Forterra engages FTI to advise on IPO

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Forterra, the second-largest manufacturer of bricks in the UK, is being advised by FTI Consulting as it progresses towards an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange later this month.

FTI was brought in a few months ago for the IPO communications brief after a competitive pitch.

Forterra announced its intention to float last week and is expecting to have at least 25% of its issued share capital on the market. The float could give Forterra a market capitalisation of around £450m, according to reports.

FTI’s team is led by senior MD Richard Mountain and MD Nick Hasell, who are supported by senior consultant Frances Elworthy and consultant Alexandra Scott. They report to Forterra CEO Stephen Harrison and CFO Shatish Dasani.

TelcoSwitch hires Spreckley for launch brief

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TelcoSwitch, a UK telecoms start-up, has appointed Spreckley to launch its open standards hosted telephony platform with an integrated PR and marketing campaign.

The start-up, which has added up to three new partners to its roster each week since beginning trading in late 2015, is embarking on an aggressive recruitment campaign, supported by Spreckley’s extensive experience working with B2B technology, cloud and telecoms companies.

A three-strong Spreckley team, led by account director Nick Bird, will target resellers with a content marketing programme across digital, social media, events and traditional trade media relations.

Russell Lux, CEO at TelcoSwitch, said: “Commercial telecoms as a market in the UK is growing, and we are seeing this first hand with the huge interest from resellers looking to take on cloud-based telephony for their customers.

“Having previously worked with Spreckley, I have complete confidence in its ability to deliver, particularly in creating engaging content that will attract new partners to our business and be a part of our rapid growth.”

Richard Merrin (pictured), MD of Spreckley, said: “Working with a brand new company certainly has its challenges but the returns are far greater; being able to say you were there and a significant cog in the wheel during rapid growth is extremely rewarding.”

See.Saw promotes new beer trade show at NEC

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See.Saw has been appointed by Quartz Business Media to handle the PR for Brewing Equipment & Technology, the UK’s first trade exhibition for the beer industry.

The show, which takes place at NEC Birmingham from 18 to 19 May, is aimed at brewers, micro-brewers seesaw144and craft brewers looking for practical advice and the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in brewing.

It is being curated by Larry Nelson, publisher of The Brewery Manual.

Megan Greenwood, founder of See.Saw, said: “We are looking forward to completely immersing ourselves in the world of beer. Brewing has become a highly lucrative and forward-thinking industry that continues to grow, with three new breweries currently opening in the UK each week.”

Colliers International enhances EMEA comms team

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Global commercial real estate service Colliers International has appointed Helen O’Reilly to the newly-created role of comms and marketing manager in its Dublin office.

O’Reilly has been briefed to handle corporate branding and create a marketing and comms straColliers Internationalegy for the Colliers business in the Republic of Ireland.

She has worked in marketing and PR across various industries including motoring and the Arts, and previously headed up PR and marketing at the Gate Theatre Dublin.

Before that, she was marketing manager for car dealership Bolands Waterford, where she looked after brands BMW, MINI, Citroen, Hyundai and Opel. She also worked in TV production, which included producing digital content for online channels.

In her new role, O’Reilly will work closely with Colliers International’s EMEA HQ, which is based in London, where Charlotte Willaims, director of PR and comms, UK and EMEA, is based.

Bloembureau Holland hands European brief to Weber Shandwick

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Dutch flower promoter Bloembureau Holland has handed a three-year pan-European PR brief to Weber Shandwick, following a five-way pitch.

Bloembureau Holland is an independent foundation set up to promote to consumers in Europe the buying and giving of plants and flowers. It is co-funded by the European Commission.

Weber Shandwick’s Manchester Office won the three-year contract to promote orchids in the UK alongside the agency’s network offices in the Netherlands, France and Germany.

The agency will deliver integrated campaigns aiming to build on “emotional connections to Orchids” from an account hub in the Netherlands.

Mark Eijsackers, general manager of Bloemenbureau Holland, said: “Weber Shandwick presented a creative and solid marketing campaign for a competitive European market. We are looking forward to delivering three years of impactful campaigns across Europe, with the UK being one of our most important markets.”

Jo Leah, Weber Shandwick MD and chair English regions and Wales, added: “Orchids are known for their extreme beauty and symbolism and our European network is mobilised to build on that emotion and history through a multichannel consumer campaign.”

The Gorkana Weekly Industry News Brief: 26 March to 1 April 2016

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Missed out on this week’s PR News? Get your handy round-up of the essential highlights of PR and media stories, features and events content over the last seven days on Gorkana News.

TeamGB 4

Team GB

Pitch Wins

The British Olympic Association has appointed Hill+Knowlton Strategies to help unite the nation in support of Team GB, as Olympians prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August.

Siemens has chosen Publicasity to handle the UK PR for its range of cooking, cooling and washing appliances, following a four-way pitch.

Manulife Asset Management, a fund manager with some £211bn in AUM (assets under management), has chosen FWD as its PR representative for Europe and the UK.

4mediagroup44

The London Motor Show

Vivino, which claims to be the world’s most downloaded wine app, has brought in Manifest London to handle its UK PR.

The London Motor Show has appointed 4media Group agencies Stature PR and 4mediarelations to handle the PR around its May event, following a competitive pitch.

Consumer PR agency Rich Leigh & Company is providing pro bono PR support for new social enterprise Foodinate, which provides free meals to the homeless by working with local restaurants.

People News

Merlin Entertainments, which includes visitor attractions Alton Towers, LEGOLAND and Madame Tussauds, has hired Diageo’s James Crampton to the newly created position of corporate affairs director.

Bell Pottinger has made a number of senior appointments across its global network, including the promotion of Philip Pank and Paul de Bendern, as well as the appointment of Hotwire’s Claudia Bate, to partners in its London office.

Viv-Jemmett

Viv Jemmett

FTI Consulting has hired Hanover’s Viv Jemmett to join its digital team as a senior director, who will report to MD and head of digital Ant Moore.

Public policy comms consultancy Champollion has recruited Conservative political commentator Jo-Anne Nadler to head up its planning comms division.

Agency News

Golin UK has launched a “Life Time” scheme for its employees, which features unlimited holidays, flexible working and enhanced paternity pay and maternity leave, which it claims will help tackle diversity and the gender pay gap in PR.

Weber Shandwick has become the first global PR firm to adopt Facebook’s business platform Facebook at Work, after a successful pilot programme that began late last year.

Manchester-based LJFpr has rebranded, and will now be known as Cubed, as it expands its services to include content creation. The agency has also picked up two briefs to work with recruitment group Rethink and the Institute of Directors (IoD).

News Analysis

Ad-blocking presents PR opportunity
Last week’s Guardian Changing Media Summit highlighted once again that ad-blocking, the practice of using software to remove banner ads from web pages, desktops and mobile phones when viewing content, is a major challenge for the media industry. However, the continued rise of ad-blocking could provide the PR industry with new opportunities, according to comms experts from Edelman and Propeller PR.

Journalist News

The Times and The Sunday Times have merged their websites and relaunched their smartphone apps. One core edition will be published each day on The Times app, which will then be updated at 9am, midday and 5pm. On weekends, the edition updates will be at midday and 6pm.

Sarah Phillips has been promoted to deputy opinion editor at the Guardian. She was previously assistant opinion editor at the national newspaper.

Simon Neville, former retail correspondent at The Indepdendent and the London Evening Standard, has joined BuzzFeed UK as business editor.

Virgin Radio UK has returned to the airwaves this week on digital after previously broadcasting between 1993 and 2008. Part of the Wireless Group portfolio, Virgin Radio UK is now available on DAB, digital and online.

U2 bass guitarist Adam Clayton has joined British GQ as contributing arts editor. His first column will appear in the May issue of the magazine.

Time Out Group has unveiled a new design for its London and New York magazines, with a fresh layout designed to give the publication a cleaner feel and align with Time Out’s digital platforms across mobile, web and social channels.

Natasha Lunn has been promoted to features editor at Red. She was previously deputy features editor at the title. In her new role, she will also take responsibility for Red’s books section, Reads.

Features

Launch PR4


Behind the Headlines with Launch PR’s Johnny Pitt
Johnny Pitt, CEO of Launch PR, on roaring success, a very public penchant for chocolate and the worst thing anyone has said to him.

Belize Tourism Board hands brief to Brighter Group

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The Belize Tourism Board has handed a European PR brief to the Brighter Group, following a competitive pitch.

As Belize looks to grow its presence internationally, the Brighter Group has been brought on board to enhance the country’s brand and presence in Europe with a representation, marketing and PR campaign.

It will highlight Belize’s credentials as a leading sustainable tourism destination, and will promote its range of attractions, which include Mayan Temples, rainforests, rare wildlife and diving opportunities.

The campaign will have an initial focus on the UK, with secondary markets including France and Germany.

Karen Bevans, director of Belize Tourism Board, said: “TheBrighter Group’s passion for Belize, joined by its unrivalled knowledge of the travel business and top connections within the tourism industry, particularly in Europe, made it our preferred partners to work with to promote our very beautiful and unique destination to the European Market. We are extremely excited and look forward to great success, with increasing European arrivals to Belize.”

Debbie Flynn, CEO at Brighter Group, said: “We are thrilled to have won the account for the Belize Tourism Board – what a fantastic destination to promote! We have a strong track record of successfully promoting fantastic countries and I know the whole team is very excited about promoting Belize within Europe and driving bookings.”

Rooster tees off with Topgolf UK brief

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Rooster has been appointed by Topgolf UK, which has entertainment venues in Surrey, Essex and Watford, to raise its profile across the UK.

Topgolf claims to combine the “fun of quick-fire target golf with food, drink and entertainment”. With more than 80% of visitors classing themselves as non-golfers, it says there is no need to have played golf before attending. However, golf lessons and “league nights” and junior school holiday camps are available.

The company had more than eight million annual visitors to its UK and US venues last year. Rooster has been briefed to deliver a strategic PR and social media campaign to build awareness and educate consumers and the media about the brand experience.

Claire Kendrick, head of marketing UK at Topgolf, said: “As Topgolf continues to grow in popularity, with new events and an expansive dining and bar menu, we are delighted to bring Rooster onto the green to help communicate our unique offering. Our venues offer something for everyone, throughout the week, day and night. If you like fun, you’ll love Topgolf.”

James Brooke, MD at Rooster PR, added: “We are pleased to announce our appointment by Topgolf, a truly innovative business enterprise that will change the way we view golf. The unique point-scoring game and entertaining setting is truly addictive and makes for an entertaining day or night out.”

Powerscourt hires European Commission media specialist

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Powerscourt has brought in David D’Arcy, former international press and comms manager at the European Commission, as a senior consultant.

D’Arcy has some ten years’ experience with the EC, including a stint asDavid D'Arcy senior press officer in London. His last 12 months included a sabbatical with the United Nations.

His experience spans comms, diplomacy, policy and advocacy across industry sectors including financial services, digital, data protection, climate change and energy. Before joining the European Commission, David worked in a variety of journalism, private sector communication and TV production roles.

He will be based in Powerscourt’s Dublin office.

Rory Godson, chief executive, said: “David has an ideal background for a Powerscourt colleague: journalism, international experience, working at the Commission. He offers a rare combination of cool-headed analysis and passionate advocacy. He will offer our clients great insight into the workings of Brussels.

“While David will work across our firm’s client base, he will be based with our Dublin team. Our distinctive proposition to Irish and international clients is that we can offer the same quality of service in Dublin as in London but with a perfect cultural affinity.”

Harris Tweed briefs Portas

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The Harris Tweed Authority has appointed creative comms agency Portas to work on a project for the Milan Design Triennale, which runs from 31 March to 12 September 2016.

Portas will provide comms strategy, designer liaison and PR support for the organisation.

Lorna Macaulay, chief executive of The Harris Tweed Authority, said: “The Harris Tweed Authority is collaborating with the V&A Dundee and Jaguar Land Rover on this exciting project. We are very pleased to have the extensive fashion knowledge and contacts of Portas Agency on the team as we take it forward.”

Caireen Wackett, MD at Portas, added: “Harris Tweed is a gloriously unique British brand and we’re delighted to be working with them on such a prestigious project.”