Café Rouge appoints LightBrigade to handle consumer PR

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Café Rouge, part of the Casual Dining Group, has brought in LightBrigade to handle its consumer PR, as the French-styled restaurant chain undergoes a major property and brand revamp.

In its 26th year, Café Rouge’s “rejuvenation programme” has seen 50 of its restaurant get new interior designs, as well as a front and back of house refurbishment.

The brand plans to re-launch another 30 restaurants this year and launch a refreshed menu in March.

LightBrigade, which also works with hospitality brands including YO! Sushi, giraffe, Domino’s, pod and The Real Greek, will report to Georgia Hall, brand director for Café Rouge.

The account will be led by Alan Twigg, LightBrigade’s MD.

Hall said: “It is a genuine privilege to restore a heritage brand to glory days and pay homage to all the French food classics and Parisian bistro style. We are excited to have the LightBrigade team join us on the journey which will include launching new sites, menus, food innovation and new dining concepts.

“LightBrigade understands the dynamics of the fast moving and shifting casual dining market in the UK and its passion for what we do and its clarity of thinking struck us immediately.”

Twigg added: “This is just a fabulous brand and the work going on to rejuvenate it is really impressive. As more and more dining concepts appear what seems like every week, it’s time we celebrate a true classic and ensure Café Rouge is consistently promoted as authentic, established and expert in its field.”

NRAS hands cross-sector brief to Nobull

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Nobull Communications has been appointed to support The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) and handle consumer PR, corporate PR and seasonal media campaigns for the charity.

Founded in 2001, the NRAS supports the 690,000 people in NRAS MAINthe UK living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is the only charity devoted specifically to the condition.

Nobull was hired by the charity after carrying out pro bono work for the NRAS during RA Awareness Week 2015 in June last year.

Clare Jacklin, director of external affairs at NRAS, said: “Nobull really impressed us with the pro bono work they took on for us during RA Awareness Week 2015. Nobull quickly showed a great understanding of our audience and helped us create and deliver an impressive awareness campaign.

“Its creative approach to communicating these messages has allowed us to reach more people with rheumatoid arthritis. The team were so supportive and passionate, it felt like they’d worked with us previously, but this was our first campaign together! We can’t wait to get stuck in to 2016 and work together to raise awareness.”

Anne-Marie Payne, Nobull director, added: “We worked with NRAS last year on their annual RA Awareness Week campaign and it was exciting to see such a positive reaction from Members and supporters of the charity. Raising awareness of RA is something we are determined to do and we are enthused by the hard work that NRAS does all year round to tirelessly raise awareness and funds to support the 1% of the UK (population) with this condition. We are eager to get stuck in to the campaign.”

Food sharing app OLIO hires Marlin PR to grow brand awareness in UK

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OLIO, an app that allows neighbours and local shops to share surplus food and avoid waste, has brought in Marlin PR for a six month project covering consumer and corporate PR needs, following a competitive pitch.

Marlin’s remit includes corporate and technology profiling, OLIO MAINuser evidence, features pitching, news hijacking and event support.

Ben Philipson, company director at Marlin PR, said: “We’re are delighted to be working with OLIO – another innovative technology company that is looking to help solve the serious social and environmental issue of food waste. We know that UK households bin over £12.5bn of edible food every year and we love the fact that OLIO challenges people to have an honest conversation with themselves about the excess food in their cupboards, imploring them to join the food revolution!”

OLIO‘s free app currently operates within the M25, but is targeting growth across the rest of the UK. Tessa Cook, OLIO’s co-founder, said: “It’s essential that we have a PR partner who ‘gets’ the problem we’re trying to solve, and who brings bold ideas coupled with robust strategic thinking.

“We have an enormous challenge ahead as we attempt to change consumer behaviour, but I’m confident that we’ve selected the right agency for the job, and am looking forward to having Marlin on board.”

Birmingham International’s John Morris joins Freshwater

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Independent comms agency Freshwater has appointed John Morris from Birmingham International Airport to strengthen its work in the transport and infrastructure sectors. 

Morris will provide counsel to Freshwater’s range of clients in transport, planning, infrastructure and public affairs. His appointment bolsters Freshwater’s public affairs division and will help drive new business for the consultancy. He is based in the agency’s London office.

Morris was previously public affairs director at Birmingham International Airport, where he built a broad constituency of support for a successful £70m runway expansion and lobbied for the airport to be properly served by the planned HS2 Birmingham Interchange station.

Prior to that, he led Virgin Trains’ public affairs and communications team during its launch into the UK market in 1997. He was also the MD of Virtue Solutions, which worked to launch Arriva Trains Wales and has served as the managing editor of Railway World magazine.

He said: “It’s a good time to be joining Freshwater. Its sustained growth is fuelling serious ambitions to consolidate and grow its client base across the transport sector, both in public affairs and integrated communications.

“Freshwater has a strong background in the sector and I look forward to being a part of its future progress, particularly at a time when the railways – and infrastructure in general – is enjoying a high, and growing, public profile. As the focus on infrastructure increases, so do the opportunities for communications professionals to add serious value to organisations in both private and public sectors.

“Delivering strategies to help clients fulfil their objectives is something I am passionate about, especially in a sector that so acutely impacts the country’s prosperity and affects so many people.”

Online community International Women in Mining brings in Yellow Jersey

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International Women in Mining (IWiM), a global web-based community which aims to improve the gender balance in the mining industry, has appointed Yellow Jersey as its comms adviser.

IWiM has hired Yellow Jersey to develop its growth strategy, raise brand awareness and increase its membership. The agency will focus on messaging, branding and media relations.

The account is being led by Dominic Barretto and Harriet Jackson.

Jackson said: “Our appointment by IWiM complements our mining client portfolio and extensive industry experience. The basic materials sector is one which we understand well, and we are currently ranked in the top five. We look forward to working with IWiM and developing a greater awareness around the organisation.”

IWiM supports the growth of female participation in the industry, develops international projects, increases global interaction and provides information and access to contacts worldwide.

PepsiCo hands UK corporate PR account to Headland Consultancy

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PepsiCo has briefed Headland to manage its UK corporate comms, following a pitch for its account in December.

Headland started working on the account earlier this month and partner Simon Burton is leading the brief.

It was announced last November that freuds, which had been PepsiCo’s corporate comms adviser, was stepping down from the account.

PepsiCo’s brands include Walkers, Doritos, Pepsi Max, Quaker and Tropicana.

British Gas retains Weber Shandwick for B2B and consumer work

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British Gas, the Centrica-owned energy and services company, has brought in Weber Shandwick as its retained B2B and consumer adviser, following a competitive pitch. 

Weber Shandwick will focus on developing campaigns in two key areas for British Gas. It will be involved in the nationwide Government-mandated smart meter roll-out, which the Government has targeted for completion by 2020, and through BG’s Connected Home brand Hive, it will want to exploit interest and opportunity in the ‘internet of things’.

Stuart Lambert, strategy and creative director in the consumer team at Weber Shandwick London, leads the brief. Hollie Adamson will be the client experience lead with overall operational responsibility for all campaigns.

George Eykyn, director of communications at British Gas, said: “We’re pleased to confirm that we’ve appointed Weber Shandwick as our retained PR agency, following a highly competitive tender process. We look forward to working with the agency through an exciting period ahead for British Gas and our parent group, Centrica.”

Rachel Friend, Weber London MD, aded: “It’s rare that a UK brief this exciting, touching so many people and in an industry as nuanced and significant as the energy sector comes along.

“To say we are honoured and thrilled to have been chosen would be an understatement. British Gas has a unique, incredible history and is a truly iconic British brand. We can’t wait to get started and help the brand on the exciting next stage of its journey.”

Montfort supports Northill Capital’s acquisition

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Asset manager Northill Capital, which was founded in 2010 by Jonathan Little, former Vice Chairman of BNY Mellon Asset Management, is working with Montfort to support its acquisition of a 60% stake in Capital Four, a Copenhagen-based high yield credit asset management business.

Northill announced the deal, without disclosing financial details, this Monday. The remaining 40% of the firm’s equity will stay with existing partners Sandro Näf, Torben Skødeberg and Henrik Østergaard.

Capital Four will retain day-to-day operational independence, with Northill‘s management team joining the CF board of directors. CF will remain based in Copenhagen following the deal to maintain a “favourable vantage point” on the European credit investment environment.

Montfort Communications has been tasked with providing ongoing communications support to the company. Montfort’s founding partner Gay Collins (pictured) leads the brief.

As of 31 December, Northill owned a majority interest in combined assets under management (AUM) of $30bn (£21bn).

Frank appoints Nexus MD Richard Medley to its board

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Former Nexus MD Richard Medley has joined Frank as a board director, with a brief to head up the agency’s corporate reputation, crisis and issues division, as well as oversee a portfolio of consumer clients.

With a career spanning more than 20 years, Medley was MD of Nexus for nearly four years, having joined the agency in 2012 from Spider PR.

Before Spider PR, he was MD of Publicis Consultants, following senior stints at GCI and Porter Novelli.

Graham Goodkind, founder and chairman of Frank, said: “I’ve known Richard for many years and I have tried to hire him before, but for whatever reason it wasn’t the right time or place. So I’m delighted that we’ve got over the line this time.

“He’ll significantly add to the dynamic and vibe of the agency and brings a wealth of experience that will help take us to the next level. Adept at dealing at senior level with clients, providing considered strategic advice, he also has a sharp, creative mind which will play out perfectly here at Frank.”

Medley said: “Not many agencies have managed to keep the creative reputation flowing so consistently as the guys at Frank have for the last 15 years. And having been envious of that from the outside, it feels pretty good to be on the inside and contributing to what comes next. I’m buzzing on this next career phase.”

Medley joins a UK board consisting of Goodkind, group MD Andrew Bloch, UK MD Alex Grier, board director Laura Jones and CFO Damon Kelly. Board director David Fraser is due to leave the business in early April.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the agency had been chosen by The Rugby Football Union to promote the HSBC London Sevens, the final tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, at Twickenham in May 2016.

 

Vigo supports Rockhopper Exploration merger

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Rockhopper Exploration, a UK-based oil and gas exploration company, worked with strategic comms consultancy Vigo on its merger last year with Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL) to create the largest holder of discovered oil resources in the North Falkland Basin. 

The boards of Rockhopper and FOGL reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share merger in November last year. The deal completed on 15 January last week. The previously AIM-listed FOGL will remain on AIM but will be listed as Rockhopper.

Rockhopper’s development of the North Falkland oil basin will be boosted by the deal. The first phase of the ‘Sea lion’ drilling campaign will look to exploit some 220 million barrels.

Vigo will continue to advise Rockhopper on all aspects of its capital markets communications. The Vigo team, led by managing director Patrick D’Ancona, has been retained since 2013.