Arun Sudhaman

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Nigel Kennedy has departed Gardant Communications after just three months to become chief executive at The Communication Group.

Kennedy rejoins The Communication Group after 17 years, almost all of which were spent at Grayling, including a decade as chief executive. Kennedy departed Grayling in late 2009, before resurfacing as a partner at Gardant in October 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Over at the Holmes Report we are running some hefty analysis of the top 10 PR crises of 2010. It was a tough selection whittling this down to 10, but we tried to aim for those that might teach some lasting lessons – whether that meant how corporates should respond to Wikileaks, what Chinese manufacturers should learn from the Foxconn tragedies or how BP’s efforts pre-crisis proved so pivotal to its eventual blunders.

Unsurprisingly this meant few of the high-profile social media crises made the cut – as they turned out to be rather too transient in nature. In addition, we were also able to uncover some interesting information about the PR agencies that were called in to assist beleaguered corporates: Brunswick’s counsel of Toyota, for example, or Burson-Marsteller’s attempts to help Foxconn in China.

Thankfully, we were able to call on a pretty strong cast of commentators from all over the world who helped us shape our thoughts. Please do check it out and let us know what you think.

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Michelin has selected M Booth & Associates to oversee its brand PR in the US, after ending its retainer with Hill & Knowlton at the end of 2010.

M Booth will handle the key Michelin brand portfolio in the US, while H&K will continue to represent product PR for Michelin Canada and the BFG brand in the US. Read the rest of this entry »

The theories of late economist Milton Friedman do not often make an appearance within the PR world. So it was interesting to hear them discussed at today’s presentation of Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer findings.

The study, now in its 11th year, looked at whether businesses exist solely to make profits – Friedman’s view – or whether companies should be willing to sacrifice profit in favour of investment in broader stakeholder interests.

It is a question that goes to the very heart of corporate reputation in the 21st century. And some of the findings, quite frankly, are astonishing. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to Holmes Report here

Next Fifteen, the holding group that owns Text 100, Bite and OutCast, is hoping to beef up its investor relations credentials as it searches for a successor to outgoing chairman Will Whitehorn.

Virgin Galactic president Whitehorn is to depart his role after seven years with the company, seven months after his appointment as non-executive chairman at marketing services group Loewy. Next Fifteen CEO Tim Dyson told the Holmes Report that “City experience” is an important requirement for the next chairman, after admitting earlier that public ownership has not necessarily helped the AIM-listed Next Fifteen access more capital. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Capital MSL has been selected to lead global PR for Taqa, (the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), following a keenly-contested review that featured some of the biggest agencies in the corporate and financial sector.

Capital takes charge of a seven-figure global brief that expands on its current mandate to manage investor relations for the energy conglomerate. The firm  will head an offering that draws on resources from the wider MSLGroup of agencies to service the account in key locations such as Abu Dhabi, London, Canada and the Netherlands. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Samsung Electronics has called on agencies to pitch for a lucrative new brief to build global awareness of its London 2012 Olympics sponsorship, the Holmes Report has learned.

Is is understood that the Korean electronics giant is seeing a handful of agencies in London today, as it bids to use its top-tier Olympics partnership status to strengthen its global corporate image and brand value. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Weber Shandwick has been named global PR agency-of-record for the GSMA, the powerful trade association behind the Mobile World Congress.

The agency succeeds 15-year incumbent CC Group, which declined to repitch for the business. The review, which featured several global networks, was first revealed by the Holmes Report in October last year. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Charles Yap, global brand communications director for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has expanded his role to include social media oversight at a group level across the hotel giant’s seven brands.

The development sees Yap report to director of global brand communications Mollie Tregembo, as one of the world’s biggest hotel players attempts to take a more structured approach to its social media strategy.

Meanwhile, IHG has named two new global communications directors at its UK HQ. Kari Kerr arrives from Coca-Cola Europe to become global external comms director for corporate, while former Pernod Ricard executive Sarah Shilling takes on a similar role on the brand side. Both report to IHG SVP of global corporate affairs, Leslie McGibbon. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Kevin Bell is stepping down from his role as regional president of Fleishman-Hillard UK, Africa and the Middle East after 10 years with the agency.

It is understood that the agency is yet to determine whether a successor will be sought for Bell’s position.

For now, the individual MDs heading each of his previous regions will now report directly to F-H global president and CEO Dave Senay. These include Richard Kanareck, who began work as UK MD this month, Elaine McKean (Edinburgh), Annalise Coady (Middle East) and Kevin Welman (Africa). Read the rest of this entry »