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The latest corporate and financial PR news, opinion and features.
Got a story? Contact John Harrington on 020 8267 4901 or john.harrington@haymarket.com.
News and news analysis
Train operator Avanti West Coast books PR agency for brand story brief
Engine Mischief has won a brief to help build the brand story of recently established train operator Avanti West Coast following a competitive pitch, PRWeek has learned.
Airbus appoints head of UK public affairs
Airbus has hired Josh Hardie, former deputy director-general of the CBI, as its new head of public affairs in the UK, PRWeek has learned.
FT appoints global communications director for maternity cover
The Financial Times has hired former Qatar Airways head of comms Sophie Knight as global communications director. She has been hired on a 12-month contract to cover for Kristina Eriksson, who is on maternity leave.
Kekst CNC grows senior team with hires from Weber Shandwick, KPMG and MoD
Kekst CNC has added three senior consultants and eight others to its London team.
Senior hire and promotion at Cicero/AMO as agency eyes fintech growth
Cicero/AMO has hired Sameer Gulati as a director to lead its growing fintech division and promoted Sonia Khan to associate director and a member of the agency’s UK public affairs senior management team.
The PRWeekly Podcast: Ogilvy CEO moves to Weber | COVID & internal comms | Manifest's Obubo tackles racism report
PRWeek's new podcast takes listeners behind the headlines of the week's most important news, views and industry gossip.
Visa hires communications director for Europe
Visa has appointed Portland director Claire Hardy as its communications director for continental Europe.
Innocent appoints global communications lead agency
Innocent Drinks has hired Where Eagles Dare as its retained lead corporate communications partner for global communications.
Engineering firm Atkins appoints PR agency for equality and diversity brief
Good Relations has been hired by engineering consultancy Atkins to deliver an external campaign as part of its equality, diversity and inclusion programme, following a competitive pitch process.
Movers & Shakers: Weber Shandwick, Facebook, Google, Lexington, Radioactive PR and more
PRWeek's weekly roundup of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Google hires KPMG's Jennifer ‘Jo’ Ogunleye to lead b2b comms
Google UK & Ireland has hired Jennifer ‘Jo’ Ogunleye to lead its b2b communications function with a focus on Google Search and YouTube advertising.
Pitch Update: Iceland, Ovo Energy, More Than, QNTMPAY, Open University and more
PRWeek's round-up of pitches and account moves.
Lloyds Banking Group launches in-house agency for cheaper, ‘more empathetic’ comms
Cost savings were catalyst but it was also about quality.
Oops. Volkswagen accidentally upstages own rebrand with premature press release
Someone at the automotive brand hit “publish” a month too soon.
Facebook hires Mastercard marcomms chief for EMEA comms role
Mastercard’s global head of marketing and communications, Rose Beaumont, has joined Facebook.
Pitch Update: Greggs, Highland Spring, Commonwealth Games, Hydrow and more
PRWeek's round-up of pitches and account moves.
Opinion and features
H&M's appointment of Maisie Williams reveals the nuances of greenwashing in PR
What's red and white, famous across the world, and guarantees disappointment? Nope, not Liverpool FC since donning Nike ticks on their chests: I'm talking about H&M's feeble attempts at sustainability.
Cameron has botched crisis comms basics in Greensill scandal
Given his previous role as director of corporate affairs for Carlton, now part of ITV, you would be forgiven for thinking that David Cameron would be well equipped to handle his own personal PR crisis.
For non-profits trying to cut through during the pandemic – it’s ER, not PR
For years as an agency professional, I heard the phrase ‘It’s PR, not ER’ batted around and I used to say it myself - that is, until I moved into the non-profit sector.
Vaccine rollout could prove a headache for corporate comms and issue specialists
The successful vaccine rollout and the easing of lockdown restrictions seems like the light at the end of the tunnel for many of us; but, far from a simple return to normal, it throws up huge questions and challenges for many organisations – all of which need to be planned for now.
Caught in the middle: middle-class identity and the challenge for brands
A decade on from its first study of social class, BritainThinks has returned to the question of which brands speak to the middle and working classes with a nationally representative survey of the UK public and focus groups of people who identify as middle and working class.
Internal comms: Beating the lockdown blues is a business imperative
One year in, and Zoom fatigue is being joined by the lockdown blues.
Top & Flop of the Week: Waitrose plastic pledge, Goldman Sachs 'extra mile' misstep
PRWeek shines a light on major brand and corporate successes and failures of the past week.
Agency leaders: beware the ‘Q2 Blues’
As I agree to share some thoughts via a PRWeek opinion piece, your esteemed associate editor reminds me: “You can’t promote your agency, clients, use words like ‘we’ or ‘our’, quote people, or use stats too much.” Got it, Ian. Thanks.
The dilemma of maternity leave: coping with FOMO and hiring a ‘new me’
If ever a milestone year for communications and the banking industry was foreseen, then 2021 is it – but, with my impeccable timing, in a couple of months I’ll be bidding adieu to my role as head of external communication at Metro Bank and going on maternity leave.
It’s time for three revolutions in financial comms
Financial communications is arguably the most successful part of the global public relations industry.
24-25 September 2020| Online event
In an exciting new launch, PRWeek’s inaugural Corporate & Public Affairs Summit will provide delegates with high-level strategic insight while showcasing innovative tools and techniques through a comprehensive conference programme.
Latest Jobs
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Account Director/Senior Account Director - Global Brands/Corporate Communications Premier Resourcing UK London (Central)
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PR Manager Virgin Atlantic Airways The VHQ, Crawley, West Sussex
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Account Manager / experienced Senior Account Executive Harpswood Shoreditch, London (East)
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Public Affairs / Communications Executive Hanbury Strategy London (Greater)
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Communications Manager The Cruise Lines International Association London (Greater)
Recent City & corporate people moves
Ex-Downing Street deputy spokesman gets senior government comms role
Christian Cubitt, former deputy spokesman to David Cameron, has been named director of communications at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Movers & Shakers: Hope&Glory, Weber Shandwick, Airbus, Clarity, FT, Finsbury Glover Hering and more
PRWeek's round-up of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Weber Shandwick EMEA hires health policy and sustainability leads
Weber Shandwick has added EMEA leaders to strengthen its sustainability and healthcare practices.
Met Police comms chief announces departure as hunt for successor begins
James Helm, director of comms at the Metropolitan Police, has announced that he will depart in the summer after more than three years in the job.
Former Conservative HQ CEO joins Hume Brophy
Hume Brophy has appointed former Conservative HQ chief executive Mark MacGregor as a senior adviser. He joins the international comms firm from consultancy Stonehaven, where he was a director.
Finsbury Glover Hering hires FleishmanHillard's global tech chief
Finsbury Glover Hering has hired Sophie Scott, global managing director for technology at FleishmanHillard, to lead growth of its global tech business.
Sanofi poaches pharma comms veteran from rival
Fiona Olivier has left AbbVie, where she was the pharma giant's head of global patient relations and international public affairs, to be global head of public affairs and communications for Sanofi's general medicines division.