Hanover re-hires Daniel Gilbert after stint at BIS

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Hanover has re-appointed Daniel Gilbert as a senior policy adviser, following his 14-month period as a special adviser in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Hanover

Daniel Gilbert

As a special adviser to the Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson MP, Gilbert worked on government policy development and comms in the higher education, science and innovation, and space sectors.

He was appointed as a special adviser following the 2015 general election, having previously worked in Parliament for the Conservatives from 2007 to 2010 on research and innovation policy.

Before moving to BIS, he was a senior account director at Hanover from 2010 to 2015.

Charles Lewington, MD of Hanover, said: “Dan was one of the brightest hires we made at Hanover. We are delighted to have him back in the fold. He will be providing advice of the highest quality to a broad range of clients in the Higher Education, Life Sciences and Manufacturing sectors. His policy knowledge and understanding of Government will be especially valuable as we go through this unprecedented period of uncertainty following the Brexit vote.”

Gilbert added: “I’m looking forward to taking on this new role at Hanover, helping to advise clients at a time of great political change. I’m also delighted to be rejoining such a talented and growing team.”

PRCA announces Reginald Watts Prize shortlist

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The PRCA has announced the shortlist for the inaugural Burson-Marsteller-backed Reginald Watts Prize for PR Insight, which saw PR professionals aged 25 or under enter essays on their vision for what the industry will be like in 2020 and beyond.

Following the passing in April of former PRCA chairman, CIPR president and UK CEO of Burson-Marsteller, Reginald Watts,PRCA the annual prize will commemorate his thought leadership, writing, and forethought.

The competition challengs participants to write “thought-provoking” essays on the PR and comms industry. A different question will be set each year.

This year, PR and comms practitioners aged 25 or under were asked to enter essays up to 1,000 words on the following brief: Please present your vision of the PR and communications industry in 2020 and beyond, using any relevant evidence.

The shortlisted entrants are:

  • David Amos, senior account executive, I See PR
  • Abs Hassanali, PR and content consultant, Montpellier
  • Charlotte Lawson MPRCA, Public Relations & Content Consultant, Montpellier
  • Rolf Merchant MPRCA, Consultant, Instinctif Partners
  • Simona Morar MPRCA, PR Coordinator, A Marr + Associates
  • Matt Silver MPRCA, Account Executive – Corporate, Technology & Public Affairs, Ketchum

The shortlist was decided by a judging panel of Amanda Pierce, UK CEO at Burson Marsteller, Andy Green, founder of Andy Green Creativity, and Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA. Entries were judged on their demonstration of intelligence and the forward-looking viewpoints that are displayed.

Burson-Marsteller, for whom Reginald Watts worked for 18 years including ten years as UK CEO, is matching the £500 in the existing prize fund put forward by the PRCA, meaning that the winner of the competition will receive a bursary of £1,000 in total.

All of the finalists are invited to attend the awards ceremony taking place on Tuesday 20 September at Burson-Marsteller’s offices in London.

PHA Media secures two wins

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PHA Media has been handed an awareness raising brief by charity Music Venue Trust and the agency has been hired by 4th Base Cosmetics to launch its new beauty brand NKBb.

PHA Media

Image courtesy of sadiefederspiel on Flickr

Launched in 2014, Music Venue Trust is a national charity working to protect, secure and improve the UK’s grassroots music venues.

PHA Media has been briefed to raise awareness of the role these venues play in the development of British music, nurturing local talent and providing a platform for artists to build their careers.

The three month campaign will focus on strategic feature placement and media relations, alongside a social media campaign.

Mark Davyd, founder and CEO of the Music Venue Trust, said: “We have to act together to ensure musicians and music fans continue to have access to this essential part of UK music heritage.

“We’re delighted to be working with the team at PHA Media who have the passion and expertise to make this campaign an absolute success.”

Separately, PHA Media has been briefed by 4th Base Cosmetics to launch its beauty brand NKBb in the UK.

The agency will also manage the comms strategy for 4th Base Cosmetics, which aims to create successful female entrepreneurs with a franchise business model.

Founded by Lisa Dodds and author and serial entrepreneur Marco Robinson, NKDb will launch on  September 1.

The six-month PR campaign will have a strong focus on strategic product and feature placement, as well as business profiling of NKDb’s two co-founders.

Dodds said: “We’re thrilled to be working with PHA Media to launch NKDb. We are extremely excited to be finally launching the range after a rigorous development process and we feel confident in PHA Media’s ability to work with us as an extension of the team to make the launch a success.”

Yellow Jersey appoints Adam Wurf

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Yellow Jersey has appointed Adam Wurf as consultant in order to broaden its service offering and drive new business activities.

Adam Wurf 1

Adam Wurf

Wurf previously worked as chief marketing officer for Crowdmix and, prior to that, for Fourfront Group. He also worked as a communications director for ISS UK, a facilities services provider.

While in consultancy at Chime Communications and the madano partnership, which he co-founded, Wurf worked with the executive teams of brands including Honda, Philips, Commerzbank, Ebay, Skanska, INREV, Gatehouse Bank, Cable & Wireless, LA Fitness, Cemex, Rexam, Smithfield Foods, Mitie and Elle Macpherson.

Wurf said: “Yellow Jersey is ideally placed to help many companies. It has a strong client base, a genuinely bright team and a culture of exceeding expectations. We plan to broaden our service offering and to help clients achieve their commercial objectives with smart, effective communications.”

At Yellow Jersey, Adam will advise listed and non-listed companies on their growing and protecting their brands, stakeholder engagement and customer acquisition.

Dominic Barretto, managing director of Yellow Jersey, added: “Our business is maturing. We are working in more sectors, with clients from more countries and doing more and more for them. Adam’s skillset and experience will allow us to continue this evolution. It is great to find someone with in-house experience of blue-chips and start-ups and who is a proven consultant.”

Opinion: How PRs can optimise content for consumers

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Communicators can deliver content optimised to reach consumers at the right time and in the right format if they put themselves in the driving seat, says Marcus Sorour, general manager at WE UK.

Marcus Sorour 1

Marcus Sorour

My wife and I spent months researching the perfect car to buy for weekend getaways, emergency trips to the vet and the occasional recycling depot visit. We wanted it to be safe, stylish, environmentally-friendly and economical to run, and went about finding a car that matched all of our criteria.

After a period of contemplation and research, the car we eventually settled on was an apparently controversial choice.

I won’t name and shame, but it is a model or marque that many of our friends, review websites and, even, strangers on social media, described as ‘Marmite’ thanks to the way that people either love or hate it.

Clearly, I’m in the former camp, but the the whole car-buying experience, and many ways it can be influenced, got me thinking about how complex the modern buying journey is and how challenging it is for brands to get their messaging across to the right people, in the right way and at the right point in the customer’s decision-making process.

In order to better understand the impact that a third party can have during the sales process, WE teamed up with YouGov to produce a report that looked into consumer buying habits across a number of sectors, including electronics, personal care and automotive.

The survey, conducted in the UK and Germany, found that word-of-mouth and search engines are the go-to sources for information pre-purchase, followed by review sites.

Beyond these channels, customers are further influenced by so-called ‘dark social’ platforms, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. When I started out on my car-buying journey, I chose to send an instant message with an embedded video link to my wife. But this method of communication creates a challenge for public relations and social media managers, as it can be tricky to influence and measure.

However, this fragmented buying landscape, spanning multiple stakeholder touch points, media channels and devices, also creates an opportunity for PR professionals. It gives communicators the chance to deliver distinctive content and memorable engagements, optimised to land at the right time, in the right format and on the right device or platform. The content could both educate and influence those opposed to recommending a brand based on a previous experience or misconception.

A recent example of a brand who got this right is Nissan – which kept audiences engaged with its #DoItForUs Olympics campaign. The campaign pranked Team GB athletes, filming their reactions on hidden cameras. The TV spot was supported by activity on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube throughout the games, and coincided with the launch of the electric car, Nissan LEAF.

As I was forming my decision to buy the ‘Marmite’ car, I was influenced by the mixed reviews I heard and read both on and offline. At any point, a timely piece of content or campaign-work could have diverted me from that buying journey. That’s why multi-channel, optimised content is a valuable tool for PR professionals.

  • Marcus Sorour is general manager and VP at WE Communications. Before moving to the UK with the company, Sorour worked in South Africa. He worked for Text 100 before joining WE in 2010.

Abchurch chosen by Roxi Petroleum

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Abchurch has been appointed to handle financial PR and investor relations for Kazakhstan-based oil and gas exploration and production company Roxi Petroleum (Roxi).

Oil field 1

An oil field

Roxi is an AIM-listed company which is looking to acquire and develop interests in oil and gas assets in Central Asia, with a focus on Kazakhstan.

Abchurch senior partner TimThompson will lead the account.

Abchurch is a  financial PR, IR and corporate comms consultancy.

Lord Bell resigns as chairman of Bell Pottinger

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Lord Tim Bell has resigned as chairman of Bell Pottinger, 30 years after he founded the agency. He plans to set up a strategic consultancy called Sans Frontières next year.

Lord Bell 1

Lord Tim Bell

Bell, a former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, has decided he would like to step back from the day-to-day running of the business, according to a statement released by Bell Pottinger today (Thursday).

He has no plans to retire and, from next year, will provide advice to clients through a new business called Sans Frontières.

In 2012, Bell helped to buy Bell Pottinger branded agencies out of Chime Communications in a deal worth £26.5 million.

James Henderson, CEO of Bell Pottinger, said: “Tim has been the founder and driver of this business since he started it in 1987. We are grateful for all he has achieved for both the PR industry globally and in building Bell Pottinger into a household name.

“He does not intend to retire totally and next year will be setting up a strategic consultancy to be named Sans Frontières. He will always be the founder of this business and we will find ways of mutually working together with him in his new business where there are clients that need a combined expertise.”

Mark Smith, currently a non-executive director at Bell Pottinger, will become chairman with immediate effect.

Smith’s connection to Bell Pottinger goes back to the company’s foundation. He was both CFO and COO of Chime Plc, and played a major role in the flotation of Chime through a reverse takeover and its eventual sale to Providence Equity in 2015.

Opinion: Five ways the Great British Bake Off can enhance a brand’s profile

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Great British Bake Off returned to the screens last night and, with last year’s average audience comprising more than 12 million people, there is huge opportunity for brands to increase their profile, sales and reach, according to Chris Baldwin, director of consumer programmes at Protravel, part of employee benefits and rewards company Sodexo.

bake off 1

Chris Baldwin offers five top tips on how brands can take advantage of the GBBO phenomenon

The BBC has strict rules on using its intellectual property when not licensed to do so, but with some creative thinking there are opportunities for many brands to harness the theme and emotion of the competition to maximise sales and boost their profile, Baldwin says.

Baldwin offers five top tips on how brands can take advantage of this culinary phenomenon:

Capture creativity

With boasts of being “best baker” peaking among friends, colleagues and families, brands can expand this conversation into a social media led competition. Invite consumers to share pictures of their best bake or send in their magic recipes, with one winner being announced in line with each week’s episode. This is organic material for a website and provides great social media content too.

Join the #GBBO conversation

Between the 2014 and 2015 series, the use of #GBBO on Twitter increased by 217%, and this is only set to continue this year. Brands must join the conversation, use the hashtag and run parallel, complimentary campaigns that reflect the sentiment and excitement of the programme among its audience. Spending money on promoting tweets, posts and pictures across social media platforms will increase the exposure amongst the online noise.

Experience competitions

GBBO is not just a chance to increase sales of baking products, but provides brands with an opportunity to reach a target audience which is aligned with the show’s viewers. Hosting competitions to win baking lessons or afternoon tea experiences can change consumer behaviour by offering them something additional to the product in question. Using the “Bake Off hype” to maximise interest in such campaigns will promote the product to a larger audience.

Pick a partnership

Partnering with well-known individuals who have a connection to the baking world is guaranteed to be of interest to both the consumer and the celebrity, who will also be looking to piggyback off the series’ popularity.

Opportunities beyond baking

The opportunities for brand exposure beyond cooking related products are widespread and, often, not immediately obvious. In 2015, a jacket worn by Mary Berry sold out within the hour long show; brands with similar items did well to quickly join the buzz and invest in ways to promote their products whilst the weekly buzz peaked. Brands should consider how their product offering could be reflected in the wider show, from fashion, to home décor to horticultural features.

Chris Baldwin is director of consumer programmes at Protravel, part of employee benefits and rewards company Sodexo. Protravel helps agencies come up with prizes for competitions and reward programmes for TV and radio programmes as well as retail and supermarket brands.

How Golin tackles the ‘motherhood penalty’ and recruits untapped talent

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Golin is looking to close the wage gap encountered by working mothers and reap the benefit of recruiting ‘untapped’ talent as it launches its second ‘returnship’ programme this week.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) reported this week that there is a 33% pay gap between working mothers and men by the time their children are twelve-years old. This ‘motherhood penalty’ is what Golin wants to help to tackle in PR by offering women returning professional internships or ‘returnships’.

A returnship should act as a “bridge” back to senior roles for experienced professional women who have taken an extended, voluntary, career break. They are given short-term employment contracts and the returner takes on “commercially significant” assignments based on skill set, interests and prior experience, according to Women Returners, which organises returnship programmes with Golin and other businesses.

At Golin, the programme was set up by ex-SMG HR director Liz Nottingham and f1 recruitment owner Amanda Fone.

Bibi Hilton, Golin’s MD, says: “I think our industry has been complacent about this issue. Where it is a female dominated profession overall (although not at leadership level), we haven’t been forced to scrutinise this issue as closely or take action unlike those in financial services.”

A source of ‘untapped’ talent for the business 

Recent research by the PRCA shows that 64% of the people in the PR/comms industry are women. This drops when it comes to middle management and senior roles such as MD, CEO and partner level, which can be an opportunity for businesses such as Golin, according to Hilton.

“The returnship programme has given us access to an experienced, highly-qualified pool of talent that is currently untapped by the rest of the industry,” she adds.

Laura Weston participated in Golin’s returnship in 2015 and, subsequently, was hired as its permanent marketing director.

Hilton says: “[She] is one of the best hires we have ever made. She describes herself as having the energy and enthusiasm of a graduate with all of the wisdom and experience of a senior leader. Agencies need to banish the old-fashioned notion that because someone has a ‘gap’ on their CV they can’t add value to a business.”

Flexible working can fit with the wider business strategy

Golin wants to be known for creating flexible incentives for its employees. Earlier this year it launched a diversity ‘unternship’ that aims to make the PR sector more accessible for disadvantaged candidates. More recently it introduced unlimited staff holidays.

“We believe diversity in all its forms is critical to creativity. You don’t get great, differentiating ideas if everyone in the team is the same ethnicity, social demographic, gender and went to the same university. To build a diverse team you need to be flexible because you’re not hiring people with the same life goals and perspectives,” says Hilton.

In 2015, all of Golin’s mums who took maternity leave returned to the agency. Furthermore, 12% of employees have formal flexible working arrangements and half of the team are working parents with flexible hours.

Hilton concludes: “If we want to prevent the talent drain, futureproof our business and stay competitive and profitable then agencies have no choice but to think differently and support women through their entire career lifecycle.”

  • This is the second ‘returnship’ Golin will offer, you can find out more about the position and Laura Weston’s experiences here.

 

H+K expands financial and professional services team

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Hill + Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has appointed Jasper Rosenau as head of content and publishing strategy for its financial and professional services team.

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Jasper Rosenau

Rosenau said: “I am thrilled to be joining H+K, and could not wish to join a better agency or work with a more dynamic, focused and intelligent team. I look forward to helping continue the growth of its content and digital offering for both current and prospective clients.”

Rosenau will lead digital and content strategy for the 30-strong professional services team’s current client base, which includes HSBC, Tata and Visa. He will help its new business push too.

Matt Bright, financial and professional services managing director at H+K, added: “Jasper has a valuable set of skills and fits seamlessly into our team. His expertise will enhance the great work we are already doing for clients and will help us offer an even broader range of consultancy and services.”

Previously, Rosenau was director of digital communications at Spider PR, where, in 2011, he founded its digital division.