Corporate

News

Qatar’s Muntajat Selects Ogilvy To Support $25bn Chemicals Push A new Qatari company that recently launched to oversee the nation’s chemical exports has handed global marketing and comms duties to Memac Ogilvy. Read More	MasterCard Shifts UK PR Brief To Blue Rubicon MasterCard is understood to have shifted its UK PR account to Blue Rubicon after five years with Weber Shandwick. Read More
IPG Lands Global Comms Mandate For Saudi Petrochemical Giant Sabic IPG has clinched SABIC's global marcomms mandate following a six-month competitive review. Read More	Cone Named Agency Of Record For HAI Group Cone Communications has been named public relations agency of record for HAI Group, which offers niche insurance programs. Read More
Keith Burton Moves To Brunswick; Kingman Leads Insidedge Brunswick Group has hired veteran internal communications professional Keith Burton as a partner in the firm's New York office. Read More	Financial PR Specialist MBS Acquires Farrell Kramer MBS Value Partners, an investor relations and financial communications advisory firm, has acquired Farrell Kramer Communications. Read More
Patrick Linehan To Lead Communications At Travelers Patrick Linehan has been named vice president, corporate communications, at The Travelers Companies. Read More	UK PR Firm SharpeLankester Inks Burma Deal Amid Rising MNC Interest SharpeLankester, a UK PR firm established last year, has inked a deal with Burma's largest ad agency. Read More
Diageo Drafts In Tulchan For Asia-Pacific Corporate PR Support Drinks giant Diageo has called in Tulchan’s Singapore office to support its sustainability and corporate PR agenda in Asia-Pacific. Read More	SAP's Hubertus Kuelps Joins UBS As Head Of Comms Hubertus Kuelps has departed SAP to join UBS as group head of communications. Read More
Tim Luckett Promoted To Global Crisis Role At H+K Hill+Knowlton Strategies has promoted Tim Luckett to the role of co-chair of the firm's global crisis communications and risk management practice. Read More	Groupe SEB Calls In New PR Support In India, UK Groupe SEB, the French appliance giant behind Tefal, Rowenta and Moulinex, has called in new PR agency support in India and the UK. Read More
2013 Trend Forecast: Financial Communicators Aim To Reset Dialogue Barclays comms chief Stephen Doherty joins financial PR specialists from across the world to outline five trends that will define 2013 for the sector. Read More	Brunswick Leads M&A Rankings, Sard Enjoys Strong 2012 Brunswick Group continued to capture the largest share of the global mergers and acquisitions public relations business in 2012. Read More
Henkel Hires Grayling In Russia Personal care giant Henkel has hired Grayling to support its public relations activity in Russia. Read More	BG Group Ends Lengthy Maitland Relationship British oil and gas giant BG Group has ended a lengthy relationship with Maitland and shifted its financial PR account to Brunswick. Read More
CCO Jill Nash Departs Levi's Jill Nash, CCO at Levi Strauss, has stepped down from her post. The company's head of EMEA is leading the comms function in the interim. Read More	Porta’s David Wright Touts “Transformation” After Reporting £16m In Revenues Porta Communications CEO David Wright is aiming to substantially expand his company’s offering this year, after reporting revenues of £16m for 2012. Read More
2013 PR Trend Forecast: Corporate Reputation In The Convergence Era Corporate reputation begins from the top. This and more in the Holmes Report's corporate PR trend forecast. Read More	KGA Names Jin Lu As Beijing Head Kreab Gavin Anderson has named China PR veteran Jin Lu as managing partner of its Beijing office. Read More
APCO Taps Amy Wendholt To Lead Hong Kong Office APCO Worldwide has named Amy Wendholt as MD of the firm's Hong Kong office, the third person to hold the position in less than two years. Read More	UK Manufacturer DEK Moves Global PR Duties To APCO UK manufacturer DEK has shifted global PR duties to APCO after previously working with Grayling. Read More
Brunswick US Head Mike Buckley Departs For Facebook Comms Role Michael Buckley is departing the Brunswick Group after 12 years to lead business communications at Facebook. Read More	BP Selects New PR Firm For Castrol Offshore BP has selected UK PR firm BDB to handle public relations for its Castrol Offshore unit. Read More
Conde Nast Veteran Shannon Eis Joins MWW Shannon Eis has joined MWW as senior vice president, corporate communications. Read More	Shelley Joyce Joins H+K To Lead Internal Communications Practice Hill+Knowlton Strategies has strengthened its change and internal communications team with the appointment of Shelley Joyce as its new head. Read More
Tata Appoints Mukund Rajan To New Group Comms Role Tata Sons, which oversees the companies in India's giant Tata conglomerate, has named Mukund Rajan to a newly-created 'brand custodian' role. Read More	Lauren Day Joins AXA Equitable To Lead Communications AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, the primary US subsidiary of the global AXA Group, has added Lauren Day as head of corporate communications. Read More
Prosek Names Two To Leadership Roles Prosek Partner has promoted Thomas Rozycki to managing director and Brian Schaffer to practice leader, transaction services. Read More	Ray Day Promoted To Group VP Ray Day is promoted to group VP at Ford after five years as VP of comms. Read More
UK-India Business Council Calls In APCO To Support Trade Push The UK-India Business Council has called in APCO for communications support as David Cameron attempts to boost trade ties between the two countries. Read More	FTI Revenues Grew In Q4, But 2012 Saw Decline Overall FTI Consulting has reported growth of around 2.2 percent in its strategic communications business during the fourth quarter of 2012. Read More
Mattel Enlists Edelman For Corporate PR Edelman has been handed corporate PR duties for Mattel in North America. Read More	Denmark's Dong Energy Eyes UK Boost With New PR Firm Denmark's Dong Energy has hired Hill + Knowlton Strategies to support ambitious UK growth plans. Read More
Mark Cater Charged With Leading Global Growth As New MHP Corporate Head MHP Communications has shifted Mark Cater to a new role heading the firm's corporate communications unit. Read More	Corporate Affairs Head Leslie Dach To Depart Walmart Walmart's top public relations executive is departing amid continued scrutiny of the retail giant's global reputation. Read More
Nissan's Simon Sproule Expands Role To Include Renault Alliance Nissan's Simon Sproule has been handed expanded duties leading marketing communications for the car maker's alliance with Renault. Read More	Syngenta To Ramp Up Internal Comms With Agency Hire Agrochemical giant Syngenta has drafted in public relations support to help it improve engagement with its 5,000 strong R&D network. Read More
Tim Fitzpatrick Named CCO At PG&E Pacific Gas & Electric Company has appointed Tim Fitzpatrick as vice president, corporate relations, and chief communications officer. Read More	Falls Communications Taps Robert Berick To Lead New IR Team Falls Communications is expanding its corporate communications capabilities with the launch of an investor relations practice. Read More
Inmarsat Boosts Public Affairs Support With New Agency Hires UK satellite company Inmarsat has boosted its PR support by adding three new agencies to its roster. Read More	Weber Shandwick Enterprise Offer Launches With Williams Lea Account Weber Shandwick has launched a new B2B enterprise offering and unveiled Williams Lea as one of its first client assignments. Read More
New York IR Firm MBS Opens Brazilian Office MBS Value Partners, the New York investor relations firm founded by financial veteran Lynn Morgen, has opened a new office in São Paulo, Brazil. Read More	Series C Launches Social Problem Solving Service Series C launches social problem solving service that bolster internal communications capabilities. Read More
Ernst & Young Reviews Seven-Figure PR Business Ernst & Young is reviewing its American PR business, with several firms understood to be vying for the seven-figure brief. Read More	Costcutter Hands Corporate PR Duties To Speed Costcutter Supermarkets Group has brought in Speed Communications as its retained corporate PR agency following a competitive review. Read More
FedEx Promotes Fitzgerald To Lead Integrated Comms FedEx has promoted Patrick Fitzgerald to SVP of integrated marketing and communications. Read More	Brunswick Adds Sherman And Castañeda As Partners Brunswick Group has added Bethany Sherman and Chrysta Castañeda as partners in the United States. Read More
Deutsche Bank Marketing Head Departs For FTI Consulting FTI Consulting has hired Deutsche Bank's Jennie Younger to a senior role in the firm’s strategic communications practice in London. Read More	Discovery Networks Hands PR Brief To MSLGroup Discovery Networks has called in Ciszewski MSL to oversee PR in Poland, one of the broadcaster's key global markets. Read More
Joan Walker Joins Education Corporation To Lead Communications Education Management Corporation, a povider of private post-secondary education, has appointed Joan Walker as EVP, corporate communications. Read More	Meenu Handa Exits Microsoft To Become Amazon India Comms Chief Highly-rated Microsoft India comms head Meenu Handa has left the company to join Amazon India. Read More
College Group Buys Shared Value Russian Business Financial communications firm College Group has agreed to acquire the team and business of IR firm Shared Value in Russia. Read More	H+K Promotes Chris Gidez To Lead Global Energy Practice Hill+Knowlton has promoted Chris Gidez to global head of the firm’s energy practice and Bill Coletti to global co-lead of the crisis practice. Read More
Ketchum Adds Senior Duo To Corporate/PA Team Ketchum London has added two directors to its expanding corporate and public affairs practice. Read More	Carberry Exits Brunswick, Joins eBay Brunswick partner Joe Carberry joins eBay as VP of global communications. Read More
FTI Consulting Leads M&A Rankings In Q1 FTI Consulting worked on more global transactions than any other public relations firm in the first quarter of 2013, according to mergermarket. Read More	Tom Buckmaster To Receive Individual SABRE Award Buckmaster is responsible for global advertising, branding and communications and also serves as president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. Read More
UK Retailer Calls In Crisis PR Support After Bangladesh Factory Collapse UK fashion retailer Bonmarche calls in Grayling for crisis support after hundreds die in Bangladesh factory collapse. Read More	Paul Fox To Receive Individual Achievement SABRE Director of corporate communications Paul Fox has played a strong leadership role, establishing himself inside P&G and in the wider PR world. Read More
Maria Sennels Returns To Burson-Marsteller As Danish CEO Burson-Marsteller has appointed Maria Sennels as CEO of its Danish operations. Read More	Trulia Uses Twitter For Earnings Call Following SEC Guidance Trulia uses Twitter for its earnings call following SEC ruling giving companies permission to use social media for market-related information. Read More
Michele Davis Exits Brunswick For Morgan Stanley Global Role Former Treasury official Michele Davis is departing Brunswick for Morgan Stanley's top global communications role. Read More	EADS Restructures Communications Department European aerospace giant EADS has restructured its corporate communications department to increase its focus on international growth markets. Read More
Grayling PR Adds Data Breach Speciality Grayling PR has launched a cybersecurity offering that provides clients counsel on the potential risks from data breaches. Read More	Kroll Assignment Boosts Newgate Asia Expansion Newgate Communications has added two new affiliates to help it service Kroll's Greater China PR account. Read More
FTI Sees Communications Revenues Up 1 Percent In Q1 The strategic communications division of FTI Consulting saw revenues increase by 1 percent in the first quarter of 2013, to $45.5 million. Read More	Former Huawei Comms Chief Ross Gan Joins Temasek Ross Gan has joined Singapore's state-owned investment firm Temasek, after departing his role as Huawei's global comms head last year. Read More
Edelman’s Adrienne Hayes Leaves For Top Comms Post At Motorola Google’s Motorola Mobility has hired Adrienne Hayes for its top communications post reporting into the company’s CEO. Read More	HSBC India Hands PR Duties To IPAN H+K HSBC has selected IPAN Hill + Knowlton as its first retained PR agency in India, following a competitive review. Read More
Brunswick Asia Expands With Senior China Hire And New Singapore Office Brunswick is expanding in Asia, launching a new office in Singapore and hiring a high-profile senior partner in China. Read More

Peoples

Great Expectations

Asia Pulp and Paper's public relations head discusses how NGO engagement resulted in the company's landmark pledge to halt deforestation.
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Brazil's Moment

The head of corporate communications at Itaú Unibanco discusses the challenges of taking a Brazilian brand global.
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Opinion

Leadership Required To Restore Trust In Brands The key factor that sits at the heart of every crisis is a perceived or actual breach of trust. Read More	Is There Room For Creativity In Corporate Comms? Corporate communication would benefit from a stronger focus on creativity. Read More
"Lean In" Lesson: Does The Desire To Be Liked Triumph Success For Women? Aimee Grove, VP of media relations at Allison + Partners, explains 'Lean In' can help guide women in PR to leadership. Read More	Redesigning B2B Comms To Boost The Bottom Line Tasked with redesigning b2b communications from the ground up, what changes would you make? Read More
Flightless Owls And The Secret of Competitive Creativity If you can gather a few particularly fearless and energetic minds, why not add an overt spirit of friendly competition to the mix? Read More	Social Media And Financial Communications: Have We Reached A Tipping Point? Untethering corporate social media elevates the importance of community management in a corporate information environment. Read More
What Is Netflix Doing? Certainly Not Leading The Way On Social Media As we continue to navigate a world that focuses on immediate access to information, public companies should embrace social media as a means of communi Read More

Audio Video

Trulia's Ken Shuman explains the value of data-driven storytelling Ken Shuman, head of comms at Trulia, explains how data underpins the company's communications. Read More	SXSW13: PulsePoint's Matt Ceniceros on SXSW from client and agency side PulsePoint's Matt Ceniceros explains how he approaches the show differently from the brand and agency side, having previously been here with FedEx and Read More
Dell's Stephanie Losee on Tech Page One Stephanie Losee, managing editor at Dell, talks about the company's answer to brand journalism with Tech Page One. Read More

Expert Knowledge

Survey Says 2013 May See Resurgence In IPO Business This year may finally be the turnaround year for the US IPO market, according to a new survey of transaction attorneys. Read More	Senior PR Pros Discuss Lessons From Ethical Crises PR pros who have provided ethics counsel to management are at least as fervent about serving the public interest as they are about their duty to their Read More
APCO Research Identifies Champion Brands, And What Makes Them APCO Worldwide has identified 50 “Champion Brands” that have best aligned their business strategy, vision and values with the shared interests of thei Read More	True Leadership: Open Communication, Decisive Action, Personal Presence At a time when citizens around the world continue to bemoan a crisis of leadership in both business and politics, what they crave more than anything e Read More
Experts Optimistic About M&A Growth In 2013 The current year as opened with record-setting confidence in the global M&A landscape, according to the new Brunswick Group M&A Survey. Read More	CSR Programs At Work Lead To More Sustainable Behaviors Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of US adults who take part in environmental and social responsibility efforts at work are more likely to make susta Read More
Arab Youth Overwhelmingly Optimistic About The Future Three-quarters of Arab youth, the region’s largest demographic, say their best days are ahead of them. Read More	Walmart Is Tops When It Comes To Engaging Around Purpose A new ranking of the global Fortune 100 measuring the level of social engagement around a company’s purpose-inspired communications places Walmart in Read More