News in brief

CORPORATE Mike Davies has been promoted to director of global comms at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), based in London. He replaces Peter Horowitz, who has taken up responsibilities in the office of the global CEO. 

AGENCY The Bell Pottinger Group has merged Bell Pottinger Consumer into Resonate, forming a 25-strong agency under the Resonate moniker. Resonate MD Michael Frohlich is to head the combined entity.

CORPORATE Stuart Leasor has left City agency M: Communications to join The Policy Partnership, where he will focus on expanding the corporate and PA consultancy’s financial PR offer. He has previously worked at Financial Dynamics.

CONSUMER Listings and comm­unity website Gumtree is pitching its consumer PR account after one-year incumbent Cow PR resigned its account to work with rival Fish4.

CITY Abchurch Communications has brought in Peter Laing as director of investor relations. Laing Joins from SkyePharma, where he was head of investor relations and head of corporate comms. 

CORPORATE French oil company Total will stick with August.One Communications for its UK corporate and consumer support. The agency’s remit was threatened by a competitive pitch (PRWeek, 3 Nov 2006).

CONSUMER Fine wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has handed its consumer account to Golin Harris. The agency replaces Halpern and was appointed following a review (PRWeek, 24 Nov 2006).

CORPORATE The National Lottery Commission this week said it was continuing to ‘look into’ an allegation against a Camelot media relations team member, following revelations in last week’s PRWeek (News: ‘Camelot staffer exits after complaint to NLC’). Meanwhile, the CIPR this week called the alleged behaviour of the staffer – believed to be media relations manager Alexia Latham –‘unacceptable’.