Haven Power appoints Bottle

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Haven Power, the UK energy supplier to businesses, and part of the Drax Group, has appointed Bottle to lead its external communications and raise awareness of the brand in the SME and I&C (Industrial and Commercial) markets.

Bottle’s remit will include helping Haven to offer advice to businesses across the UK, both large and small, on various issues relating to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, business growth, access to finance and business productivity all with a strong focus on renewable energy.

Haven Power is keen to use Bottle to tell its story about its journey of transformation and how it is perfectly placed to challenge the status quo when it comes to sustainability champions.

Pamela Conway, brand and marketing director at Haven Power, said: “It is great to be working with a PR agency that really understands and gets behind our brand purpose. We believe that a sustainable future is better for everyone and we need an agency to live and breathe this for us when dealing with the media and drafting our communications.”

Holly Tyzack, head of editorial at Bottle, who will lead the account, added: “We are already working with a leading name in the energy sector in the form of Opus Energy (also part of the Drax Group) and so we are therefore delighted to work with another leading brand in this space.

“We are looking forward to pushing out Haven Power’s renewable and sustainability message even further afield, especially as these topics have so much more traction in the media of late.”

Cannes 2017: Hungary wins Young Lions PR competition 2017

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Hungary has won the Gold Prize in the 2017 Young Lions PR competition, which asked teams to submit their campaigns within 24 hours of receiving the brief.

Young Lions winners

The Hungarian team of Luca Hadnagy and Paloma Medina from HPS Experience won the gold prize.

The silver prize was handed to the UK team of Jack Davy and Ottilie Ratcliffe from The Romans; and the Costa Rica team of Christian Gomez and Estefani Solorzano from Comunidad De Empresas De Comunicacion De CR won the bronze prize.

The Young Lions PR competition, organised by the ICCO, seeks to discover and celebrate the leading young creative PR team in the world. Twenty two (22) teams of two competed for the coveted title in Cannes after local competitions and elimination rounds, in their own country. These initial rounds of competition were set up by local Cannes Lions representatives.

The competitors had 24 hours to prepare their campaigns. The Hungarian team’s campaign will go on to inspire the next British Red Cross campaign.

On Saturday, the British Red Cross provided a campaign brief to the Young Lions PR competitors at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, with a focus on supporting and raising awareness of ‘silent emergencies’.

A ‘silent emergency’ represents the 9 out of 10 serious emergencies happening every day that never make the headlines, and include major humanitarian disasters, floods, food shortages, etc.

Francis Ingham, Chief Executive, ICCO, said: “The work from the Hungarian team was excellent, as was all of the work from the finalists. ICCO is always very proud to make the Young Lions PR competition happen.

“And, speaking as a Brit, it’s awesome news that we won silver this year and lets go for gold next year!”

Gaming company Letou appoints Calacus

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Calacus has been appointed by international gaming company Letou to promote its shirt sponsorship of Premier League football club Swansea City for the 2017-18 season.

Calacus will launch Letou’s consumer-facing campaign ‘Letou Goals for Good’ which promotes its sponsorship and support of local charities in South Wales.

Letou will feature on the front of home, away and training kits with branding visible at the stadium and all marketing materials.

David Alexander, Calacus managing director, said: “Calacus does a lot of work in football and sports charity and Letou’s vision is the perfect blend of two of our specialisms.

“We’ve got exciting plans with Letou as it looks to expand in the UK and beyond and we’re looking forward to helping it achieve its ambitions.”

Paul Fox, Letou chief executive, added: “It would be easy as an Asian-facing gaming company to sign the cheque and build awareness purely through branding.

“I was brought up in Glasgow and I have family in Swansea and when the opportunity arose to work with Swansea City, it was really important to me that Letou uses our partnership to give back to the community as much as possible.

“We’re donating our corporate hospitality box to Shelter Cymru, a local homeless charity, and donating our season ticket allocation to Disability Sport Wales. I am confident that the ‘Letou Goals for Good’ campaign we are launching will make a difference.”

Hearst appoints Fay Jennings as joint head of PR

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Magazine publisher Hearst has appointed Fay Jennings as head of PR.

Fay Jennings

Jennings will share the role with Karen Meachen. She will work Monday – Wednesday and Meachen will work Wednesday – Friday.

Prior to Hearst, Jennings worked as director of brand and PR at NetJets Europe and head of global public relations at Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Jennings said: “I’m extremely proud and excited to be joining Hearst at a time when the company is evolving and diversifying. I will be working across the company’s global magazine brands as well as helping to tell Hearst’s fascinating corporate story. My career began in magazine journalism 15 years ago so it’s a privilege to work for a company I have long admired.”

Cannes 2017: PR recognised at Cannes Health & Wellness Lions

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Ketchum, Edelman and Weber have been awarded Cannes Health & Wellness Lions for their work with wider advertising and marketing groups.

For the first time this year, the Cannes Lions Awards allowed entrants to credit PR agencies that participated in their campaigns.

In the Health & Wellness Lions, communications company Clemenger BBDO Melbourne won the top prize with a Grand Prix award for the Meet Graham campaign for the Transport Accident Commission Victoria.

In total, 65 awards were made with Ketchum and its subsidiary winning four Lions and Edelman winning three.

Weber Shandwick New York win a Bronze Lion for its PR, creation and publishing work for GSK’s Excedrin tablets brand and Debate Headache campaign.

Other PR agencies to be recognised for their work include Dini Von Mueffling Communications, Little George, Dentsu Public Relations, Tokyo, PR Pundit of Mumbai.

Pharma Lions were awarded separately, with Burson-Marsteller Milan winning a Bronze Lion for its work with on the Chat Yourself campaign for Italia Longeva. Medulla Communications also won two Silver Lions.

Photo: Getty images at Cannes Lions

Cannes 2017: Judges to name Young Lions PR champions tonight

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The world’s best young PR team will be named tonight at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, when a panel of judges announces who has won the 2017 Young Lions PR competition.

On Saturday (June 17), the British Red Cross briefed 22 competing two-person teams to raise awareness of the “silent emergencies” that are happening every day, but don’t make the news.

The teams then had 24 hours to submit their campaign presentations and materials, which will be judged on how well they drive support for the Red Cross’ work. The winning campaign will then inspire the next British Red Cross campaign.

To reach the final at Cannes, the teams had to get through local competitions and elimination rounds set up by Cannes Lions representatives in their own countries.

“With hundreds of teams being knocked-out before the 24-hour live challenge here, we really have the best of the best assembled from each participating country,” said Blair Metcalfe, MSLGroup director and chairman of Young Lions PR judges. “I for one can’t wait to be inspired by their creativity at the judging on Monday.”

He added: “We briefed the teams this morning and it is easy to tell by their insightful questions and keen enthusiasm that they are going to present some blistering ideas.”

Young Lions PR is organised by the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO). Last year’s winners were Ben King and Michael DiSalvo from Ogilvy Public Relations, USA.

In February, it was announced that The Romans’ Ottilie Ratcliffe and Jack Davy have won the 2017 UK Young Lions PR competition and would represent the UK at Cannes this year.

  • Photo by Getty Images at Cannes Lions.

Redleaf Communications hires former BBC correspondent

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Redleaf Communications has hired former BBC correspondent Guy Smith as an associate director of its corporate team.

Guy Smith

Guy has more than 20 years’ multi-media journalism experience in the UK, and abroad, for commercial and public broadcasters including ITN, ITV and BBC News.

Prior to Redleaf, he spent two years as an associate director for a boutique agency in London, specialising in property, financial services and technology.

Emma Kane, CEO of Redleaf Communications, said: “Guy’s expertise and thorough knowledge of the media will further strengthen our existing firepower in building brands and protecting reputations.

“He brings with him an enviable contacts book, a proven track record in story-telling and the ability to engage with and provide counsel to clients in a way that cannot be taught.”

Smith added: “This is a terrific opportunity to work with some of the best in the communications industry. My role will be to help build the corporate/media relations team to support the Capital Markets, Property, and Professional & Financial Services divisions. The collaborative ethos, creative atmosphere and very entrepreneurial spirit were the biggest attractions in joining Redleaf.”

Iceland appoints Weber Shandwick Manchester

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Iceland has appointed Weber Shandwick to provide support across its consumer marketing and corporate communications activities.

Heather Blundell

The appointment follows a competitive pitch process, held last month, and is effective immediately. The firm’s Manchester office will service Iceland, which is headquartered on Deeside. Chairman Jon McLeod and managing director Heather Blundell will lead the account.

Nick Canning, joint managing director at Iceland Foods, said: “We’re tremendously proud of the huge progress Iceland has made over the last two years to make us one of the UK’s fastest-growing and best-regarded food retailers.

“However, we are not complacent and the appointment of an agency of the global renown of Weber Shandwick is a signal that we are looking for a step change in the way in which we articulate our offer.”

Jon McLeod, chairman of Weber Shandwick Manchester, said: “As an Iceland shopper, I am delighted to be working with Iceland to tell the story of the retailer’s exciting products and phenomenal value.

“Iceland is a progressive and warm retail brand with a real commitment to its staff, its suppliers and the communities it serves. There are tremendous opportunities for growth within the business to challenge and disrupt the old and new incumbents in the sector, and we look forward to playing our part in that.”

This week’s PR News in Brief (12-16 June)

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Here’s a round-up of the essential PR stories, features and events news that have broken over the last week (12-16 June 2017).

Pitch wins

The BFI has appointed DDA and Four Colman Getty to provide press and PR services for the 61st BFI London Film Festival, which takes place at venues across the capital from 4-15 October 2017.

J Public Relations is now representing four hotels in England and Ireland; Lygon Arms, Cliveden House, Chewton Glen and Adare Manor.

Global 3D printing company Materialise has appointed Intelligent Conversation to run a series of technical campaigns and broaden perceptions of the technology.

KPPR has been appointed as personal publicists for emerging presenter on Channel 4, Danni Menzies.

LEWIS has won the UK public relations account for Maintel, the managed communications services company.

People news

Cohn & Wolfe has appointed Tamsin Tierney as deputy managing director of its healthcare business in the UK.

Pitch Marketing Group has appointed Lee Cheney as head of production.

Tamsin Parker, a regional journalist who has worked on Post and Times in Staffordshire, has launched new agency Legs PR.

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns and communications David Murray, has been appointed as chief executive at Preventable Surprises.

De’Longhi Group appoints Golin to support UK consumer PR

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Golin has been appointed by the De’Longhi Group to run its household appliances consumer PR and social media across its De’Longhi, Kenwood and Braun brand portfolios in the UK.

Alongside a brand press office to support ongoing product innovations and launches, Golin will undertake specific projects and social media support to strengthen each of the brands’ individual ambitions.

Alex Pickering, marketing director UK & Ireland for the De’Longhi Group, said: “We selected Golin as our PR partner following a competitive pitch process. We were impressed by the team, the rigorous insights and a clear understanding of the challenges we face as a business. This strategic thinking alongside clever creative made for a successful pitch recipe and we’re excited to start working with Golin to raise our brands’ profile.”

Edel Collis, director at Golin, added: “It’s a privilege to work for such long-established, world-class brands like these. Through our consumer PR, we will activate a hard-working press office function, complemented by creative PR campaigns and social media content to strengthen De’Longhi, Kenwood and Braun’s positioning within their respective areas.”