Bell pulls out of IGA deal
Sir Tim Bell has pulled out of talks with Ian Greer Associates, aimed at
moving staff and clients from the collapsed lobby firm to his company,
Lowe Bell Communications. Industry sources suggest that Adele Biss, co-
founder of Biss Lancaster and past-chairman of the British Tourist
Authority, is now tipped as the front-runner to pull off a similar deal
with IGA. Meanwhile Burson-Marsteller and APCO have joined the body of
companies expressing interest in IGA Europe.
Law Society set to reveal communicator
The Law Society is set to announce this week the appointment of its
director of communications. The role combines the posts of director of
corporate and regional affairs and head of PR, previously held by Andrew
Lockley and Sue Stapely respectively. Both quit the society this year
following disagreements with former president Martin Mears.
Cohn & Wolfe switches to Young & Rubicam
Burson-Masteller-owned agency Cohn and Wolfe will switch its reporting
line from B-M to parent company Young and Rubicam from 1997. The
decision follows B-M’s metamorphosis away from a traditional PR agency
structure to a ‘perception management’ firm with management consultancy-
style global client practices.
PR staff fear job cuts at British Energy
Communications staff at British Energy, the newly-privatised nuclear
generator, are waiting to hear how they will be affected by plans to axe
1,300 jobs. ‘Clearly there will be an impact on corporate communications
but the precise scale will be worked through’ said Barry Culmer, PR head
at Nuclear Electric. There are five PR staff at British Energy, 14 at
Nuclear Electric and nine at Scottish Nuclear.
Microsoft hires Shandwick for interactive
Microsoft Corporation in the US has appointed Shandwick to run a PR
campaign for its interactive media division. Working initially in the
US, Shandwick will eventually assume an international role in promoting
Microsoft’s computer games, educational products and on-line
publications accessible via the Internet. Edelman, and Copithorne and
Bellows also pitched for the business.
TUFF picks Westminster to target MPs
The Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum (TUFF) and the Federation of
Communications Services have hired Westminster Strategy to support their
bid for legislation against phone fraud. The two telecoms associations
want one of the MPs placed highly in this month’s private members’ bill
ballot to take up their cause.
Qureshi leaves BBC to join the police
Warwickshire Constabulary has named Jamil Qureshi as its new head of PR.
He replaces Francesca Hanikova who left last month to join the Royal
Mail. Qureshi was previously press and PR manager for the BBC in
Nottingham where he was responsible for TV and radio in the East
Midlands.
New Competitive Edge to Business for free
PR Week has 20 free tickets for ‘The New Competitive Edge to Business’
conference on video and data conferencing. Organised by the Financial
Times,and sponsored by BT, the conference takes place at the London
Hilton onPark Lane on 21 October. The first 20 PR Week readers to call
the hotline will get tickets, worth pounds 150 each. The hotline number
is 0171 465 7040, and callers need to key in extension number #096 using
a touch tone phone.
