Colver resigns as Tory comms role
As PR Week went to press on Wednesday, it was announced that Tory party
director of communications Hugh Colver has resigned. Colver, who joined
Central Office from British Aerospace in May, is being replaced on a
temporary basis by Tim Collins - formerly director of communications
between 1992 and 1995. John Gardiner, private secretary to party
chairman Brian Mawhinney has also quit to become director of public
affairs at the British Field Sports Society. He is replaced by Vanessa
Ford, formerly head of news. There are three new appointments to the
press office: Ceri Evans; Sheila Gunn and Paul Hooper.
Body Shop hires two sets of PR advisers
Both sides on the board of The Body Shop plc have called in PR advisers
amid reports that founders Anita and Gordon Roddick are planning to take
the company private. Financial Dynamics is advising the board -
effectively the Roddicks - while Brunswick is advising non-executive
directors Penny Hughes and Aldo Papone, who would represent the
interests of minority shareholders in the event of a bid.
Lehman Brothers appoints Godfrey
Merchant bank Lehman Brothers has appointed John Godfrey as its
permanent head of European corporate communications. Godfrey was brought
in as a temporary consultant three months ago while the bank searched
for a replacement for Patricia Hamzahee who quit to join NatWest Markets
in July. Godfrey, who started the job this week, will co-ordinate media
relations, sponsorship and events for the bank’s offices in London,
Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich and Madrid.
Key’s Davis moves to Chambers Cox
David Davis, a non-executive director at Key Communications, has left to
join Chambers Cox PR this week as a non-executive chairman. ‘I set out
with Key shareholders to achieve a number of objectives to build the
business and so, in a sense, I have worked my way out of a job,’ said
Davis.
IPC promotes chief press officer
IPC Magazines has promoted its chief press officer Julie Wilson to the
post of communications manager, with responsibility for all external
communications. She will continue to head the company’s press office.
Casely goes to Aberdeenshire Council
Gordon Casely has been appointed head of communications with the new
Aberdeenshire Council. He takes up the post next month.
Terrence Higgins Trust seeks sponsors
The Terrence Higgins Trust is seeking sponsors for two World Aids Day
events: a live show featuring Lenny Henry, Harry Enfield and Eddie
Izzard called The Big Snog on November 20 and Counter Revolution:
promotional events in Virgin and Our Price stores. Call Nick Green on
0171-511 0101.
Cafe Royal picks Sugden McCluskey
The Cafe Royal has appointed Sugden McCluskey, the travel and leisure
specialist, to handle its UK PR business. The agency pitched against
three other agencies for the account.
Henshall Centre chooses Wray
The Henshall Centre has appointed the former director of PR and
advertising at the British Diabetic Association, Veronica Wray, as
senior training consultant for its PR training programmes.
BNFL wins IPR design award
BNFL has won the IPR North West Region award for the Best Use of Design
for its new corporate identity created by Lloyd Northover Citigate.
