Based in London, Garrett will report to Weber Shandwick’s UK CEO Helen Bennett. She will be responsible for shaping the agency’s vision and proposition to establish the UK as a creative powerhouse built for the era of earned.

“Since joining Weber Shandwick, Amy’s approach to creativity and strategic thinking has been instrumental in delivering seamless brand visions for clients. With her unique skills and experience, I am confident that she can help our clients navigate today’s fragmented media landscape as we continue to expand our services and capabilities beyond earned media,” said Helen Bennett, UK CEO Weber Shandwick.  

“I am thrilled to be taking a more central role to continue to put creativity at the heart of the business and look forward to leveraging further our creative excellence. It’s great to have the opportunity to disrupt and create a genuine and memorable connection with the audience,” said Amy Garrett, UK President Weber Shandwick.

Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Garrett was Managing Director at Beano Studios where she helped shape the offering of its creative agency, Trouble, defining it as a kid-first creative consultancy helping brands engage with kids and families. 

As part of her previous roles, Garrett worked at Mother London in client service working across both local and global brands such as Unilever, Boots, InBev, Comic Relief and Mondelez International before moving on to start-up Droga5 London in 2013, where she spent six years helping grow the agency and delivering award-winning creative work.

Weber Shandwick is one of the most celebrated earned-first agencies and has won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including being named to Ad Age’s A-List in 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019.

Source: Weber Shandwick

The International Awards Associate (IAA) and the TITAN Women In Business Awards have made a resounding impact on the global business landscape as they wrap up the first season for 2023. This esteemed competition has captured the attention of the international community with hundreds of exceptional entries from more than 25 countries worldwide, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, China, and many others.

After reviewing numerous entries, the competition judged The Digital Voice entry to be deserving of the Gold TITAN award for Public Relations Team of the Year and also named CEO and Founder, Julia Linehan, Female Executive of the Year – PR and Communications.

The Digital Voice is a B2B AdTech PR agency which has massively expanded in the last 18 months, growing revenues by 154% and doubling the team to 30. It specialises in adtech and martech companies ranging from startups to those heading for IPO.

“We are off the chart proud of this double win! We are an offbeat, playful, and bold PR agency where expertise, team spirit, and creative freedom collide and I am so honoured to work with so many exceptional people every day. Every one of our 30 team and all our 15 client partners make The Digital Voice a success; this award is testament to their exceptional work,” says CEO and Founder, The Digital Voice, Julia Linehan. “To also receive the Female Executive of the Year award was the icing on the cake. I founded The Digital Voice 11 years ago and as a female founder, I was a rarity then. I now see more and more women having the confidence to lead from the front and I will always strive to encourage women to be bold, leap and lead.”

The TITAN Women In Business Awards honours and celebrates all who are making a significant impact in various industries and professions, while recognising the outstanding achievements of women, from accomplished executives to rising entrepreneurs, who demonstrate exceptional innovation, excellence, and leadership in their respective fields.

“IAA takes great pride in providing a platform for outstanding entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase their exceptional work and be recognised for their excellence in the industry,” said Thomas Brandt, spokesperson of IAA. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners and commend them for demonstrating the highest standards of business excellence even when in the presence of our respected jurors.”

The Digital Voice was then also named 7th in the global Fast Movers list from PRovoke Media, ranking 2nd in the UK’s fastest growing agencies based on fee income for the past year. 

Source: The Digital Voice

The FAB Awards – International Food and Beverage Creative and Effectiveness Awards – announce the Jury Chairs for the 25th edition of the awards.

The Awards Programme recognises the critical contribution that outstanding creative work makes to build brands, it identifies and rewards the leading practitioners from over 60 countries, and it acknowledges their contribution to their Clients and their Agencies.

Now in its 25th year, The FAB Awards has taken entries from many Clients, every leading Agency Network, and many important Challenger Agencies, several Major and Challenger Brands from over 60 countries around the world. Winners of The International awards programme that is focused entirely on work done for Food and Beverage brands, will be announced in June 2023.

Packaging Design & Branding

The Packaging Design and Branding Jury is being led by Claire Robertshaw who is Executive Creative Director at Design Bridge and Partners in London.

Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, Claire is responsible for the creative excellence and management of the London Studio, overseeing and leading key relationships with Design Bridge’s broad portfolio of clients. 

Claire is passionate about nurturing the next generation of creative talent, coaching and mentoring with D&AD’s New Blood Academy, as well as leading Design Bridge’s annual junior competition, The Start.

A fierce advocate for creative freedom and empowerment, Claire regularly contributes to industry discussion on this topic, and is a mentor for Kerning the Gap, an organisation dedicated to achieving gender equality in the design industry with a focus on women in leadership roles.

With many industry awards to her name from the likes of The FAB Awards, DBA and Pentawards, Claire is also a regular judge sitting on jury panels for numerous awards bodies, including most recently FAB, D&AD and Clios.

How does she feel about chairing The 25th FAB Awards Panel?

The FAB Awards have been a constant in the design calendar throughout my career. Standing as an industry benchmark of great work & recognition, there is always an anticipation around entering, the hope of being nominated and to get your hands on an award. To chair the 25^th Packaging & Design Jury is a real honour – especially as we emerge from the confines of remote judging – I am really looking forward to hearing the opinions of the panel as we debate the winners.

What is she looking for in terms of entries?

Design has the potential to not only inspire, but to drive positive change & shape the future through technology & sustainability. There is so much great work around, but how much do we see that is truly exceptional, with a unique viewpoint on our changing world of culture & commerce?

The rest of the Judging Panel are from noted Design Studios and Consultancies: Mark Nichols, Creative Director at WMH&I; Paul Marsh, Design Director at Butterfly Cannon; Antonia Skaraki, Founder & CEO at A.S Strategy Branding & Communications; Katie Alger, Designer at Design Bridge and Partners and Poppy Stedman, Co-Founder & Creative Director at POPP Studio.

Round One of Packaging Design and Branding Judging has concluded. The Design Jury meets for Final Deliberations on Monday, 15th May at Brighton Beach House ( Soho House ).

Advertising & Innovations

St. Luke’s London’s Jt. Chief Creative Officer, Richard Denney is Chair of The Advertising & Innovations Panel.

Rich began his career in 1996 as an Art Director at Y&R, picking up a Gold Lion for his St Mungo’s interactive cinema commercial in his first year. From there he moved to Saatchi & Saatchi creating notable work for Visa and the NSPCC, including the multi-award-winning Carlsberg ‘Old Lions’ campaign. After this, he moved to DDB as Creative Director and created award-winning work for Volkswagen, Budweiser, Harvey Nichols, The Economist, Kwik-Fit, Tropicana and Virgin Media. In 2011 he joined MullenLowe London as joint ECD and quickly turned the agency around creating campaigns for Halfords, Morrisons, Unilever and MicroLoan. In 2016 MullenLowe London was named ‘Most Effective Agency of the Year’ at the inaugural UK Effie awards for work on MicroLoan and the Electoral Commission and followed it up by retaining the title in 2017 with work for RedrawTheBalance, which also won EuroEffie gold.

In August Rich 2017 moved to St Luke’s London as Executive Creative Director and works across the agency’s accounts including KP Snacks, South Western Railway, Heathrow and Which? In 2020 at the height of the pandemic he created the UK’s biggest behaviour change initiative #stayhomenow and has most recently worked on the multi-award-winning #GoGrabTheButterkist campaign. Rich has been named among Campaign Magazine’s top twenty Creative Directors.

Some of the very best and most memorable work in recent times has come from the food and beverage category. Work that has told us a particular pint is worth waiting for, as well as work that has really raised our arches. Work that builds the brand with such distinctiveness and memorability that if you gave a simple prompt to AI, it would tell you it’s favourite Ketchup. So what better way to honor all this stellar strategic and creative thinking than with its own unique award? That really is FAB. 

I’m always on the lookout for work that not only is brilliant in its strategy and execution, but genuinely inspires me enough to try harder and be better with the work I am creating. And as I’ve said before, whatever picks up a FAB Award should also be a beacon of excellence for the next generation of talent coming through both agency and client side. – Richard Denney, Advertising & Innovations Jury Chair at The 25th FAB Awards

The rest of The Jury Panel with Richard are Zane Radcliffe, Executive Creative Director at McCann Bristol; Suzanne Barker, Strategy Partner at AMV BBDO London and Paul Turner, Creative Director at Oliver.

Round One of Advertising & Innovations Judging has concluded. The Advertising & Innovations Jury meets for Final Deliberations on Wednesday, 17th May at Brighton Beach House ( Soho House ).

The FAB Awards will announce the Finalists after all Judging including Interiors and Retail Design and all the Effectiveness Categories has concluded. Entrants who have achieved the Finalist status are guaranteed a Silver Award. Finalists will be contacted by the end of May and the lists will be released on The FAB Awards website and via Social Channels.

Source: The FAB Awards

Clarion’s B2B division, which includes clients Unilever, Tate & Lyle and Jacobs Douwe Egberts, to name but a few, secured the contract in a non-competitive process, having demonstrated its ability to develop successful creative B2B marketing strategies. The remit, which includes PR, social and trade marketing will include the launch of the brand’s new communications platform, The Smooth Finish to the diverse foodservice sector.

Karen Heavey, Brand Manager at Kerrymaid, commented: “The Clarion team has an impressive client-base and proven track record in delivering best-in-class B2B marketing solutions under one roof and so we’re delighted to have them on board.”

The partnership comes as Clarion grows its B2B team and widens its foodservice offering, having appointed Associate Director, Nick Haigh, who previously headed up Kerrymaid’s marketing activities.  

Amanda Meyrick, CEO at Clarion Communications said: “We are thrilled to be working with Kerrymaid and are looking forward to delivering an integrated communications plan that drives growth and inspires Kerrymaid’s customers.”

Source: Clarion Communications

Reporting to M&C Saatchi Talk COO Ryan Woor, Portet will be managing the agency’s portfolio of existing social clients, as well as taking the agency’s Art of Conversation proposition to new clients.

This hire represents an increased investment in the social space for M&C Saatchi Talk, which is seen as a huge growth area for the agency. 

Ryan Woor shares why this hire is an important move: “It’s an incredibly interesting time for the social and content space and the right time for us to invest. The offer is an obvious extension of service to our existing PR clients, brining synergies and consistent messaging.  By making a hire of someone with Shelley’s calibre, we will continue to offer best in class social to existing clients and at the same time build on our portfolio of social only clients.”

Shelley Portet shares why she sees M&C Saatchi Talk as the right agency to help clients’ move their social media presence forward: “Social is in a really interesting place right now. We’ve done a 360 – going from community building at the start of social, to big trending moments, and now back into community. That’s why I was so drawn to M&C Saatchi Talk’s position as specialists in the art of conversation. Brands need to get back in touch with community conversations and finding an authentic way to connect with their consumers.”

Head of Growth, Alex Michael touches on the significance of a Social Expert hire in this vision in serving ambitious new and retained clients: ““We know that social spaces are key to navigating, creating and leading the conversations that matter to so many. We’re really excited about Shelley joining us to supercharge our expertise in these evolving social spaces, and to drive even more seamless and integrated conversation-first work for our clients”

Portet also currently sits on the Board of  enei, Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, as a Trustee. She has also served as a Mentor for Women’s network AllBright, and The Girl’s Network. Portet looks forward to engaging with the DE&I efforts at M&C Saatchi Group alongside her fulltime role.

Previously, Portet held the position of Head of Make It Famous, Managing Partner at The Brooklyn Brothers, which she left at the start of 2022 to go travelling in her self-converted campervan. During her tenure at The Brooklyn Brothers, Portet was the global strategic lead for social campaigns across the agency’s leading clients including MINI, Jaguar Landrover, WaterWipes, YouTube and First Direct.

Source: M&C Saatchi Talk

Today, Porter Novelli London announces the appointment of Ben Briley to Creative Director and the launch of a new content and production offering, The Studio. 

With over twenty years’ experience of working alongside high profile brands including Nike, Lacoste, Superdrug and Lloyds Pharmacy, Briley will lead The Studio and brings diversity of experience to Porter Novelli’s conceptual creative and production team. Briley joins from full-service content marketing agency, The River Group, where he was Group Creative Director and prior to that was Head of Branded Content at Hearst UK for seven years.

The appointment of Briley falls on the back of the London agency reporting 40% growth in the last two years after simplifying the business into two portfolios – Reputation & Brand and Health – and investing in its four capability areas: employee engagement, brand growth, corporate counsel and purpose and impact. At the heart of the agency sits Strategic Services, a hub team which has trebled in size in two years, and houses data-led and creative expertise including research, insights, measurement, planning, strategy, and now the powered-up Studio.

Says Ben Briley “PR is the place to build the content powerhouse of the future. It’s an industry that’s had to earn the success of its campaigns, not pay for it, and consequently has the best experience and expertise in storytelling. Yet visualisation, in my view, is behind the curve. With an exceptionally talented and diverse team at Porter Novelli and a treasure trove of clients seeking to engage more meaningfully with their audiences, we have no limits to what we can produce for our clients.”

Says Fenella Grey, Porter Novelli Managing Director “Ben is a creative who you want to be on the front lines with. In a visually dominant world, Ben’s ability to visualise and produce big strategic creative concepts through to fast turnaround creatives at the pace of the newsroom is a true find for the agency. We’ve invested in becoming a data-led agency over the last 18  months and I’m excited to marry our confidence of knowing we’ve right the strategy with what I project to be industry-leading creative.”

The appointment of Briley to Creative Director follows on from the announcement of Amber Tovey moving into the role of leading the health portfolio and Ludivine Delattre leading on the employee experience capability.

Source: Porter Novelli London

Tapper will lead an expanded offering which sees Weber Shandwick unite its Corporate, B2B, Sustainability & Social Impact and Public Affairs capabilities together to ensure more seamless integration of capabilities and perspectives around clients’ reputational and business needs. During her nine years at Weber Shandwick, Tapper has helped launch and develop the B2B practice, as well as, led integrated campaigns for IBM and Experian.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate reputation management, media relations, event management, Bailey joins as an experienced integrated communications practitioner to drive growth across the offer and increase the senior bench strength in advisory capabilities. She will focus specifically on C-suite advisory, corporate healthcare and sustainability. She was previously at Fleishman Hillard where she led the corporate team and has held senior roles at Red, Edelman and Hill+Knowlton.

“We do not underestimate the complexity – or responsibility – of managing reputations and building leadership in today’s world. The bringing together of all our Corporate Enterprise capabilities will allow us to continue to help clients to access our breadth of expertise as they seek competitive advantage in a fast-changing political, societal and corporate landscape. I am confident that Laura and Steph’s collaborative work will be instrumental in pushing these efforts forward and contributing further to the development of our Corporate Enterprise practice,” said Helen Bennett, UK CEO Weber Shandwick.

“I couldn’t be happier that Steph is joining our team. She will help us accelerate our growth in the UK and reinforce our positioning in the marketplace,” said Laura Tapper, Managing Director, Corporate Enterprise.

“Weber Shandwick is building a unique corporate offering with exceptional clients, talent and partners. I look forward to driving opportunities to grow such a thriving business,” said Steph Bailey, EVP, Growth, Corporate Enterprise.

These appointments follow the launch of Business & Society Futures, a new offering to give clients a single point of access to the industry’s most accomplished strategists and counselors. The Business & Society Futures offering is comprised of the Weber Shandwick Collective’s advisory brands, Powell Tate, United Minds, KRC Research and Weber Shandwick’s Corporate Affairs, Public Affairs and Social Impact & Sustainability specialties.

Weber Shandwick EMEA is one of the most celebrated earned-first agencies in the region with over 700 award wins in 16 years across 16 markets.

Source: Weber Shandwick

Tate & Lyle Sugars has appointed Clarion Communications as UK PR agency for its Lyle’s Golden Syrup and Tate & Lyle brands.

Clarion won the competitive three-way pitch by demonstrating its ability to develop creative media and influencer strategies that bring the company’s brands to the attention of a new generation of consumers. Focus will be on baking, breakfast and seasonal events such as pancake day, also encompassing trade media. 

Nick James, Marketing Director, Europe for Tate & Lyle Sugars commented: “Clarion impressed us with a thorough and insightful pitch. They have a great track record and have exciting plans to raise the profile of Lyle’s Golden Syrup and Tate & Lyle with a new generation of consumers. We are pleased to welcome them onto our team.” 

Sue Roberts, Managing Partner at Clarion Communications who is heading up the account said: “It’s not every day that you get the chance to work with such an iconic brand as Lyle’s Golden Syrup. We’re thrilled about the opportunity to help people reimagine all the products, while no doubt perfecting some of our own baking skills along the way!”

Source: Clarion Communications

PR agency Fortitude Communications and Gusto Italian delivered a high impact marketing campaign to drive awareness of a new restaurant opening.

It created ‘The Italian Job’ activation, in which three vintage Mini Coopers toured Oxford delivering 24 hour proved sourdough pizzas in the home of the Mini. The activation was inspired by the 1969 cult film classic the Italian Job and unified the Italian restaurant’s offering and the fact the current Mini is built at the BMW plant in Oxford.

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice joined the Oxford team on the eye-catching tour. The BAFTA wining Sicilian dancer helped Gusto Italian chefs deliver pizza and prosecco to local businesses, key workers and emergency services throughout the day.

The high-impact marketing activation took place ahead of the restaurant opening and formed a key part of an integrated communications strategy created and delivered by Fortitude Communications to develop brand awareness for Gusto Italian in the city. Activity included media relations, video production, photography, marketing and event support.

Undine Kudrovska, sales manager at Gusto Italian said: “The idea of the ‘Italian Job’ was an act of genius by Fortitude. It generated a huge buzz on social media and stand-out coverage in the press.

“The activation, plus wider marketing and PR helped ensure we arrived in Oxford with a bang. It was a brilliant way to market the restaurant and engage with the local market and we are still getting booking enquiries directly because of the activation.

“Furthermore, the other restaurants in the Gusto Italian portfolio are in the north of England so an effective PR campaign was important to educating people on our brand and developing awareness.” 

Greig Box Turnbull, founder of Fortitude Communications said: “The opening of Gusto Italian has been an exciting development for Oxford’s visitor, leisure and hospitality economy. We’re proud of the impact the integrated launch campaign had and pleased it is continuing to deliver business for the restaurant.” 

Gusto Italian is open on the High Street, Oxford, for lunch, dinner and drinks every day of the week as well as brunch on the weekends. The contemporary menu serves Gusto signature dishes as well as Italian classics to offer diners a fully immersive experience.

Oxford based Fortitude Communications was founded by Mr Box Turnbull, who is a former Oxford United managing director and Daily Mirror journalist. It has clients across a range of sectors including corporate, leisure, sport and hospitality.

Source: Fortitude Communications

In previous years, FAB received 3,600 entries from over 50 countries globally.

The Awards are the only International Awards programme in the world which focus solely on work done for Food and Beverage brands, and includes categories for Integrated Campaigns, Advertising, Packaging Design, Direct, Sales Promotion, Brand Identity, Brand Redesign, Interiors and Retail Environment, Mobile Marketing & Advertising, Digital Projects, Social Media, Influencer Marketing and Branded Content.

The FAB Awards provided a bit of much needed cheer in June 2022 with the 24th Edition of their Awards streamed “online” on YouTube due to the Covid situation. YouTube being a major Sponsor of The FAB Awards.

The beautiful and exclusive Hurlingham Club in London was swapped for a “virtual” Awards Presentation streamed exclusively on YouTube in honour of the Finalists and Winners of The 24th FAB Awards! FAB extended an open invitation to the entire Marketing Communications Industry globally to view the show.

Successful design, creative and effective work was showcased to the viewers at the show, and winning projects were announced – be it a Grand Prix (FABulous), a Gold (FAB) or a Silver Award.

The recipients of the best in show ( FABulous Award ) at The 24th FAB Awards, were as follows:

FABulous Award across all Design categories:

ZhiHou for YangYangLa by Shenzhen Lingyun Creative Packaging Design China

Greene King by Design Bridge

FABulous Award across all Advertising & Innovation categories:

4am Adzzz for Sheba by AMV BBDO, London

FABulous Award across all Advertising & Innovation categories:

Creativity Is Essential for Bombay Sapphire by AMV BBDO, London

AMV BBDO London wins Agency of The Year Award Sponsored by YouTube

AMV BBDO London took home The Agency of The Year Award sponsored by YouTube. BBDO New York were the winners in 2021 and have now handed the crown back to AMV who have won it on six previous occasions. The Omnicom Agency won the only two FABulous Awards ( Best In Show ) from the Advertising & Innovations Categories and a number of FAB Gold’s and Silvers and finished comfortable at the Top of the Points Table.

MARS, Incorporated Win YouTube Sponsored FAB Brand/Marketer of the Year Award

Much of MARS‘ success came from their Pet Food, Snickers and Extra Gum Projects by AMV BBDO London, BBDO New York and Energy BBDO Chicago and won them multiple FAB Gold Awards and a FABulous ( Best in Show ) which won them The YouTube FAB Brand/Marketer of the Year honour. 

The food giant have now won the accolade for the fourth time.

Kerry Cavanaugh, Head Of Marketing at MARS Wrigley UK on receiving the Award:

“We are thrilled that FAB has chosen Mars as Marketer of the Year for 2022.  It is an honour to receive this recognition for the fourth time and we are proud to have several Finalists this year.  All of this would not be possible without the incredible Agency partners we work, including those behind this year’s Finalists – AMV BBDO, BBDO New York and Energy BBDO.  Thank you FAB for this recognition.”

Denomination and Design Bridge JOINTLY Win FAB Design Agency of the Year Award

Branding & Design experts Design Bridge and Denomination, were JOINTLY named the FAB Design Agencies of the Year, taking home Silvers, FAB Gold Awards and a FABulous ( Best in Show ) at The Awards.

FAB GOLD Winners were:

Packaging Design:

Satine Organic Pure Milk by Inner Mongolia Yili Group China

Pott’s Sauces In A Can by This Way Up, London

Assembly Gin Brand Creation by Midday

ZhiHou byShenZhen Lingyun Creative China

Wild Folk by Denomination

Greene King by Design Bridge

Brand Identity:

From Plants With Love by Everland, Copenhagen

Maker’s Mark Visual Identity System by Turner Duckworth: London, San Francisco and New York

Brand Redesign:

Crif Dogs for Crif Dogs/PDT by Design Bridge

Interior Design & Retail Environment

Pop Golf by Zachary Pulman Design Studio

Meraki Riyadh by CADA Design, London

Design Effectiveness

Tread Softly Range by Denomination

Advertising & Innovation FAB GOLDS

Creativity Is Essential by AMV BBDO, London for Bombay Sapphire (Ambient / Experiential)

Creativity Is Essential by AMV BBDO, London for Bombay Sapphire (Guerrilla Marketing/ Best Use of Media)

Welcome Back for Guinness by AMV BBDO, London ( TV & Cinema Commercials )

4am Adzzz by AMV BBDO, London ( Direct Marketing / Mobile Marketing )

Foodweiser for Budweiser by Mullen Lowe Delta, Ecuador ( Direct Marketing/ Best Use Of Media )

Ecolate by LIFULL ( Ethical & Sustainable)

The 3D Printed Meatballs by INGO Stockholm for IKEA ( Direct Marketing/ Best Use Of Technology )

Put More Cat in your Cat by BBDO New York ( Online Advertising )

Fleets by BBDO New York for Snickers ( Best Use Of Media )

For When It’s Time: Extra Gum’s Pandemic Comeback by Energy BBDO Chicago ( Ad. Effectiveness )

The FAB Awards Trophies are made out of recycled packaging materials.

A full list of the Winners of The 24th FAB Awards can be seen here.

The deadline for entry submission for The 25th Awards is March 7th 2023.

Source: The FAB Awards