Media Buzz: GDA; Different PR; McGrath Rainey Laird

A TRIO of recent client wins has led GDA, the South Yorkshire-based creative and digital marketing agency, to take on some new additions to its team.

Having been brought on board by architects Coda Studios and Coast & Country Housing in Redcar, as well as being reappointed for a further three years by Berneslai Homes, it has been a positive year for GDA.

The new appointments have been made to further strengthen the agency’s digital, social media and account management functions with Peter Roberts joining as digital manager and Nick Murray as account manager.

Roberts recently sold Barob Creative, a York-based agency that he established with a friend in 2011 while Nick joins from Mannheim Remarketing, one of the UK’s biggest car and van auction companies.

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FOLLOWING the departure of chief executive Martin O’Toole, Don McGrath, co-founder of Leeds-based agency McGrath O’Toole, has announced the agency’s new directorial line-up as well as a major new account win.

The newly renamed McGrath Rainey Laird agency sees managing director Sam Rainey and design director Rob Laird come to the fore as primary shareholders of the business, originally founded in October 2010.

Under this new incarnation, the agency has also confirmed it has picked up major retailer Morrisons as its latest client win. The agency will handle all design related to a bespoke project, managed from the supermarket’s headquarters in Bradford.

Don McGrath said: “Despite having parted ways with Martin – a valued and respected founder member – I’m absolutely delighted to report that the agency’s new board is already experiencing success on this scale.

“It’s also an honour to be working with such an exciting retailer as Morrisons, one of the biggest brands in Yorkshire.”

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VIDEO production and internal communications specialist Limehouse took centre stage as it pulled out all the stops to produce creative media news footage for first direct’s internal communications about its sponsorship of the latest £60m purpose built entertainment centre, first direct arena.

In May, first direct announced it had secured the five-year naming rights for Leeds’ new 13,000 seat arena due to open in July.

Limehouse filmed and edited the video clips in one day, which included footage of the management on a first tour of the arena.

“This has been a fantastic project to work on,” said Nick Howard, Limehouse managing director. “Our team worked with professionalism and confidence to meet the tight deadline required to produce the breaking news in time for the press launch. It was a privilege to help deliver such great footage, both for first direct and for the city of Leeds.”

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DIFFERENT PR has stepped up to the crease to sponsor the kit for a local cricket team.

Different PR, based at Pannal Business Park in Harrogate, has become a sponsor of the Ashville Masters XI cricket team, following an approach from team captain Gilmour Coad.

Different PR is run by Richard Chew and David Simister, both former Ashville College pupils, who also help look after the school’s public and media relations.
Chew said: “This is first time we’re been asked to sponsor a cricket team, and I’m very pleased the approach came from Ashville College.”