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FTI Consulting‘s financial services team has provided communications support for the successful IPO of MONETA Money Bank, formerly GE Money Bank, in the Czech Republic.
MONETA’s shares started unconditional trading on the Prague Stock Exchange last week.
FTI’s senior MD Neil Doyle, supported by director Jess Colman and senior consultant Mitch Barltrop, advised MONETA and its selling shareholder, GE Capital, on the transaction.
The IPO, which forms part of GE’s ongoing strategy to divest most of its financial services businesses and focus on industrial businesses, was the biggest in the Czech Republic since 2008. It is also one of the biggest in the EMEA region this year.
GE Capital raised approximately £523m ($750m) from listing a 51% stake in the company; giving MONETA an initial market capitalisation of £1.02bn ($1.46bn).
MONETA is a leading retail and expanding SME bank in the Czech Republic which serves approximately 1,168,000 customers, or 11% of the Czech population.
Ruth Wheatley, account director at firstlight PR, tells us how opportunities in PR have been created by the need for expertise in highly regulated and specialist sectors like healthcare.
“There are too many PRs!” They say. “Do journalists even pick up the phone to agencies these days?” They ask.
These statements may ring true in some corners of the media industry. But, in healthcare, the role of experienced and expert communications professionals has never been more important.
Newsrooms worldwide have beendepleted over the last few years, and smaller teams of journalists have taken on wider briefs. Experienced science, healthcare and medical correspondents have not always been replaced when they have moved on, leaving increasingly time-poor generalists to cover this important but complex area.
This is not to say that there is no expertise in the national press. We work with some journalists at national newspapers (and many within medical trade outlets) who are incredibly experienced in dealing with scientific information, and many have a great deal of knowledge about innovations in medical treatment, as well as strong contacts within the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry. It is always an enjoyable experience to talk through a story with them and they appreciate our role as much as anyone, as we are able to explain the finer details of clinical studies and answer more complex questions about indications and trial design.
As I look around the firstlight office, I see scientists, linguists and former political advisers. In just this small agency, we have decades of experience in every disease area you can think of, every access system in the world and have kept up with each advance in medical research.
The PR world, across agency and in-house, is full of these people – and we’ve also picked up a number of those former expert journalists, too. With this background and understanding, and the ability to communicate very complicated science to a lay audience as well as a passion for our subject, we can be an asset to a journalist who wants to cover a story about the latest immunotherapy combination, but hasn’t the time or capacity to gain a deep appreciation of mechanisms of action and p-values.
In an industry as heavily regulated as pharmaceuticals, it’s also essential to understand the rules within which companies, and journalists, must operate. All healthcare PRs go through a significant number of hours of compliance training during their careers. We are experts in the clauses of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code, the process the European Medicines Agency (EMA) goes through to evaluate new medicines, and what an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) breakthrough designation actually means. We know how precise we have to be and how clinical trial results should be presented. We know how to reference every single point in a press release, but also how to tell the story despite the jargon.
It’s this expertise that means when we speak to a journalist who may usually be a feature writer for the lifestyle section of a newspaper, we can help them to navigate data points and access policies, as well as pulling out the news hook and putting them in touch with charities who can tell the patient’s side of the story.
Everyone has some interest in health news and we’re increasingly obsessed with our own health and wellbeing. The media keeps us up to date with the latest research and innovation, but healthcare PRs have a vital part to play in getting information from the petri dish to the page.
Ruth Wheatley is an account director at firstlight PR and she currently works across the following sectors: oncology, neurology and rare diseases.
M&C Saatchi PR’s former global MD, Gary Wheeldon, and global executive creative director, Steve Strickland, have launched a new London-based creative comms agency, Talker Tailor Trouble Maker, for brands looking to “upstage the status quo”.
Steve Strickland and Gary Wheeldon
Talker Tailor Trouble Maker will operate as an “online shop” for brands, which includes launch client The English National Opera; the agency has been briefed to offer creative and strategic advice to ENO CEO Cressida Pollock directly.
Strickland said: “We’re looking to partner with client brands that want to cause some trouble. Behaving like a challenger is not simply the preserve of start-ups, every brand can have a little more fun with its comms.”
Talker Tailor Trouble Maker offers services centred on four key areas; creative, content, connections and communication.
It also says that it is committed to never “white-labelling” third party suppliers, or marking-up third party suppliers, brought on board to service clients.
Wheeldon said: “We are truly committed to creating a business that does not white label or whitewash. We will put mutuality at the heart of everything we do.”
With almost 20 years’ experience, Wheeldon started his career at Launch PR, spending seven years at the agency before moving to freuds.
During his six year tenure at freuds, he worked on its biggest UK consumer PR account, Asda Walmat, ran PR activity for Mars and took charge of the agency’s luxury and lifestyle team. He joined M&C Saatchi PR as global MD in 2015.
Before Talker Tailor Trouble Maker, Strickland held three creative director roles at agencies; Weber Shandwick between 2009 and 2011, freuds from 2011 to 2015, and most recently M&C Saatchi PR, which he joined early last year.
While at M&C, he was tasked with “safe-guarding” the quality of creative products globally across its ten offices.
The company is a new venture in the hotel management industry and is targeting audiences including hotel owners, investors, lenders and developers.
Rooster’s planned activity will employ thought leadership and the knowledge of THMCo’s board members, who include CEO Roddy Watt (pictured) and chairman Jeremy Logie.
It will look to generate interest in business, finance and hospitality trade titles, as well as regional media, and will also run THMCo’s Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
Watt said: “We’ve been impressed by Rooster’s understanding of the industry, its strategic approach and its flexibility to cater to our specific needs as a start-up. The team has already shown promise and we feel confident that Rooster’s work will be pivotal in helping THMCo penetrate a crowded market and achieve its business objectives.”
James Brooke, MD at Rooster PR, added: “The THMCo proposition sets the company miles apart from competitors and we are excited about supporting this impressive board on its journey to disrupt a busy marketplace. THMCo’s tailored and hands-on approach will achieve the results its clients are looking for and we hope to demonstrate this through the placement of some compelling case studies in the not too distant future.”
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, the dedicated sport sponsorship and entertainment PR agency, has announced the launch of a new eSports offering, and a partnership with the eGames, taking place at the Rio Olympics 14-16 August.
Head of digital Haran Ramachandran will lead the new venture, providing counsel and creative activation to brands seeking to navigate the emerging industry.
Ramachandran said: “eSports is the perfect fusion of sport and entertainment, but in Europe especially brands have been reticent to get involved. We want to change that by working with brands to create compelling eSports campaigns in the same way we do for traditional sports.”
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment will provide strategic counsel and sponsorship advice in the eGames inaugural event, which will bring the world’s top players together in national teams to compete for international recognition.
“We chose M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment as they have a real passion for eSports,” said Chester King, CMO of International eGames Group. “They and their clients understand the potential, that being an eGames partner is a powerful alternative to traditional sport sponsorships.”
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment specialises in rights amplification, sponsorship, PR, branded content creation and experiential production. The firm is part of the global network of M&C Saatchi, with 26 offices across 19 countries.
Missed out on this week’s PR News? Get your handy round-up of the essential highlights of PR and media stories, features and events content over the last seven days on Gorkana News.
Pitch wins
Spotify has handed a consumer, corporate and B2B comms brief to Red Consultancy, claiming the PR agency has the “perfect team” to support its continued expansion.
Mobile gaming publisher Rovio Entertainment, creator of Angry Birds, has hired Mischief as its UK consumer PR agency, following a competitive pitch.
Hyundai Motor UK has appointed Launch PR to reach a “whole new audience” with a brief centred around innovation and technology.
Flood Re, a government-supported national reinsurance scheme cheaper flood insurance, has brought in Hanover Communications to manage its PR and public affairs.
Ad agency Telegraph Hill has been appointed by Tandem, the mobile-first bank, to launch Tandem’s crowdfunding round using video content that attracts audiences looking to own shares in the bank.
People news
Joanna de Koning
Just Eat has appointed Joanna de Koning from McDonald’s to a new role of global head of corporate communications.
The Theo Paphitis Retail Group (TPRG) has appointed Jess Littlewood, ex-senior PR manager for LIVING TV (now SKYLiving), as head of PR.
Comms consultancy Pagefield has brought in The Times columnist Philip Collins to the faculty of The Pagefield Academy, which offers clients tailored training courses.
James Clench, The Sun’s former head of news, has joined PR firm PHA Media.
Wild Card has recruited News UK’s former senior comms manager Sarah Mason as senior consultant and House of Fraser’s social media manager Will Vieri as head of social.
Legal agency Byfield Consultancy is undergoing management changes as managing director Gus Sellitto becomes chief executive and majority shareholder.
Events
Media Briefing with The Huffington Post UK The Huffington Post UK will be five years old on July 6 and, at an exclusive Gorkana briefing this week, editor-in-chief Stephen Hull, alongside the site’s global head of lifestyle Poorna Bell, talked about getting the Duchess of Cambridge to guest edit the site earlier this year, why content is about solutions, not problems, and how PRs can reach out to its “thriver” audience.
The Financial Times has appointed Victor Mallet, its current South Asia bureau chief, as Asia news editor. He will be based in Hong Kong and responsible for the FT news gathering operation across the Asia Pacific region.
Rozina Breen has been hired as head of news at BBC Radio 5 live. Rozina is currently digital editor at BBC World News, with the start date for her new role to be confirmed.
Peter Spiegel has been appointed news editor at the Financial Times and is now based in London. Before this, he was the FT‘s bureau chief for Brussels, where he received several honours for his coverage of the Greek debt crisis.
The Telegraph has appointed Bethan Holt, who has worked on fashion for The Telegraph and various other publications,as digital fashion editor.
Bauer Media will unite its UK magazine operations under the leadership of Paul Keenan, who will be responsible for all of Bauer’s UK and Nordic magazine, radio and digital operations, with immediate effect.
Helen Thomas has been appointed business editor at BBCNewsnight. She is currently European editor at The Wall Street Journal‘s Heard on the Street column.
Features
OPINION: The dynamic triangle at the heart of PR
As Aspectus explores a service model incorporating more animated videos, infographics and cartoons, Alastair Turner, the agency’s global CEO, explains how PR continues to evolve and is driven by three major factors – media, search and content.
PR Case Study: Sounds of the Neighbourhood
When IHG-owned Hotel Indigo wanted to highlight the surroundings of each of its hotels, its PR team got presenter Edith Bowman to help launch a series of #SundaySocials at three of its top locations, with the help of The Zutons’ Dave McCabe, DJ Mylo and Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B.
LaSalle Investment Management, a global real estate investment manager, has hired former FleishmanHillard Fishburn account director Lydia Eades (pictured) to lead EMEA corporate communications.
Eades joins LaSalle with more than nine years experience in communications in the asset management, alternative investment, professional services and property industries. She has been responsible for developing and protecting the reputation for some of the sector’s most well-known brands across Europe and globally.
At LaSalle, she will manage the firm’s EMEA communications strategy, reporting directly into LaSalle’s director of marketing, Anna Buxton, while working closely with Europe CEO Simon Marrison.
Buxton said: “Given the importance of EMEA within LaSalle’s global business, coupled with the strong performance of the region, I am delighted to welcome Lydia to the team to continue to develop the profile of our global business within Europe. We recognise the importance of strong cohesive communications to reflect LaSalle’s strengths in the region, and Lydia’s pan-European expertise and diversified skillset will be an invaluable addition and we are delighted to have her on board.”
Eades commented: “I am very much looking forward to this new opportunity and working with my European counterparts to grow our EMEA profile and highlight our global business in Europe. LaSalle is one of the most respected names in the industry and I am proud to be a part of its acclaimed team at a time where the company is experiencing such strong growth.”
LaSalle manages approximately £40.5b of private and public equity and private debt investments (as of Q4 2015).
PR agency W Communications has been appointed by Y.CO, a luxury yacht charter and sales platform, to handle its communications.
VERTIGO for charter by Y.CO.
Y.CO provides charter, sales, management and new build services to the global yachting community. The company is based in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Specialising in marketing, social, corporate, and crisis communications, W will manage Y.CO’s brand and business PR as it seeks to raise its global profile among an international luxury audience.
Warren Johnson, founder & CEO of W, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with such a pioneering brand. We feel a great synergy with Y.CO, which is the most energetic and agile brand in the superyacht market. And with our ever-growing luxury expertise, we’re in an excellent position to help Y.CO target the closely-knit community of ultra-high-net-worth individuals.”
Charlie Birkett, CEO and co-founder of Y.CO, added: “At Y.CO we take a dynamic and modern approach to yachting and wanted an agency that would share in our passion and enthusiasm. W really understands our ethos and business objectives, and we’re excited to embark on this journey with the team.”
W’s client roster also includes Princess Yachts and Boat International.
Fleet Street Communications has been brought in by organic Italian soft drink brand Galvanina as its retained consumer PR agency.
The agency has been briefed to build awareness of the brand, its heritage and credentials. A campaign has been designed to promote advocacy, drive excitement, challenge perceptions and position Galvanina as an “aspirational lifestyle brand”.
Using traditional consumer PR and social media activity, Fleet Street began the programme of activity at the beginning of April.
Activity also includes promoting the brand’s relationship with celebrity chef Aldo Zilli and identifying and supporting brand sponsorship opportunities.
Mark Stretton, Fleet Street MD, said: “We have been working hard over the last year to develop our B2C PR credentials and expertise, and we are delighted to be representing Galvanina.
“The brand is built on authenticity, craftsmanship and the very highest quality, and we’re very much looking forward to helping Galvanina to strengthen its position in a competitive marketplace, showcasing what makes this family-run company so special.”
Recruitment firm The Works Search has published findings from a survey showing a majority of PR professionals saw a rise in salary and bonuses last year.
The annual survey shows that, while some salaries also decreased within the year, 62% of the 800 respondents got a salary increase in 2015.
Of those, 63% were happy with the raise, which is a 3% boost from 2014. Furthermore, 51% of respondents believe they are “adequately” paid.
Sarah Leembruggen, MD at The Works Search, said: “With 62% of our participants having received a salary increase – a similar percentage to last year’s findings – I believe this is reflective of a sense of consistency and ongoing strength of the economy which is great news for the industry.”
She added: “Corporate communications salaries have increased across the board with the largest increases in-house at a senior level highlighting how companies are focusing on investment at the top as they continue to see the benefits of promoting and protecting their brands. There are also some healthy bonuses to be had which are based on company and individual performance – heads of communications have fared well this year.”
The corporate sector has seen the biggest uplifts in salary particularly in the upper salary ranges, according to the study. Agency staff such as corporate board directors and partners can expect an average salary of £125,000 with even higher figures shown for in-house staff.
Top in-house financial PR staff saw the highest jump in salary, with global heads of communications earning up to £175,000. This is £25,000 more than the figure reported in 2014. Financial PR agencies also show high earners, however, with top roles such as managing directors earning an average salary of £150,000.
There were also uplifts within consumer PR agencies, with senior roles in the sector commanding an average of £100,000.
The in-house consumer sector showed recognition for the junior levels, with the average salary for a PR executive going up by 28%.
Bonuses
When it comes to bonuses, 57% of participants received one in 2015, showing a 3% increase year-on-year.
The senior roles in corporate communications fared best, with global heads of communications receiving an average bonus of £60,000 – a 3% increase on the previous year. This is slightly lower within agencies where CEOs and directors earned an average of £30,000, but senior account directors received an average bonus of £13,000 – a 27% jump from the previous year.
Financial PR agencies saw the biggest rise bonuses, with managing directors and board directors seeing a 30% jump from 2014. Here the average bonus was £50,000.
The Works Search surveyed 800 PR and comms professionals about their salaries between January-December 2015.
