PR news round-up (27-31 May)

Here’s a round-up of PR news from the past week, including CommsCon X Insights, the BBC’s Caren Davies and new hires at TVC Group and Three UK.

CommsCon X INSIGHTS

Last November, Cision held #CommsCon18 – our first ever communications congress where we brought together the biggest and best in PR and spent a whole day discussing the state of the industry with high-profile panel events, keynotes and debates.

But this year we’re going to approach things a little differently and will be hosting a variety of smaller, themed events throughout the year as part of the CommsCon franchise – so what’s next?

On June 25, we bring you CommsCon X INSIGHTS – the first event of our series and which concentrates on comms measurement and proving ROI in an era where AI and machine learning are looking to transform the PR industry.

In a world of big data, we will be discussing why it’s more crucial than ever before for communicators to maximise their humanity with authentic, creative and effective campaigning – and how to utilise the theory of ‘people plus tech’.

Alister’s tHOUGHTs ON

Alister Houghton, content marketing manager at Cision, uses his journalism experience to provide comms professionals with media relations tips.

Interview

Caren Davies, senior head of communications for England at the BBC, discusses her role, why local voices are still important and gives her top piece of comms advice.

Opinion

Amanda Meyrick, CEO of Clarion Communications, explains how reverse mentoring has helped the agency’s different generations understand each other’s viewpoints.

People news

Becky McKinlay

TVC Group has brought in Becky McKinlay as its group managing director. She joins from WPP and will develop the group’s integrated comms business, including overseeing client services and leading business development across the UK, US and Asia.

Three UK has hired Laura Wilkinson-Rea as its new head of PR and social. The move follows the opening of its brand new Studio Three content hub. Wilkinson-Rea will manage a team of eight PR and social specialists and she will report to director of brand and communications Kate Ward-Smith.

Telefonica UK (O2) has appointed Nicola Green, its director of corporate affairs, to its UK executive team.

MSQ Partners, PR agency Smarts Communicate’s parent company, has appointed Charles Courtier as non-executive chairman. Courtier was previously CEO of media agency MEX. Paddy Sellers has also joined as a non-executive director.

Huntsworth, owner of Grayling, Red Consultancy and Citigate Dewe Rogerson, has promoted Annabelle Sandeman to global head of commercial strategy. She will work with leadership teams across Huntsworth Health and Huntsworth Communications to introduce new product offerings and access new markets and geographies.

Phil Hall, head of public affairs and public policy at the Association of Accounting Technicians, has been shortlisted for the Women in Finance Ambassador of the Year award for his policy and public affairs work on gender equality.

Account wins

Three UK has appointed PrettyGreen to provide consumer PR consultancy and campaign support.

Hard Rock Cafe UK has appointed Kallaway to handle the launch of its new flagship Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus and Rock Shop. The agency will also provide PR support to Hard Rock Cafe London, the brand’s first UK cafe, on Old Park Lane.

Targus, the mobile computing accessories producer, has appointed LEWIS to drive its comms programme in the UK and France. The appointment follows the agency working on the company’s campaigns in the Netherlands.

Fluid control equipment manufacturer Heap & Partners has appointed Higginson Strategy to develop its global profile in the UK and international press.