KitchenAid briefs Wild Card to launch London store

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Wild Card has been appointed to handle all PR and social media activity for the London store opening of kitchen appliance brand KitchenAid, following a competitive pitch.

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KitchenAid

The brand will open its first official store on London’s Wigmore Street in September.

Alongside the launch, Wild Card will raise the profile of KitchenAid’s existing Serious About Food Council campaign, including the appointment and announcement of its UK ambassadors.

In addition, Wild Card will manage the promotion of KitchenAid’s range of large electrical appliances.

Wild Card had previously worked with KitchenAid for 17 years, managing the promotion of the brand’s small electrical appliances.

Wild Card MD Tessa Willmott said: “We are delighted to be working for KitchenAid again, and their first store opening is a significant development for the brand which we are thrilled to be part of.”

Yellow Jersey wins Science in Sport

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Sport and nutrition brand Science in Sport (SiS) has appointed Yellow Jersey PR as its retained financial PR adviser.

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SiS products

The agency has been enlisted to implement financial media relations campaigns to drive greater awareness of the SiS investment case. The company’s shares are listed on AIM.

The SiS account will be led by Yellow Jersey director, Felicity Winkles and consultant, Harriet Jackson.

Winkles said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Science in Sport; a dominant brand in the sports and nutrition sector. At such an important phase in the Company’s development, we look forward to building on the Company’s successful story to date.”

SiS provides athletes with a range of sports and nutrition products and is the current official  supplier to the GB Rowing Team and Team Sky.

Grayling appoints new head of health and public sector

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Grayling UK has promoted director Kathryn Ager to head up its public and third sector, health and skills team.

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Kathryn Ager

Ager has been with the agency for five years, the last three of which have been as a director.

Before joining Grayling, she spent eight years at Good Relations, where she worked on a range of NHS, consumer health and nutrition accounts. Prior to that, she held agency and in-house roles in Australia.

Richard Jukes, chairman of Grayling UK, said: “We are delighted to announce Kathryn’s appointment to spearhead our highly regarded public and health sector offer.

“Kathryn has done an excellent job of consolidating existing clients and winning some great new ones over the past six months, representing amongst others: Transport for London, Health Education England and the World Heart Federation.

“The team has also been recognised for its award-winning media work for National Trading Standards. We are confident that under her leadership our work in this sector will continue to expand and flourish.”

Ager added: “I am delighted to be appointed to lead Grayling’s public sector work. It’s an area I love working in and where I believe we can make a real difference. We have a fantastic team committed to delivering the best possible results for clients. There are lots of exciting opportunities ahead of us.”

W briefed to launch Sparkling Ice to the UK market

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W has added US-based “powerbrand” Sparkling Ice to its FMCG portfolio, as the company embarks on a major consumer launch into the £16 billion UK and Ireland soft drinks market.

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Sparkling Ice

Sparkling Ice’s parent company, Talking Rain, saw more than $659 million (£494 million) in retail sales of the soft drink brand in 2015 and has ambitious plans for the UK.

W’s wide-ranging brief encompasses consumer and trade comms, influencer seeding and partnerships.

The agency will focus on the product’s “unique attributes”, marketing Sparkling Ice’s low-calorie offering as a new way to stay hydrated.

W’s corporate remit will see Sparkling Ice’s innovations and leadership team profiled through business and trade press.

Kevin Klock, CEO of Talking Rain, said: “We are a forward-thinking brand and we wanted to work with an agency that understood our vision and shared our passion. This is something we found in W, and we couldn’t be happier to be working with them at this exciting time.”

W MD Richard Tompkins added: “The soft drinks sector is among the most dynamic in the UK, and Sparkling Ice is an incredible, pioneering brand with huge potential in this market. It’s fantastic to be working with the company at such a pivotal time and helping to realise its ambitions.”

Online auction house Catawiki chooses Marlin PR

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Online auction house Catawiki, cited as the world’s fastest-growing technology company by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, has appointed Marlin PR to drive brand awareness in the UK, following a three-way pitch.

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Jeans for Refugees poster featuring Emma Watson

The Dutch company, which claims to auction off 30,000 objects every week, hosts weekly auctions in 80 categories encompassing collectibles, curios and classic cars, with items ranging from a skull cap worn by Pope Francis, the smallest pistol in the world, a lock of Napoleon’s hair and Michael Jackson’s hat, to a letter condemning a witch from 1603, the jaw of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Ferrari F1 car.

To kick off activity, Marlin has initiated a partnership with American fashion designer Johny Dar to deliver a celebrity-led charity campaign, “Jeans for Refugees”. The initiative sees second-hand jeans donated from 100 celebrities – including Emma Watson, Kate Moss, Ryan Gosling and Sir Elton John, painted with unique patterns offered for auction exclusively on Catawiki, with all funds being donated to the International Rescue Committee.

Casey Williams, UK marketing manager at Catawiki, said: “Marlin PR quickly showed a different way of thinking. They didn’t only understand our proposition, but they ‘got’ our brand, what makes us tick and, crucially, what differentiates our business and approach.

“Marlin has already shown that they can think creatively and laterally, providing meaningful campaigns that will stay long in the memory. We’re excited to be working with them and can already see what fearless work we can deliver together as we continue to build our brand in the UK.”

Ben Philipson, director at Marlin PR, added: “Our approach will promote the uniqueness of the Catawiki brand and open consumers’ eyes to an entirely new way of finding special objects through innovative news hijacks that capture the zeitgeist.”

Makovsky hires executive vice president

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Douglas Hesney, the former executive vice president at Dukas Linden Public Relations, has been hired by Makovsky to lead its financial and professional services practice.

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Douglas Hesney

Hesney brings over 10 years of financial and professional services communications experience to the role. At Dukas Linden PR, Hesney led the firm’s asset management practice, and oversaw revenue growth of more than 200%.

Ken Makovsky, president at Makovsky, said: “We’re delighted Doug has joined Makovsky. His strong track record of leadership speaks for itself. We’re thrilled to bring aboard a professional who holds proven insight and deep subject-matter knowledge in both financial and professional services.”

Hesney added: “I could not be prouder that Ken and Denise have placed their confidence in me to lead Makovsky’s financial services and professional services team. I’ve long respected Makovsky’s ability to create influential and dynamic communications programs.

“Under Ken and Denise’s leadership, the firm has developed a superior offering that integrates print, online, broadcast, digital and social media. It’s my hope that our collective skills will make us an even more powerful competitor in today’s business environment. I am excited about what we can do together and the future we can create.”

Ketchum names Mark Hume COO of Europe

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Ketchum’s Mark Hume has been announced COO of Europe. He will partner with chairman and CEO Rob Flaherty, to oversee the agency’s European operations.

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Mark Hume

Hume continues as CFO for the region, a role which he took on in 2009. David Gallagher, who was named partner and CEO, Europe, in 2011, is adopting the title of president, growth and development, international at Omnicom Public Relations Group.

Hume joined Ketchum in 1996 as finance director, UK, through Ketchum’s acquisition of Scope Communications. He was named COO, UK in 2001, and was appointed European commercial director in 2004. Hume was named a Ketchum partner in 2005.

Flaherty said: “Mark Hume is a trusted and respected leader, a multi-faceted finance and operations executive with a keen understanding of the communications industry and a proven track record of growth; he has been instrumental in the acquisition and development of each of our European businesses.

“Ketchum’s European network is one of the industry’s largest, which is a direct result of Mark and David’s leadership and partnership with regional and local leaders to drive business, producing exceptional results.”

Ketchum recently appointed Barri Rafferty to worldwide president, and created a new Global Leadership Council, of which Hume is a member.

Hume added: “I have enjoyed partnering with David and our European leadership team for more than 15 years to grow Ketchum’s business and reach in Europe, and I’m looking forward to continuing to best meet our clients’ needs and attract and develop the region’s top talent.”

60 Seconds with Rebecca Rhodes, Virgo Health and Golin Health

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Rebecca Rhodes, chief creative officer for Virgo Health and Golin Health, talks to Gorkana about healthcare and the health and wellness trend, creative thinking and the best piece of career advice she’s ever received.

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Rebecca Rhodes

What media do you consume?
ES magazine, Sunday Times Style, Observer Food Monthly, Red, Vogue, Elle Décor, Dazed & Confused and Blue Print.

What are the essential differences and similarities between healthcare and other sectors or industries you have worked in?
I spent ten years in consumer brand communications working for Adidas, Heineken and Speedo, among others. Healthcare is now very much a consumer industry. People’s interest in health-tech and data, along with zero stage medicine (preventative rather than cure) has meant that the healthcare industry has had to take consumer engagement seriously and is therefore a much more creative place to work.

What’s the best thing about working in healthcare and how did you get to know the sector?
I was approached to take a creative director role in a healthcare agency as a result of my consumer brand experience. I love the fact that you work on campaigns that have both social purpose and impact. Health brands are so much more interesting than marketing a can of coke or a bottle of shampoo. Health and wellness is having its moment!

What’s the secret for great creativity in PR?
1) Creative confidence is key. There is much written on the subject but it is widely accepted that it comes down to self-affirmation.
2) Great stimulus. Our brains are wired to go to the same place so we need disrupt them with new experiences.
3) It is all about the idea. Smart ideas that connect across multiple platforms. Think channel agnostic and see where it gets you.

Where do you get creative inspiration from?
Galleries/exhibitions/magazines/other people’s work!

What work are you proudest of from the last 12 months, and why?
Being a Cannes Lions judge was a real honour and creating the first R&D innovations hack at Lions Health in June 2016.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
You should probably think about moving into a creative role!

What’s the highlight of your working week?
Reading a lovely new brief – I’m not a completer finisher.

How do you switch off?
Drink wine, meditate badly and watch Game of Thrones.

  • Are you working in an interesting or unusual PR role? Do you have strong views on the industry that you want to share with the Gorkana community? If so, please contact Emily Andrews.

33Seconds hires Eulogy’s Mark Doonan

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PR and social media marketing agency 33Seconds has appointed Eulogy’s Mark Doonan to a newly-created associate director role.

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Mark Doonan

As well as overseeing a portfolio of the agency’s tech clients, which include SoundCloud, Web Summit, and Tapdaq, Doonan will work with 33Seconds’ co-founder, Alice Regester, to build and enhance a new business pipeline.

At Eulogy, Doonan led a number of clients within its business services division and supported several new business wins, including Potentialife, TBSeen.com, Cyber Security Partners and ResearchExchange.com.

Before Eulogy, he worked with integrated comms agency Threepipe and B2B specialist agency Man Bites Dog.

Regester said: “Mark brings with him a wealth of experience in working with a broad cross-section of clients that operate across a number of different sectors, and we’re already highly focused on putting our ambitious plans into action.”

BigChange hires Francis for corporate PR

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Mobile workforce management business, BigChange has appointed Francis, the corporate division of Frank, to raise its profile among UK businesses.

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A mobile worker uses BigChange technology

BigChange CEO, Martin Port, said: “We need to make noise that matches our results, and this is why we have chosen Frank’s corporate team to help drive the talkability we need and showcase our 3-in-1 revolution for mobile, tracking and back office benefits that firms of all sizes are recognising the need for.”

Francis will help BigChange to achieve its goal to reach £110m turnover within the next five years. BigChange uses a JobWatch system to help improve management and communication between businesses’ back offices and mobile employees.

Director at Frank and head of Francis, Richard Medley, added: “Martin and team are high on ambition, have a system that makes total sense for any business with a mobile workforce to adopt and have an impressive list of sign ups that will help us tell their story. It’s always exciting to get on board with a game-changing business, and the journey BigChange have ahead of them marks them out clearly as one of those.”