The Week

PR Week UK, Friday, 12 March 2010, 12:00am,

The Conservative Party has signed up Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for Madeleine McCann's parents, as head of media monitoring for its general election campaign.

Unilever has appointed its executive vice-president homecare, oral care and water Keith Weed as chief marketing and comms officer. The FMCG giant insisted the appointment did not affect the role of senior vice-president comms Gavin Neath.

Peugeot UK has called in House PR to handle its PR with non-automotive media. Peugeot is attempting to broaden its appeal with lifestyle media.

WPP has reported a drop in like-for-like PR revenues of 7.4 per cent during 2009.

Hogarth has been chosen by Stroud and Swindon to support media comms around a potential merger with FD-advised Coventry Building Society.

The Central Office of Information (COI) has appointed Nixon McInnes to implement a social media campaign for the Department for Children, Schools and Families to inspire young people.

Lexis Sport & Entertainment and Text 100 have launched a partnership to help brands and rights holders in the sponsorship sector.

Samsonite, the luggage brand, has hired Rain Communications as its lead European and UK agency for 2010.