The Writer acquires Tungtree
Language consultancy The Writer has acquired b2b PR firm Tungtree Communications, which it had previously employed as its comms agency. It is rebranding the agency as a content marketing and PR division, called Content by The Writer. Jim Horsley, who owned Tungtree prior to the acquisition, has been named CEO of The Writer, a new position. The Writer had 44 staff in London and New York prior to the acquisition. Tungtree, which was founded in 1998 and was previously known as CHA PR, had five staff.
SEEN launches wellness offering
SEEN Group, a global group of creative agencies with offices in London and New York, has launched integrated agency V-SEEN, focusing on the health-and-wellness sector. It is being launched by new hire Becky Knowles, who has previously worked in-house at L'Oréal. Founding clients include L'Oréal and fitness boxing chain KOBOX. The group itself launched in October last year. Its founding brand Beauty SEEN is nearly a decade old, and it has now launched social media agency Social SEEN and events and production company Be SEEN within the new group structure. The group CEO is Michelle Boon.
Hills Balfour wins Santa Monica
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism has appointed Hills Balfour to manage its trade relations, consumer marketing, public relations and meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions (MICE) strategy for the UK. The UK continues to be one of California's most mature markets for inboard tourism, with Santa Monica itself welcoming nearly 400,000 UK visitors in 2015, the agency said. Other Hills Balfour clients include UK clients Destination Plymouth and Jersey, as well as several other US states and cities, and tourist boards across the globe.
Road wins laser tech firm
Independent health agency Road has been appointed by laser technologies firm Cynosure to launch a series of integrated PR, digital and social media campaigns. The US-listed company creates systems allowing plastic surgeons and other medics to perform non-invasive and minimally invase procedures to remove hair, tattoos and skin blemishes, reduce fat and cellulite and improve women's health.
New chair at Dublin PRCA
Rhona Blake, MD of FleishmanHillard Ireland, has been appointed chair of the country's Public Relations Consultants Association. Prior chair Sharon Murphy, deputy CEO of Wilson Hartnell, stepped down after completing her two-year term. The appointment was confirmed at today's AGM.
Senior pair join Ballou
Former Seven Hills director Nick Taylor has taken up a new role as associate director at technology specialist Ballou PR. Charlie Simon, previously PR manager at social media startup Yubl and senior consultant at Hanover, has joined the Clerkenwell-based agency as an account director.
Creative hire at Cambridge's Conscious
Cambridge based public relations and marketing agency Conscious Communications has appointed Paul Flower as creative director in response to client demand on its in-house design team. He previously co-owned local creative agency Honest Ideas, which he had set up in 2009.
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