New PR agency launches

A NEW PR agency headed up by a former Sunday Times journalist has been launched in Birmingham. Fleet Street Communications, based in Fleet Street in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, is focussing on the food, drink and hospitality sectors. Managing director Mark Stretton leads the team which also includes Steve Dann, former chief executive of Shrewsbury and Birmingham-based Seal Communications, ex-commercial director at Punch Taverns Francis Patton and former ITV Central presenter Arti Halai. The agency, which also has an office in London, is part of the Fleet Street Consulting Group, a communication and training consultancy set up by Mr Dann and Ms Halai in 2009. The client roster already includes pubco Admiral Taverns, data systems firm Brulines and corporate advisors Zolfo Cooper. Mr Stretton said: “By bringing together this alliance of experienced media professionals, award-winning PR consultants and senior executives from the leisure and hospitality industries, we will bring a new perspective and fresh thinking to our clients.”

Creative team joins Cogent

COMMUNICATIONS agency Cogent Elliott has appointed a new creative team at its offices in Meriden. Art director Sweta Pathak joins from Big Communications, having held previous positions at Propaganda in Leeds and Bates in London.
New copywriter Alex Fraser returns to Cogent after a 10-year absence during which time he worked for Grey in London, TBWA and McCann Erickson Central, in Solihull.

Smart quartet of appointments

MARCOMMS consultancy Smarts has bolstered its Edgbaston-based team with the appointment of four new staff. Sanina Kaur has taken up the position of account manager while Neil Williams, Reanne Rodrigues and Katie Graczyk are all new account executives. Managing director Rebecca Scully said: “We are delighted to welcome the new recruits on board. These are exciting times, not just for Smarts, but for PR regionally and we’re keen to ensure we remain a key part of it by continuing to further build upon the successes we have achieved so far.”