New faces at HROC

HROC Group has appointed three new staff. Charlotte Banks joins the digital team; Chris Marshall joins creative services, while Lee Hall joins the PR department. The Birmingham based agency has increased staff numbers by over 40% in the past 12 months and now has more than 40 communication specialists working across its PR, creative services and digital divisions. The firm also recently moved to a new facility in Highfield Road, Edgbaston.  Managing director Carl Hazard said: “We have experienced significant growth despite the recent difficult economic period. The creative and diverse nature of our organisation has helped us traverse these difficult times and the new appointments reflect our steady and continuing growth.” Mr Marshall worked for HROC as a designer in 1989 before freelancing from Madrid and Indonesia. He rejoins HROC as a senior designer.  Nottingham Trent fashion graduate Ms Banks joins from Green Room Retail as a digital account manager. Mr Hall completed an internship with Big Cat Group before joining Sutton Coldfield based agency Haslimann Taylor. He joins HROC as an account executive working across a number of B2B and trade accounts.

Barratt makes a Monster move

Hollywood Monster has been appointed preferred supplier to Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Ward Homes. The new two-year agreement will see Birmingham-based Hollywood Monster, one of three preferred suppliers, producing sales and marketing signage across the whole of the UK for one of the nation’s largest housebuilders. Projects will include site hoardings, way-finding and show room signage, banners, flags, vinyl graphics and much more, said commercial director Andy McKenzie. “We are delighted to have agreed a long term deal with such a successful and prominent housing developer. We very much look forward to working closely with Barratt Developments in delivering the best service for their customers.”

Seal scoops West Brom

The West Brom building society has appointed Seal to grow its national and regional profile. The win follows a “highly competitive” three-stage pitch process involving six agencies. Seal will work with the in-house marketing and communications team on executing a PR campaign that is says will ramp up the Society’s community engagement, support its branch modernisation programme and promote innovative new products and services. Seal chief executive Katie Morris said: “The West Brom is one of the strongest brands in the Midlands, with a heritage going back 160 years. While its heartland is in the Black Country and Birmingham, as the sixth biggest building society in the UK it is a major financial services provider and our focus will be on achieving national as well as regional exposure.”  Stephen Leonard, divisional director for marketing and e-commerce for The West Brom, said: “All the agencies who pitched were excellent, and it showed the depth of exciting talent that exists outside London.”