Porter Novelli makes multiple hires to health and wellness team

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Porter Novelli London has appointed former AbbVie senior communications manager, Matthew Foster, as director of its health and wellness practice.

Matthew Foster 1

Matthew Foster

Abigail Last, from Red Door, also joins Porter Novelli’s health and wellness team as an associate director, and George Hickling, Charlie Price, Jessica Greenman and Alexander Emich all join as senior account executives.

The health and wellness team has almost doubled in size since 2015 on the back of a series of new business wins.

Nicole Yost, head of health and wellness at PN London, said: “As PN London continues to grow and expand as a hub for global communications, Matthew’s in-house experience and viewpoint help us further strengthen our health and wellness practice.”

Prior to AbbVie, where he was responsible for all external, above-brand communications, Foster worked at Waggener Edstrom and Hill & Knowlton. He began his healthcare communications career at Burson-Marsteller.

#DisruptivePitch: the new online TV show for tech start ups

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By Andrew McLean, Director, Compare The Cloud Limited.

Free PR for Tech startups – sixty technologies will battle it out until there is only One Pitch
There is a new trend emerging among young pioneering tech startups but many struggle to create exposure for their businesses. The reason may be subjective, but Compare the Cloud has created a platform that provides a solution to techs lacking adequate PR. Disruptive Pitch – an online TV show.

The purpose of the show is to gain exposure. The concept is that contestants have to explain their technology and business as they would to a client – absolutely no PowerPoint! An elevator pitch of sorts. The catch? They only have three minutes.

The show is set up like a Dragon’s Den of sorts, with a panel of charismatic engaging judges. Each episode, which will be dedicated to a specialist industry, will put ten 3 minute pitches up against four expert judges. These industries will include Big Data and Open Source.

Disruptive-pitch-judges

The success of the contestants on the show is in the hands of the judges and whether or not they can adequately communicate the benefit and USP’s of their business in the allotted time frame.

The finalists of each episode will advance to the final round where they will compete for the ultimate prize: a chance to keynote at the Cloud Expo Europe 2017 at ExCeL in London. All applicants will have the opportunity to network with major technology vendors and partners before and after the scheduled event.

Having premiered in October, with over 12,000 viewers, the show provides viewers with an enlightening and entertaining glimpse into the tech industry. The show will continue to be released once a month for the next six months.

Peter Bradley, Founder and CEO, Torsion Information Security, was the finalist in Disruptive TV’s first episode.  He is among one of the many who will fight it out in the final round for the grand prize.

“We are extremely excited to be a part of Disruptive Pitch 2016, having participated in the first episode. Genuine innovation makes a real splash, and the opportunity to pitch to Disruptive TV’s audience has been fantastic in getting the word out
about Torsion Information Security.” said Peter Bradley,
 Founder and  CEO, Torsion Information Security. “We’re very much looking forward to the next round.”

Peter Bradley, Founder and CEO, Torsion Information Security

Peter Bradley, Founder and CEO, Torsion Information Security

Disruptive Tech TV, are currently accepting applicants from innovative UK tech startups companies to pitch their businesses in the second episode of its new monthly show, Disruptive Pitch, 22nd November 2016.

If you are interested in applying please visit the website: disruptivepitch.tv

The first episode, released last month, is available here, with all other details here.

Follow @DisruptiveLive on Twitter.

Lloyds Banking Group hires group corporate communications director

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Fiona Laffan will join Lloyds Banking Group as group corporate communications director.

Fiona Laffan 1

Fiona Laffan

Currently head of corporate communications, EMEA at Goldman Sachs, and prior to that a partner at Brunswick, Laffan will be responsible for all corporate communications at Lloyds Banking Group, and will report to group corporate affairs director Matt Young.

Laffan joins Lloyds Banking Group on December 5.

Earlier this year, Lloyds Banking Group hired Grayling to manage its public affairs communications.

Archbishop of Canterbury appoints head of media

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Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury, has appointed the Mail on Sunday’s religion and education correspondent, Jonathan Petre, to the newly-created position of head of media at Lambeth Palace.

Petre has been with the Mail on Sunday for eight years and will take up his new role at the end of January.

Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury

He started his journalism career on the Catholic Herald and The Daily Telegraph, covering politics, education and the Royal Family. He was also news editor at The Sunday Telegraph, managing a team of more than 20 journalists.

In his new role at Lambeth Palace, Petre will oversee day-to-day contact with the media and provide the Archbishop with regular advice and guidance.

The Archbishop’s comms team at Lambeth, led by director of comms Ailsa Anderson, remains a total of three people.

Archbishop Welby said: “Jonathan is an experienced and seasoned journalist with a strong background in reporting religious affairs both on the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion. I am delighted he has chosen to use his obvious  skills to serve the Church and we are all looking forward to working with him.”

Petre added: “I have covered religion for most of my journalistic life, and I am really looking forward to putting that experience to use in my new role at Lambeth Palace.

“I will be joining at an important and exciting time for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, and I am particularly pleased to be working for such a highly respected Archbishop. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to help communicate the vital role played by the Church both nationally and globally.”

Gorkana meets… Natascha Cox

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Fashion, makeup, and lifestyle writer Natascha Cox talks to Gorkana’s Ebunola Adenipekun about her go-to blog for body positive inspiration, how its re-launch earlier this year as seen her readership go through the roof and why she love to work on collaborations with PRs and brands.

Natascha Cox

Natascha Cox

The eponymous Natascha Cox blog has grown to become a go-to place for body-positive inspiration and advice. How did it come about and what do you think is key to its success?

I didn’t really have a plan to start a blog, it kind of just happened. I sat down one day after years of being unsure of what I wanted to do and thought, ‘I’m going to write a blog’. I love fashion and most things that are typically girly so I just blend it all in to one.

I would say that I’m a genuine person and really can’t stand fake people. I try to be honest in my writing and keep everything as personal as I can, I thinks thats my biggest success factor.

If this is full-time, what were you doing before?

I blog full time. I’ve always worked in some area of media. I studied Video Production & Media Studies at university and then ran a child modelling agency for a few years. I’ve always loved to work for myself so I’m in the perfect job now. I pretty much fit in whatever I want to around my work.

It relaunched this year – so what’s in and what’s out?

I started the blog on Weebly, but after using it for quite a long time I just found that the functionality and growth capabilities were not there. I put off moving to another platform for a really long time as I was worried about losing all my work, but I eventually figured out how to do it and am so glad I made the jump. I chose WordPress and haven’t looked back since. I love the new template and the whole feel of the site in general.

Has your audience changed since?

Yes, my audience has grown incredibly. I am now at 48,000 unique monthly visitors and my social media following is around 85,000. I have a large UK following, but also have a big US and European following now too.

Talk us through each section of your site.

Fashion – I try to incorporate the latest pieces in to my own personal style. I occasionally post specific style pieces, but my preferred posting style is to write about a day out or an event and just incorporate a look in to the post. I think readers prefer this as it’s far more organic.

Beauty – I love beauty products and always try to keep up with the newest releases. I take tons of pictures and always try to include swatch style images so readers can see how the colours really look on me and this means I can describe how the products feels on as well.

Travel – You will find a post in my travel section for each time I have been away. I rarely go to the same destination. I make sure to include food, activities and a million pictures of my surroundings and the accommodation of where I stay.

What does a typical day look like?

I have kids, so after I’ve dropped them to school I will head into London and attend a few events or meetings otherwise I will go home and start writing or catch up on my emails.

Describe your relationship with PRs.

I keep in touch with them and let them know what I’m working on through mail outs and most seem to appreciate this. It’s important to say that there are downsides to this. The PR/Blogger relationship is give and take, but I feel like some PRs want something for nothing a lot of the time and don’t appreciate that a lot of work goes in to my blog and social content.

Bloggers aren’t employed by a magazine so we don’t receive a set salary. We do need to be paid for our work so if you really like my blog then please be prepared to offer budget for my content.

How can PRs help with content for the site?

Suggestions are always welcome, but I will only feature what I really love. I don’t always get to feature everything that is sent to me so it’s best to agree things with me first.

Samples are a must as I don’t use stock images on my site. All my imagery is unique.

How do you like to work with PRs?

I prefer emails, its much easier to keep in touch when I’m out and about. I love to work on collaborations with PRs and brands, especially events.

I prefer a brand that wants to collaborate on a long term basis rather than a one of post.

I have just been taken on by Carol Hayes Management, which also manages Gok Wan, Linda Barker and Faye Sawyer, so PRs will have to go through them more now.

What are your three top tips for PRs when pitching ideas?

  1. Have a realistic budget in mind.
  2. Does your client fit in with my brand?
  3. Could we work together on a long term basis?

What do you like to do outside blogging?

There isn’t really an ‘outside of blogging’ lol. I love to go out for dinner and cocktails and I love to travel. The travel part can be hard because of the kids but I do sill try and keep part of my life for myself so try to make as much me time as possible. Travel fits in with blogging perfectly so I get a lot of opportunity to go away.

I love a spa day or just a quick one hour massage when I get the chance too.

And finally, who is your favourite designer?

Do I have to choose one?! I love so many, and my style is quite young and funky. Henry Holland, Alice Archer, Balmain and Miu Miu are tops. I do love high street too though and tend to shop online a lot! I absolutely love ASOS.

This week’s top trending features on Gorkana News

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Your bitesize update of the best PR opinion, interviews, events and insights on Gorkana News this week:

23231312 - trump international hotel, las vegas, nevada - february 2, 2012 - donald trump speaking with the media

Opinion: Did Trump create the perfect PR campaign?
Back in July, Lord Sugar’s former publicist, David Fraser, said Trump’s campaign for the US presidency was arguably one of the greatest PR campaigns in recent years. Fraser, who is now MD of PR and SEO agency Ready10, said that when it came to communications, Trump’s campaign was “poetry in motion”. What do you think?

Missing Type 1B

Case Study: Missing Type 2016

In 2016, the multiple award-winning Missing Type campaign returned on an even grander scale, with As, Bs and Os disappearing from locations, brand names and media titles around the world.

pexels-photo-28041 (1)Opinion: ‘The US Election and when influencers don’t influence’
Nina Sawetz, head of editorial at Bottle, on why celebrity endorsements didn’t create a landslide win for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the new era of ‘audience voice’ that looks past a recognised elite.

 

Retail 2 BCInsight: Is PR struggling to effectively communicate tech trends in retail?
Bringing together consumers’ offline and online experiences will be a key theme at WIRED RETAIL 2016 next week, according to the event’s curator Nick Compton. But how well are communicators keeping consumers abreast of change and challenges in retail?

Louise Ansari 260 Seconds with Centre for Ageing Better’s Louise Ansari
Louise Ansari, director of communications at charitable foundation Centre for Ageing Better, talks about the opportunities for charity sector communications and building trust in a relatively new organisation.

3CX has appointed Spark Communications for UK comms

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Software company 3CX has appointed London-based tech PR agency Spark Communications to handle its UK communications, with the aim to drive influence and awareness beyond the channel to a wider enterprise IT and communications audience.

Ana Williams Spark 1

Ana Williams

With previous clients, such as 3Com, Gamma Telecom and Damovo, Spark has created content to engage the enterprise communications audience.

Bianca Allery, marketing manager at 3CX, said: “Spark’s proven history of delivering on similar briefs to ours, its excellent contact base and relationships, and its innovative ideas and knowledge of the space, went a long way in impressing us.”

Ana Williams, director at Spark Communications, added: “Unified communications is one of the foundations of flexible working. As the modern office evolves to become a more flexible, mobile space rather than a single fixed room, it will be critical to businesses.

“Seeing this technology come of age, and communications become truly converged with IT, is a fascinating process, and having a client at the forefront of this transformation is a very exciting opportunity. We are looking forward to building 3CX’s influence with the end user and channel audience by bringing all our creative energy to bear.”

3CX clients include Pepsi, American Express, Boeing and M.I.T.

Most read people news on Gorkana News

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Your bite-sized round-up and update on the latest people news featured on Gorkana News:

W - John Lewis spoof ad 2Nick Jablonka, the 18-year-old A-Level student whose online Christmas video made thousands of internet users believe it was this year’s official John Lewis Christmas advert, has been offered a newly-created role by W Communications on its digital and social team.

Jablonka created the video, entitled ‘The Snowglobe’,  as part of his media coursework back in June (when he was aged 17 at the time), and it has since clocked up nearly 800,000 views.

Dee O'Connell 2FleishmanHillard Fishburn (FHF) is strengthening its corporate communications practice with the appointment of Depali O’Connell (Dee) as associate director.

O’Connell joins from Blue Rubicon, where she spent almost ten years.

 

Richard Beck 2Richard Beck has been appointed director of strategic planning and external relations at Nationwide. The building society is combining its strategy and stakeholder relations functions under new CEO Joe Garner.

Beck joins the Nationwide Building Society’s Executive Committee and will play a leading role in the development of the new communications strategy, which is intended to project the ‘member and societal value of mutuality’.

Sauce 2Spoon PR founder Sarah Canet has joined lifestyle comms agency Sauce Communications to build its international division and brought four new clients onto its books.

Canet, who has more than 20 years’ experience, brings three of her long-standing clients to Sauce: Italian restaurateur and chef Massimo Bottura from Osteria Francescana, Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt from Ekstedt in Stockholm and Seattle chef and polymath Nathan Myhrvold and his modernist cuisine series of books.

Hannah Zitren 2Commercial real estate company Colliers International has hired Hannah Zitren as UK PR manager.

Zitren, who previously worked at Ash Communications, will focus on media relations, and will work across a range of Colliers’ UK & Pan-EMEA business lines, advising on communications strategy.

 

MyVoucherCodes.co.uk releases discount parody of John Lewis Christmas ad

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Following the unveiling of this year’s #BusterTheBoxer John Lewis Christmas advert this week, which reportedly cost £6million to make and six months to create, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk teamed up with students from the London School of Communication Arts, for the second year running, to create a ‘discount version’ of the ad…but in only six hours and with just £600 to spend.

This year’s official John Lewis advert tells the story of a little girl called Bridget who loves to bounce. When her mum and dad buy her a trampoline for Christmas, they soon discover that she isn’t the only one with a passion for jumping.

Taking on the challenge to create a discount version of the advert, the teams convened in an ‘advertising war room’ at 8am yesterday (10 November) at the School of Communication Arts in Brixton, assembling a team of creatives, production folk, recording artists and support members to come up with a budget version of the ad on behalf of the discount retailer.

With the help of industry mentors from the world of PR and advertising, including school Dean Marc Lewis and Frank founder Andrew Bloch, the ad was produced and completed by 2pm on the same day.

Last year’s creation – a take on the John Lewis’ £7 million ‘On The Moon’ creative – saw action man dolls and hand-painted backdrops used to craft the content, before being unveiled to the public within seven hours.

The ‘budget version’ of the advert, carrying the message that “some things need a big budget, your Christmas isn’t one of them“, racked up over a million views, trended worldwide on Facebook and received widespread critical acclaim – eliciting praise from the original ad creators Adam&Eve and The Apprentice star Lord Sugar.

Earlier this week, Gorkana News reported that Nick Jablonka, the 18-year-old A-Level student whose online Christmas video made thousands of internet users believe it was this year’s official John Lewis Christmas advert, has been offered a newly-created role by W Communications on its digital and social team.

Jablonka created the video, entitled ‘The Snowglobe’,  as part of his media coursework back in June (when he was aged 17 at the time), and it has since clocked up nearly 800,000 views.

PR Case Study: Missing Type 2016

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In 2016, the multiple award-winning Missing Type campaign returned on an even grander scale, with As, Bs and Os disappearing from locations, brand names and media titles around the world. 

Missing Type 1A

In 2016, MHP-Engine took its Missing Type campaign worldwide

Campaign: Missing Type
Client: NHS Blood & Transplant
PR Team: MHP–Engine
Timing: August 2016
Budget: £100k+

Objectives:
In 2016 MHP-Engine was tasked with the ‘tricky second album’ of refreshing its multi-award winning Missing Type blood donor recruitment campaign. This time, working with NHS Blood & Transplant, there was an added twist as 23 donor organisations from 21 different countries would also get involved in their local markets.

Core objectives:
• To recruit a target of 20,000 new blood donor registrations in England
• To target young adults aged 17-24
• To develop a local and global strategy plan for a week of sustained activity

Strategy and implementation:
MHP-Engine created a global toolkit that could be activated by individual blood donor organisations around the world. It launched with a domino effect across the time zones on August 16 with sustained bursts of activity throughout the week.

Once again, the letters A, B and O disappeared from everyday and iconic locations such as the Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Tower, Singapore Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, Times Square, Abbey Road and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch station in Wales.

Missing Type 2A

Signs at the Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch station in Wales

Brands and organisations who participated included Google, Coca-Cola, The Sydney Morning Herald, Qantas, Samsung, Tesco, Claire’s Accessories, McDonalds, Santander, Nandos and Toronto Police.

Celebrities and influencers such as the cast of  TV soap opera Neighbours, American football quarterback Brady Quinn and Dexter Fowler of the baseball team Chicago Cubs joined sports teams such as Tottenham Hotspur, Glasgow Rangers, Cincinnati Bengals, Boston Red Sox and Great Western Sydney Giants to show their support through social media.

In England, with the ambition to extend what had largely been a social and digital campaign in 2015 into the physical world, MHP-Engine collaborated with a number of high profile partners to make Missing Type bigger, better and bolder.

Microsoft’s Xbox One, Boots, Warburtons and Manchester City featured in a new TV and online advert made by Engine agencies WCRS and Trailerpark.

Paddy Power dropped the letters from one of its central London locations, included details on how to register on its website and social channels, and Paddy himself changed his name to Pddy Pwer for a live interview on talkSPORT. Meanwhile UNILAD staged a Facebook Live blood donation in Manchester which peaked at an incredible 533k viewers.

Missing Type 4A

Paddy Power dropped the letters from one of its central London locations

Results:
• More than 25,000 people across England registered to become new blood donors during this year’s campaign; 8,000 of whom registered in the first three days alone
• Huge spikes in year on year registrations in partner nations such as Belgium (+566%); Ireland (+460%); Netherlands (+177%); U.S.A. (+21%) and Canada (20%)
• 1,000 brand and participating brand organisations in England and a total of 1,500 globally
• UK coverage highlights included BuzzFeed, Mashable, Channel Four News, Sky News, ITV Lunchtime News, BBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live, Mail Online, Metro, UNILAD, The LADbible and Campaign
• #MissingType became the number one Twitter trending topic in over ten countries, above even the Olympics, with 54,000 mentions across the week
• Over 3,000 #MissingType posts on Instagram from brands, influencers and individuals

  • In a recent Gorkana White Paper, which is a digest on Analysis best practice and proving earned media success, there is a case study on PR measurement and effectiveness which focuses on the first Missing Type campaign. You can download the White Paper here.