W appoints first deputy MD
PR agency W Communications has appointed former company director Sophie Raine as its first deputy MD. Raine, who has been with the agency since 2014, will work alongside CEO Warren Johnson and managing director Richard Tompkins to help drive growth across the business. As deputy MD, Raine will lead on talent development and oversee client work and output. She will also share responsibility for the agency’s UK P&L.
Change at Ketchum Change
As reported by PRWeek US, Ketchum's employee engagement and change management practice Ketchum Change is to merge into fellow Omnicom agency Daggerwing Group.
Rule 5 hires Smallwood
Former BBC Sport journalist Jimmy Smallwood, who has spent the last two years as comms officer for the English Federation of Disability Sports, has been appointed by the agency Rule 5 as senior account manager. He will work on a combination of media and sports accounts at the Manchester agency, one of whose co-founders Rob Brown is the CIPR president.
Win for Grifco
Grifco PR has been appointed as the UK agency of ECT Travel, a tour operator specialising in bespoke floral, quilting and art trips in the UK and Europe, as well as further afield.