Source LF launches marketing and PR division

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Recruitment business Source LF has launched a new marketing and PR division led by Kate Watson.

Watson has rejoined the London-based company after a seven-year stint in the Middle East, where she worked for a number of the region’s leading search and recruitment firms, specialising in the communications industry.

Annika De Friend, founder of Source LF, said: “Kate will further extend our offering to the PR and brand side of business, to deliver real value to the recruitment processes and offer our existing candidates further opportunities.”

Watson added: “Source LF is an ambitious and diverse business, employing some of the best recruitment talent in the industry.”

  • Pictured: Kate Watson

Acuity hires Mindi Chahal as content editor

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B2B PR and marketing agency Acuity has appointed former Marketing Week journalist Mindi Chahal as content editor.

The newly-created position demonstrates the growing value of content for clients of Acuity and its sister new business consultancy, Ingenuity.

Most recently senior writer at Centaur-owned Marketing Week, Chahal has also held the role of news and features writer at Promo Marketing, the publication of the Institute of Promotional Marketing. She graduated from City University with an MA in journalism.

Ian McCawley, managing director at Acuity PR, added: “Having Mindi join the team as our content editor is a coup. Her expertise and experience in writing, editing, and using consumer and business research to drive opinion and solve brands’ problems will greatly bolster our content offering.”

Chahal said: “This is a great role and a unique position, for which my seven years working as a media and marketing journalist will stand me in good stead to develop content that is useful for both PR and new business.”

Hume Brophy Singapore hires Holly Huang as director

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Hume Brophy has appointed Holly Huang as a director in its Singapore office, to advise clients across its financial and corporate communications practices.  

Huang previously led the corporate and financial practice at another global agency in Singapore. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin and has worked in various roles in the financial services industry in Southeast Asia and China.

She also specialises in corporate communications for the real estate and energy sectors, having advised global companies on local and regional communications strategies, including issues and crisis management programmes.

Hume Brophy is now active across Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Japan.

Martin Reidy, managing director, Hume Brophy Asia, said: “With Holly’s appointment, we are strengthening our ability to provide high quality counsel and actionable local insight in Singapore and Southeast Asia, particularly for clients in knowledge-intensive industries such as finance, fintech and technology.”

Huang said: “As the global financial system recovers from almost a decade of suppressed growth, and as the world’s markets continue to look to Asia for new pools of liquidity and investment opportunities, mid-2017 is the ideal time to be joining one of the fastest growing communications firms in Asia.”

City Against Hunger Mud Challenge open for entries

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Financial PRs are invited to enter teams into the City Against Hunger Mud Challenge, which will take place on Friday 15th September.

The afternoon sees a maximum of 75 corporate teams competing on one of the UK‘s best Nuts Challenge assault courses as well as enjoying a post-challenge networking party with street food, drinks, a fire pit, games and live music.

Participants will raise vital funds for The Hunger Project, empowering rural communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America to end hunger and poverty and create income-generating activities.

Each team will be made up of four participants from the same company, with one person as team captain. Companies can register one or several teams. Registration fees are £100 per person to cover costs and ensure all funds raised by teams go directly towards supporting The Hunger Project’s work in ending global hunger and poverty.

Corporate and financial PR agency Buchanan is one of the founding partners of the event, which started life in 2014.

Ben Romney, a partner at Buchanan, said: “The City Against Hunger Mud Challenge is a unique and fun networking event open for anyone working in the financial industries – whether they be PRs, investment banks, lawyers, corporates, auditors…even journos.  It’s also great team bonding as nothing cements office relationships like the indignity of dragging a crying colleague out of a muddy ditch!”

The registration page can be found here.

  • Pictured: Ben Romney

EAST VILLAGE. wins raft of food and drink brands

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Birmingham-based EAST VILLAGE. has secured a raft of food and drinks accounts including Ian Macleod Distillers, which has enlisted the agency to drive media coverage for its brands across the Midlands.

Working alongside Ian Macleod Distillers regional sales manager Claire Sumner-Hughes, EAST VILLAGE. will represent brands including Edinburgh Gin, Glengoyne, Smokehead and Tamdhu through media engagement initiatives and public and trade events.

The agency has also been retained for a second year to deliver PR for Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, which takes place 14-16 July. As part of this year’s weekend, it will support an event that will see participants make and bottle their own gin.

Nickolls and Perks of Stourbridge has selected EAST VILLAGE. to run event management, PR and social media for the Midlands Whisky Festival.

Finally, Primitivo Bar & Eatery has enlisted EAST VILLAGE. to deliver a social media campaign ahead of its upcoming re-launch.

Tara Tomes, EAST VILLAGE. MD, said: “As we look ahead towards the business’ fourth anniversary later this year, I am just overwhelmed by the number of amazing brands and businesses choosing to work with us. We’re passionate about each and every client, and hope that always shines through.”

  • Pictured: (left to right) EAST VILLAGE.’s Emma Jones, Hattie D’Souza, Tara Tomes, Nicole Gauntlett and Ella Cunningham 

Portland launches strategic planning function

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Portland has hired Tanya Sandler, a former Ogilvy & Mather New York creative strategist, as its first strategic planner.

Sandler will help Portland’s communications consultants use data to generate strategies and campaigns for their global client base.

She has 12 years’ experience at advertising and digital agencies and will report to Eleanor Dickinson, Portland’s head of research and insights.

“The use of strategic planning processes will ensure that Portland is even better able to develop powerful insight-led strategies for our clients,” said Mark Flanagan, managing director at Portland. “The arrival of Tanya to the team helps us drive this approach throughout the business and expands the range of skills we have available within the agency.”

Sandler said: “I am really excited to be joining Portland at such a pivotal time in strategic communications. They have a very strong reputation for their commitment to research and data, and I look forward to working on how this can be best applied to meet clients’ needs.”

  • Pictured: Tanya Sandler

Franco Manca owner appoints Hudson Sandler

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UK restaurant company The Fulham Shore has appointed Hudson Sandler as its retained financial and corporate communications adviser following a competitive pitch.

The Fulham Shore owns and operates restaurant brands Franco Manca and The Real Greek. It has more than 50 restaurants across the UK and was admitted to AIM in October 2014.

Partners Alex Brennan and Charlie Jack will lead the account alongside senior account manager Lucy Wollam.

Brennan said: ‘‘The Fulham Shore is a fantastic business with first-class brands in the fast growing eating out market. The business has an unrivalled management team, led by David Page, Chairman, and hugely exciting prospects as it expands its brands.

“We’re delighted to be working with the business, which will become a valued part of Hudson Sandler’s thriving consumer sector franchise.”

Calacus to run cycling union president’s international election campaign

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International Cycling Union president Brian Cookson has appointed Calacus to run his campaign communications as he stands for a second term at the helm of cycling’s governing body.

The independent sports PR consultancy has represented a range of high profile clients, including IOC executive board member Sergey Bubka, Red Bull Air Race, Laureus World Sports Awards and the International Boxing Association.

Cookson is running on a platform to drive growth across all cycling’s disciplines, accelerate international development and champion cycling for transport and leisure.

“Calacus has a strong international reputation in the world of sports communications and I am confident that its support will be hugely beneficial to my campaign,” Cookson said. “David Alexander has worked at the highest level in sports journalism. He and his team will be invaluable as I seek to win a mandate to build on my first four years as UCI president.”

David Alexander, Calacus managing director, added: “We are delighted to have been invited to work with Brian Cookson on his re-election campaign.

“Cycling has gone through some challenging times over the years and the fact it has been handed four more medal events at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is a testament to the progress the UCI has made under Brian Cookson’s leadership.”

The UCI election will take place in Bergen, Norway, in September.

  • Pictured: Brian Cookson