News in brief

PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Telecoms group Energis has appointed Kevin Jones as head of public affairs. Jones, who will report to regulatory and PA director David Stewart, joins from Bell Pottinger Public Affairs.

CONSUMER: Jackie Cooper PR is to launch a consumer PR push from next February for See, a new ticketing venture comprising the Way Ahead, Ticketselect and Really Useful Theatre Ticketing brands.

PHARMA: Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline has accused The Independent of ‘misrepresenting’ the company and the pharma industry in a front-page lead article headlined: ‘Glaxo chief: Our drugs do not work on most patients’. The article was based on a speech

given by Allen Roses, GSK’s genetics head.

LEGAL: Grandfield director Paul Jaffa, on gardening leave since September following a dispute with the company (PRWeek, 19 September), has set up Myddleton Communications, a PR consultancy for professional services firms, alongside ex-Grandfield

account manager Beth Farrer.

CONSUMER: Attenborough Associates has launched a trade, consumer and corporate PR push for video and computer games retailer Gamestation. The campaign will focus on shop openings for the brand.

SURVEY: Almost half of PR firms think 2004 will be a good year with buoyant market conditions, according to a survey by Plimsoll Publishing. The survey found that 49 per cent of PR firms polled expected improved conditions.

BIOTECH: The Maitland Consultancy and Euro RSCG Life Noonan Russo have launched a joint venture for clients from the healthcare and biotech sectors, called Maitland Noonan Russo.

HR: Management training and conference company Management Centre Europe has hired Credo to handle its PR and promote ‘HR 2004’, a conference the company will organise in Seville, Spain, next year.

PUBLISHING BREAK: PRWeek will now take its annual three-week winter publishing break. The next issue of the magazine will be out on 9 January 2004. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all our readers.