Media mix: Weber Shandwick; Toast & more

WEBER SHANDWICK Manchester has appointed Heather Blundell to its senior management team as part of the agency’s strengthening of its corporate offering.

Reporting to deputy managing director Andy Poole, Ms Blundell has been appointed as an associate director and will head up the agency’s international corporate accounts and spearhead new business and people development.

As part of the new role, she will oversee the agency’s corporate client accounts, which includes Manchester Business School, Sealed Air and Transline Group. Prior to this she worked at Edelman London for seven years and was the account lead on numerous pieces of international business.

Her key area of expertise is developing compelling strategies, content and collateral for internal and external communications campaigns and driving communications activities to support and protect leading brands.

The agency has also announced the promotion of its consumer team lead, Anna Varley-Jones, to director following a six figure client win and the growth of national accounts including Bernard Matthews and key Aldi ranges.

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MANCHESTER’S Toast PR has been appointed to carry out a PR and social media campaign for Caffeine & Co.

Toast will work with Caffeine & Co to help launch its new site at Leeds Docks alongside the iconic Royal Armouries and in partnership Hello Work.

This site will be the first location for Caffeine & Co in Leeds with existing Manchester outlets at Old Granada Studios, near Manchester University, and Longford Park in Stretford. The PR activity includes driving awareness of the new openings and handmade food proposition among media, bloggers and customers.

Julia Mitchell, MD at Toast PR, says: “We’re so excited to be working with Caffeine & Co as we’re huge personal fans of the concept. We’re looking forward to creating a buzz, welcoming coffee and food lovers around Manchester and Leeds to Caffeine and Co’s new venues.”

Phil Howells from Caffeine & Co added: “Toast PR impressed us with its experience in this sector, knowledge of the Manchester and Leeds media and its enthusiasm for our brand. We’re looking forward to working together to drive awareness of our new venues and were aiming to build on the success of our established venues.”

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CHESHIRE agency Boxed Red Marketing is celebrating after winning an industry award in recognition of its innovation in email marketing.

Knutsford-based Boxed Red was nominated and went on to win the ‘Full-Service Marketing Firm of the Year’ award at the 2015 Marketing, PR and Communications awards for work on behalf of an un-named client.

Janna Caley, director at Boxed Red Marketing, said: “It’s an absolute honour to be nominated anonymously by a client, and we wish their name had been revealed so we could say thank you.”