Ketchum wins UK brief for social media tool TINT

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TINT, which claims to be the world’s biggest social media ‘display’ tool, has hired Ketchum as its PR partner of choice in the UK.

The social media business, which was set up in 2013 and is headquartered in San Francisco, is a platform which lets brands aggregate, curate and display social media feeds onto any screen – from websites and mobile apps to digital billboards, retail displays and event walls.

TINT‘s software allows brands to filter content created by fans and followers about them and display it on any of their digital properties.

It already has 45,000 customers worldwide, and has worked with brands including Williams F1, Nestle, UK retailer Bench, as well as tech stock exchange NASDAQ, which uses TINT to incorporate social media for many of its IPOs.

Ketchum’s brief in the UK will be to enhance awareness of TINT’s social media platform. The campaign will target specific sectors, including retail/ecommerce, printing and publishing, hospitality and travel, and event management.

Stuart Thompson, European director at TINT, said: “Hashtags have really evolved and now form part of our real conversations and engagement with companies and organisations, and that is why brands around the world have such an appetite for TINT.”

David Vindel, MD, European technology, at Ketchum, said: “TINT has great momentum behind it, with an energetic and entrepreneurial management team and a track record of 45,000 customers built up in just two years.

“Finding ways to deepen relationships with their customers while maximising marketing spend is top of mind for our clients right now, so we are very much looking forward to, not only generating greater awareness of TINT in the market, but also introducing TINT to our clients and exploring novel ways in which we can use TINT throughout the Ketchum network too.

“At the same time, the Out of Home (OOH) medium is experiencing phenomenal growth and has finally embraced digital. New technology like TINT has transformed OOH into an increasingly dynamic, adaptive, innovative and interactive medium. Having a client in this space is genuinely very, very exciting.”

Elysian Estates hires Rich Leigh & Company

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Consumer PR agency Rich Leigh & Company has won its first retained hospitality PR brief from luxury accommodation website Elysian Estates.

Elysian Estates is a British-based property hire website, offering its clients the ability to hire properties in the UK, including castles, country estates and luxury houses. The site also offers a concierge service, to arrange services including catering, entertainment, child minding, activities and housekeeping.

Rich Leigh & Company, which won the account following a competitive pitch, has been briefed to provide creative PR and media relations support for Elysian Estates, with a strong focus on building authoritative links.

Rich Leigh, founder of Rich Leigh & Company, said: “I’ve had my eye on Elysian Estates for a while; I love the business and brand and was thrilled when we won the account, as there are so many creative ways we can achieve our goals of link building and, of course, sending traffic we hope will convert to clients for the site.

“Although I’ve worked with numerous hospitality clients before, this is the first one for the agency since starting a year ago, which is exciting. I know we’re all looking forward to developing and delivering the unique ideas the team have come up with.”

Rebecca Cole, MD of Elysian Estates, said: “Rich and his team demonstrated a clear passion for not only creativity, but also accountability. SEO is ever-important and PR is uniquely placed to build links with authoritative sites, something Rich was able to show us his team does regularly for current clients. We have some fun campaigns planned and, really, just can’t wait to get started.”

Mirada hands financial PR brief to Newgate

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Mirada, a developer of products for the digital TV market, has appointed Newgate as its financial PR agency following a competitive pitch process.

Newgate has been appointed to communicate Mirada’s business to the investment community by increasing its presence in national and investment media.

Mirada develops user interfaces for digital TV broadcasters and channels, enabling TV content to be delivered across multiple devices.

Bob Huxford, Newgate’s Growth Companies head, leads the brief. He will be supported by senior consultant Robyn McConnachie and account executive Ed Treadwell.

Huxford said: “Mirada is a dynamic business with a compelling proposition and strong positioning in an exciting growth market. We are delighted to have been appointed to support the management in the next phase of the Company’s development.”

Jose Vazquez, CEO of Mirada, added: “Mirada is currently embarking on a number of significant deployments with the recent launch of an OTT solution in Latin America and further rollouts of its solutions across major broadcast networks in the region expected soon.

“As experienced financial PR practitioners in the AIM technology space, Newgate is well placed to help us in effectively communicating these important developments.”

W wins Trouva and Boat International Media briefs

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W has won PR briefs from Trouva, an online store that curates products from independent boutiques across the UK, and luxury yachting publisher Boat International Media.

Trouva, which launched last year, works with 150 lifestyle boutiques from across the UK, with an aim to provide an alternative curated online shopping experience.

W’s brands division has been briefed to increase awareness of the Trouva brand and support business objectives to grow sales figures.

Activity will include a product placement campaign, alongside building a community of digital influencers.

Lucy Ward, head of creative and content at Trouva, said: “We were hugely impressed by W’s first-class connectivity and creative response to our brief. The dynamic team also showcased a commercial flair, that is vital to Trouva’s success this year.”

Hailed as “the Vogue of the yachting world” in The Times, Boat International Media’s monthly magazine is regarded as one of the most authoritative and trusted titles for the superyacht community.

W has been hired to boost the profile of its flagship event, the Superyacht Design Symposium, which takes place in the Austrian Alps from 21 to 23 February 2016.

Presided over by Stephen Bayley, co-creator of London’s Design Museum, the Symposium will bring together high-profile industry speakers to debate ideas and trends influencing the luxury design market – from Jaguar Landrover’s automotive design director Gerry McGovern, to Italian industrialist Lapo Elkann.

The account will sit within W’s Media and Corporate division.

Darrell McLennan Fordyce, chief marketing and events officer at Boat International Media, said: “W’s distinctive understanding of the luxury market has been instrumental for publicising the Superyacht Design Symposium’s revamped format and fresh content.

“This has also been a huge focus for Boat International Media recently, and complements our broader focus on luxury lifestyle, so we’re delighted to work with them on this exciting project.”

Pictured: Cakewalk designed by Tim Heywood

DeVries SLAM enhances leadership team

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DeVries Global has enhanced the leadership team at its UK operation,  DeVries SLAM, with the promotions of MD Helena Bloomer to regional MD, Europe, and brand strategy lead Gemma Chaldecott to deputy MD UK.

Bloomer was part of a three-strong leadership team to launch SLAM in 2006. She became became MD during the agency’s integration into DeVries Global in 2012.

Her new role as regional MD, Europe will see Bloomer take resposibilty for growth and capability across the region.

Chaldecott served as head of brand strategy for DeVries SLAM, having first joined the agency as a director in 2011. In her previous role, she led work with Beats by Dr Dre, Tanqueray Gin and PepsiCo.

As deputy MD, Chaldecott takes on day-to-day operational oversight of the UK office, including agency marketing, talent management, new business and financial duties.

Heidi Hovland CEO of DeVries Global, said: “Helena has ushered in unprecedented growth for the DeVries SLAM office since her installation as MD. Her leadership in fostering a creatively prosperous culture within the agency has led to their best year yet. We look to her appointment as a catalyst for new growth across Europe, while she continues to lead her team to further success.

“Together with the inimitable Gemma Chaldecott in her new role as deputy MD, they will be integral in recognizing DeVries Global’s visions of success in 2016 and beyond.”

Bloomer added: “Following an incredible year, we are focused on how to best offer our first-class client services across Europe and beyond. Working in harmony with our DeVries Global counterparts around the world, we move to becoming even more of a truly global organization.

“Europe is an important growth area for us and with these newly appointed roles, we will work with agency leads across the region to drive greater growth and synergies.”

Jargon PR wins DOCOMO Digital account

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DOCOMO Digital, the European-based subsidiary of Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO, has appointed Jargon PR to provide media relations and branding support as it launches a global mobile commerce venture.

DOCOMO Digital, which develops payment solutions for mobile retailers, has hired Jargon as it looks to expand internationally. The agency will provide strategic and operational services during the company’s global launch at the Mobile World Congress, which is taking place in Barcelona next week.

Dennis Heisig, DOCOMO press manager, said: “Appointing Jargon PR was an easy decision. We were looking for an agency with proven technology and corporate experience, a proactive attitude and an international team. Having been named Small Agency of the Year by the CIPR in late November, Jargon PR was the obvious choice.”

Simon Corbett, Jargon MD, added: “We are delighted to be working with the talented and inspirational team at DOCOMO Digital. Our campaign will support the business at a number of international conferences and events throughout 2016, starting with Mobile World Congress next month.

“The win is testament to the hard work of the team and our impressive corporate and technology PR credentials.”

The Open University briefs Lexis

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Lexis has been called in by The Open University to support its ‘Life-changing Learning’ campaign, which aims to promote the impact of studying with the OU and to motivate “people of every age to begin their own learning journey”.

Lexis has been briefed to provide a series of consumer-facing activations that support a range of brand and direct response marketing campaigns. Work will include media, earned social media and experiential activity.

The account will be led by Ruth Kieran, deputy MD at Lexis.

Debbie Britton, director of marketing at The Open University, said: “The Open University has a track record of changing people’s lives by improving their career prospects and enhancing their futures through part-time study. The PR campaign will communicate this message most effectively to as wide an audience as possible.”

Kieran said: “The Open University is an iconic and world-leading academic institution, which has a continued legacy of trust and respect in the UK. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with their team, reach a wider range of audiences and demonstrate the life-changing opportunities the OU has to offer.”

Golin acquires The Brooklyn Brothers

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Interpublic Group agency Golin has acquired creative agency The Brooklyn Brothers.

Founded in 2001 in New York and 2008 in the UK, The Brooklyn Brothers expanded to Los Angeles in 2012 to create its Hollywood writing room, an alliance with seven of Hollywood scriptwriters. It opened an office in Brazil in 2013.

Clients have included Castrol Edge, NBC and Pepsi.

Founding partners Guy Barnett, George Bryant, Paul Parton and Jackie Stevenson will continue to manage The Brooklyn Brothers operations. David Watson, original London founding partner, will continue to work with the team in 2016, after which he plans to leave the business.

Stevenson said: “Our clients are looking for ideas that unite the marketing and PR disciplines and experts who can operate seamlessly across both worlds.

“We’ve always strived to build our agency at the intersection of marketing and PR and the Golin team shares our passion and commitment. The consumer doesn’t recognise the difference between disciplines – nor should we. We are delighted to be joining the Golin family. ”

Matt Neale, president international at Golin, said:  “If you were starting a global creative agency today, it would look like The Brooklyn Brothers. They operate at the apex of paid and earned media with an exceptional bench of senior talent that delivers compelling content across multiple platforms. They will be a tremendous asset for our clients.”

Fred Cook, CEO of Golin, said: “Our new partnership with Brooklyn Brothers is an important step in our long-term strategy to provide a complete suite of creative services to our clients. They will dramatically boost our capabilities in paid media, which is becoming an increasingly important part of our business.”

One Green Bean promotes Sky Cycling

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Sky has brought in One Green Bean as the retained consumer PR and social agency for Sky Cycling, ahead of what it says will be the brand’s biggest year yet.

One Green Bean has been briefed to help Sky promote its ongoing commitment to cycling and celebrate the role it has played in cycling in the UK.

A key part of One Green Bean’s remit will be the launch of a new cycling brand campaign to get more people on their bikes.

The team will also raise the profile of Sky’s relationship with three-time Tour de France winners Team Sky, as well as promote Sky’s partnership with British Cycling, the Great Britain cycling team and WIGGINS.

The agency will also launch and provide PR support for Sky Ride, a mass participation event, which launched in 2009 and is now in its final year.

The PR campaign will include content strategy and production for Sky Cycling’s digital and social channels. The agency’s remit will also include influencer and talent outreach and engagement.

The account will be led by One Green Bean MD Matt Buchanan and executive creative director Kat Thomas.

Fiona Morgan, head of brand for Sky Cycling and Team Sky, said: “We were impressed by One Green Bean’s fresh perspective, outstanding creativity and brand building credentials outside of sport. They demonstrated a very modern approach to communications, spanning PR, social and content strategy.

“This is the biggest year yet for Sky and cycling, and we’re excited to have One Green Bean onboard to drive our communications far and wide and get people to love cycling as much as we do. We’re delighted with the appointment and can’t wait to get started.”

Buchanan added: “We’re thrilled to be kicking off the year with such a big win. There’s a lot of excitement in the agency for Sky Cycling and we’re looking forward to delivering some innovative and memorable work in the coming months.”

Tulchan

Alliance Trust hands financial brief to Tulchan

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Alliance Trust PLC, one of the largest generalist investment trusts in the UK by market value, is now working with financial PR agency Tulchan following a competitive pitch process.

The FTSE250 trust manages a total of some £3.3bn assets and owns two financial services subsidiaries; Alliance Trust Savings and Alliance Trust Investments.

Partner Stephen Malthouse and director Martin Pengelley will lead the Tulchan team managing the brief.

In January, the trust appointed Robert Smith, Lord Smith of Kelvin, as its new chairman. He took up his new role on 1 February.