Agency roundup: Faith Brand Communications; ICS-digital; Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon; and more

Faith PR, a Brighouse-based agency established in 2007, has rebranded to Faith Brand Communications to better reflect its current service offering.

From its heritage in PR, the agency has evolved to offer a range of communications services, from social media campaigns to SEO content and digital marketing, to help businesses build audiences, build brand desire and ultimately drive sustained and successful business growth.

To support its repositioning, account director Tom Coates will take on the role of head of digital to expand the agency’s SEO offering and support businesses who want to grow their online presence and increase their digital footprint.

With 12 years of experience in the field of SEO and digital PR, he is well-equipped to provide effective SEO techniques and strategies.

He will implement on-site and off-site link-building strategies and coordinate content, design, paid social media and other digital marketing activities.

Managing director Stefanie Hopkins said: “The media landscape has evolved hugely over the past few years and new forms of content and social media communities are being used to amplify editorial and reach new audiences.

“We can help brands navigate this ever-changing and evermore crowded landscape of media and social channels, complicated content formats and customer touchpoints, to become publishers and create their own content, media and communities.

“For us that means a sharp focus on creating content to work across earned, owned and social media with a new name, which we feel better conveys this to clients while keeping the core values and purpose of PR at the heart of what we do.”

Coates added: “One of the fantastic features of Faith is the incredibly broad skillset in our team that belies its overall size.

“And, with the support of Stefanie, we enthusiastically pursue new marketing streams and strategies to help get our clients noticed, while building a stronger offering for prospective new clients.

“Additionally, the pandemic has had a profound effect on how businesses market themselves, and many of the changes endure today. For many, this includes a closer focus on digital marketing, so I’m pleased to be able to lead Faith in strengthening its digital offering.”

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Leeds-based digital marketing agency, ICS-digital, has appointed Matt Chappell as head of content, as part of its continued investment in its strategic leadership team.

Former head of content, Emma Carey, moves into the newly-created head of global resourcing role.

A former content strategist, Chappell joins the team with over 10 years of experience in content production and strategy from organisations such as Search Laboratory and Kin + Carta, working with clients including Co-op Food, Dorchester Hotels, and GiffGaff.

He arrives following a record number of clients won throughout 2022, and the recent appointment of Laura Smith as digital PR director.

Chappell said: “I’m proud to have joined ICS-digital as head of content. Their reputation for creating outstanding content at what is, frankly, an amazing scale drew me in, and meeting the team to hear about their goals sealed the deal.

“The Content Team here is already adept at communicating with the right audience at the right time in an engaging, persuasive way.

“I’m just pumped to be helping them do that for a wider mix of clients in all sorts of exciting industries.

“Things have changed plenty over my career, most recently with this scramble to understand, wield and monetise primordial AI offerings. One thing that has remained constant, however, is that content needs to resonate with its audience – regardless of how it was created.”

Matt Roche, managing director, added: “Following the addition of our new digital PR director, Laura Smith, at the end of 2022, we are excited to welcome Matt to our team, as we truly admire his scope of experience across the last decade, and his drive for results.

“We had an incredibly successful year here at ICS during 2022, working with some amazing existing clients as well as new brands across a variety of industries. Matt will be an excellent addition to drive the ever-growing Content Team in their ongoing successes.”

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A Leeds-based PR agency has recently secured lucrative contracts with some of the city’s most aspirational brands. 

Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon (PGHL), which specialises in lifestyle, fashion, retail and property events and PR, has managed to weather the post-pandemic storm.

Originally a lifestyle focused agency, PGHL has branched out to win clients from other sectors, including property and interior design. 

Its latest client, Victoria Leeds, has tasked the creative PR agency with creating noise around its spring/summer 2023 schedule, which includes a mix of fashion, food and lifestyle activity as well as its key focuses on sustainability and culture. 

Victoria Leeds has unveiled an exclusive collaboration with Opera North, which will allow visitors to immerse themselves in a spectacular audio-visual journey through its iconic arcades and into central Leeds. 

Other ongoing PGHL projects include the forthcoming launch of celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo’s luxurious new restaurant in the newly-renovated Marriott Hotel, supporting cocktail aficionados The Alchemist 10th anniversary campaign and family-run property specialists The Agency. 

PGHL has also won a contract with commercial interior design agency, Design Tonic.

The first campaign since the partnership began was the unveiling of the striking new headquarters and studio for premium pet company Pawsome Paws.

PGHL co-director, Jordan Odu, said: “In a world full of noise and short attention spans, creating a genuinely engaging buzz has never been more important.

“With so much PR experience between myself and my partner Deborah De Vittoris, we’ve pretty much developed a sixth sense as to what works and what doesn’t.

“In the early days, the majority of our clients were from bars and restaurants with a little bit of retail, but we’ve managed to grow a great mixture of sectors with a strong focus on retail and property.

“2023 is shaping up to be one of our busiest years on record and we can’t wait to share what else we have in store.’’

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Leeds multi-channel marketing agency, Boutique, is adding Black + Decker to its portfolio of home interest accounts.

The brief from Black + Decker will see the agency leading on a range of PR tactics and campaigns which have been tailored to increase brand awareness and boost seasonal sales.

Boutique has extensive experience in the home and outdoor sector, and has already worked with similar brands.

Simon Bollon, managing director of the agency, said: “This is one of the proudest wins we’ve had as an agency and on a personal level, its one I honestly couldn’t wait to tell my dad about!

“We have a whole host of experience in the home and garden industry and are more than confident that we can meet the goals of this client with our tried and tested tactics and solid journalist relationships within the home interest sector.”

Tim Winstanley, senior brand manager at Black + Decker, added: “I wholeheartedly believe this PR strategy from Boutique is what we need and I’m looking forward to this becoming a long term relationship.

“The team have filled me with confidence from the very start at every interaction.”