Clark unveils F-H 2002 strategy and line-up

Scott Clark, who replaced Paul Blackburn as Fleishman-Hillard's

London MD at the end of last year, this week unveiled the agency's

strategy for 2002.

Clark, who was promoted from chief executive of F-H-owned healthcare

firm CPR Worldwide, announced a raft of appointments and strategic

changes.

He said the changes come as part of a plan to turn around the fortunes

of the London group, which last year made a number of redundancies and

lost clients including Dell and Nortel Networks (PRWeek, 23 November

2001).

Clark confirmed F-H London will concentrate on building its four main

sectors - financial and corporate, technology, consumer and healthcare -

instead of new ventures.

The consumer and financial units start the year with different

management line-ups.

Associate directors Jonathan Hawkers and Jennifer Ryan lead the

financial unit, replacing former head Simon Southgate, who left at the

end of last year.

Helen Craft has joined as consumer director in place of Charlene

Lafontant, who returned to F-H's Los Angeles office, from where she

transferred last year.

Craft was previously acting head of Weber Shandwick's consumer

practice.

While Clark said further recruitment would be minimal, he hinted at a

possible acquisition to bolster the financial division.

'Our plan is not to go out and get a new head or big strategic player

for the financial group, but we are looking at other opportunities to

strengthen the function,' he said.

F-H will also work more closely with CPR, which it acquired two years

ago and last month integrated - in both management and operations - with

its London office.

Former managing director Blackburn was not available for comment, but

has not yet announced his plans.