still on my wish list. I still have not visited Australasia – so many islands, so little time!

  • Sharron Livingston was interviewed by Gorkana’s Manuela Rundo.

Rococo appointed by Real Housewives of Cheshire star

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Stacey Forsey

Stacey Forsey, star of ITVBe’s show The Real Housewives of Cheshire has appointed Rococo Group to handle her future communications.

The Manchester-based agency will be heading up all PR and media relations for Forsey and will look to secure local, national and business and trade coverage for her across traditional and digital channels.

It also looks to boost awareness of Forsey’s ventures behind the scenes of the series, including her “well-received” art work.

Forsey said: “Rococo understood the direction I have for my projects and charity work and I’m looking forward to establishing my vision with it through the media. My background is a creative one and I’m keen to portray this through my upcoming work with Rococo.”

Ruth Wertylo, Rococo’s co-owner, said: “Myself and the team can’t wait to get working with Stacey and introduce her entrepreneurial skills to the media. There are many exciting projects in the pipeline for Stacey and Rococo are pleased to add her to our client portfolio.”

PR Case Study: Flora lunchbox challenge

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Golin found that recent improvements to children’s school dinners didn’t extend to packed lunches. In ‘back to school’ week this September, Flora offered mums helpful advice to empower them to make healthier packed lunch choices.

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A Flora lunchbox

Campaign name: Flora lunchbox challenge
PR Team: Golin
Client: Flora
Timing: September 2016

Objective
Flora tasked Golin to campaign for change and bring mass attention to the Flora brand as a healthy plant-based spread alternative to butter, and to create wider awareness of the spreads category among the media and consumers.

Strategy
School lunchboxes must get healthier. Campaigning by Jamie Oliver has vastly improved the nutritional balance of school dinners, however, the government’s recent Childhood Obesity Strategy did not address packed lunches. Golin’s strategy was to raise awareness of the unhealthy state of school lunchboxes, as well as empower mums and kids by providing them with the tools they needed to make healthier lunchbox choices.

Flora commissioned a study with the University of Leeds, revealing that 98% of lunches packed by parents were unhealthy. A mere 0.5% improvement in 10 years. Flora took action, distributing 631,000 lunchboxes with a healthy meal planner and updating its website with lunchbox inspiration for parents.

Flora also joined with Sharon Hodgson, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on School Food, to campaign for better school lunchbox policy. The healthy message was delivered during back to school week in 2016, and used parent bloggers to participate in a #floralunchboxchallenge.

Outcome
The campaign raised an important question with regards to the nutritional content of children’s lunchboxes, and strategically used back to school week to deliver the message. The campaign highlighted the important role that plant-based foods play in creating healthy lunchbox options, with Flora being a key ingredient in a healthy lunchbox.

Golin achieved more than 150 pieces of branded coverage in one day across top national, consumer and broadcast titles including BBC, Daily Mail, Guardian, Huffington Post, Closer, ITV News, Sky News, VICE and The Sun. These results had a reach of over 500m. KPIs to date have been exceeded by more than 50%.

Got a cracking campaign with impressive results you’d like to showcase? If so, please email [email protected].

Amazing PR appointed by Bellamianta

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Bellamianta Rapid Mousse

Amazing PR is set to work with tanning brand Bellamianta.

The agency will now be representing the Bellamianta which claims to be formulated with the ‘cleanest, natural and most hydrating ingredients’.

Lisa Mcdermott, co-founder at Bellamianta, said: “Bellamianta is delighted to partner with the fabulous team at Amazing PR to bring Ireland’s most talked about tanning brand into the UK. Amazing PR will handle consumer PR as well as online, influencers and blogger collaborations for Bellamianta. The initial PR campaign will be to promote our Luxury Christmas sets which are available online and at select nationwide retailers.”

Gorkana meets…Helen Nugent, online money editor of The Spectator

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Helen Nugent, online money editor at The Spectator, on why she enjoys ‘fun’ personal finance stories, how she’s keen to work with PRs on image-led content and why calling her before 12pm is pointless. 

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Helen Nugent

The personal finance section of The Spectator is six months old. Why did it launch when it did and what has changed since it started?

I know that there was a feeling at the magazine that a money section could be a great addition to The Spectator and would be a useful and vital resource for its readers. I’m glad to say that that has proved to be the case. The comments threads both on the site itself and on social media are always full of debate and readerships stats are very strong.

We’re only six months in so there is still an element of feeling our way. But the last six months have shown that there is an appetite for personal finance stories that take on big business, and scrutinise government, company policies and conduct.

What’s different about personal finance in The Spectator?

Spectator readers expect a lot from the magazine’s writers, and rightly so. The same principles that apply to the rest of the publication apply to the personal finance section: quality writing, issue-led commentary, analysis, intelligent thought and a wide breadth of journalism and journalists.

That’s perhaps the main thing that makes Spectator Money stand out, the diversity and quality of the writing team. I’ve recruited the crème de la crème of financial journalism to the section. All are beautiful writers and all have an in-depth knowledge of personal finance amassed over many years and are not afraid to take a firm line or strong stance on an issue.

Spectator Money isn’t just about imparting useful information and guidance, although that is part of what we do, it’s about doing so in a way that will appeal to anyone who enjoys great writing and healthy debate.

What does your new role involve?

As Online Money Editor, I am at my desk early every weekday morning. My first job is the Money Digest, a thorough look at the financial stories of the day across print, online and broadcast, as well as sifting through the constant stream of press releases. I publish that Digest before 10am each day and also put together the daily Spectator Money newsletter.

Then it’s time for the daily Money Blog. I write two or three of these each week and commission the rest out. These vary from day to day and topic to topic. So one week we may have blogs on university fees, charity contributions, payday lenders, pensions and buy-to-let, and the week after that will be totally different.

What makes the perfect story for the website? Or what has been your favourite story so far and why?

One of the best things about Spectator Money is that there is no ‘perfect’ story. Our readers are interested in lots of things and sometimes it’s the article you aren’t sure about that gets the most interest.

Bernard Ginns, former Business Editor of the Yorkshire Post, did a piece recently questioning the point of donating to big charities – and that went down a storm with our readers. I’ve also been proud of pieces by Ruth Sunderland who has analysed gender pay differentials, and I have a soft spot for articles that we have fun with.

For instance, I worked with Opinium Research to produce some exclusive data on PANKs – Professional Aunt, No Kids. It’s a fun topic with a serious point (these women contribute millions to the economy). As for the future, I’m looking forward to chatting to leading lights in the personal finance world, drumming up more exclusives, and producing sharp and brilliantly written content for Spectator Money.

What type of content are you looking for from PRs?

It depends on the article. For the Money Digest, I want a variety of stories that will make interesting bite-size nuggets on a daily basis. For the blogs, I want substantive stories, eye-catching news lines or pieces of research. I’m also keen to work with PRs on exclusives and on great graphics and illustrations. Data is really useful but I often need a way to make it look appealing on the page.

What are your dos and don’ts for pitching stories in to you? 

There’s little point calling me before 12pm each day as that is when I am flat out for Spectator Money. And if you are calling to repeat the content in a press release I already have, that’s not much point in doing that either. I do get swamped by releases but I am on top of my inbox. If the subject line is pithy and interesting, I will read the release. All in all, I prefer email as a way to contact me.

  • Helen Nugent was interviewed by Gorkana’s Manuela Rundo.

Webgains appoints Rooster

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International performance marketing group Webgains has appointed Rooster to be its first PR agency.

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Richard Dennys

Following the announcement of its new CEO, Richard Dennys, Webgains has briefed Rooster to promote its services, results and client roster, which includes Nike, Samsung, Ann Summers, Oakley and Mothercare.

Dennys said: “Having worked successfully with James and his team at Qype and Azimo, I’m pleased to have them on board with Webgains. We’re working on a number of innovative new projects that will carve out a bright new era for the performance marketing industry. Rooster is the ideal partner to ensure that current and prospective clients hear about all that we’re up to.”

Dennys joined Webgains earlier this month and has taken responsibility for the strategic and operational management of Webgains. Rooster will help to promote the business’ track record of driving sales via its large network of publishers.

James Brooke, managing director at Rooster PR, added: “Webgains has been quietly successful for over a decade, delivering a pay-by-performance service for thousands of big name brands. We’re looking forward to working with Richard and his team to lift the lid on their success and ensure they stay one step ahead in the competitive performance marketing industry.”

Founded in 2005, Webgains is an international, results-driven performance marketing company headquartered in the UK.