Creative: Professional service client wins for Brand8 and Finn and agency takes on former Asda PR

LEEDS-BASED Brand8 has been appointed to provide PR and content marketing services to independent accountants Garbutt + Elliott.

Campaign objectives include strengthening Garbutt + Elliott’s position within the regional marketplace.

Garbutt + Elliott managing partner, Russell Turner, said: “Brand8 PR has outstanding professional services expertise coupled with an innovative strategic approach to public relations and content marketing that is entirely commercially focused.

“The agency works across all aspects of our business enabling us to communicate our brand with clarity to a wide range of audiences and sectors. The activity undertaken creates the environment for sales which we are capitalising on by successfully securing new business as we continue to implement our controlled growth plan.”

Established over 150 years’ ago in York, Garbutt + Elliott employs around 100 people and has seven partners.

Brand8’s clients include law firm Gordons; national chartered surveyor Sanderson Weatherall; UK top 20 housebuilder Avant Homes; international breastfeeding products brand Lansinoh and the nation’s largest van hire company, Northgate plc.

Brand8 PR managing director, Rob Smith, said: “The firm sets itself apart by providing exceptional client service and understanding the needs of entrepreneurial business owners to help them achieve their commercial and personal goals.

“Garbutt + Elliott are much more than accountants, and we reflect this distinction in the work we carry out for them. We’re looking forward to continuing to deliver PR and content marketing activity to help generate further growth for the firm.”

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ACCOUNTANCY firm Grant Thornton has appointed Leeds-based Finn as its PR partner.

Finn will cover the PR for Grant Thornton’s Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield offices following a tender process.

Finn has recently expanded to London and appointed Matt Bourn as partner and director.

Andy Wood, managing partner at Grant Thornton in Leeds, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Grant Thornton as we continue to establish ourselves as a category-of-one firm with a differentiated offer from others in our sector.

“Finn clearly stood out to us as an agency that thinks strategically, has first rate media and stakeholder contacts and one that can really help us succeed in our objectives.”

Ian Briggs, head of media relations at Finn, said: “Grant Thornton is an organisation that we’ve been wanting to partner with for several years and as such we’re thrilled to have been selected as its PR partner in Yorkshire and the North East.

“The firm’s Vibrant Economy agenda is genuinely making a difference and Finn is looking forward to further supporting this important initiative over the coming months.”

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AGENCY Lucre has appointed Vickie Rogerson, formerly head of food PR at Asda to the agency.

Ms Rogerson brings 20 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry to the agency.

has today announced that it is to further strengthen its food and drink offering with new appointments and promotions across the agency.

She has previously worked at PR agencies across a host of brands including Pork Farms, Butterkist, Quorn, Ben & Jerry’s, Seabrook Crisps and Onken.

At the same time, account manager Ali Gwynne has been appointed to Lucre’s London office and three of its Leeds-based executives have been appointed to the role of account manager; Brett Cullen, Lucy Kitching and Nick Horbowyj.

Tamarind Wilson-Flint, company director at Lucre, said: “We are proud of the growth of our teams and the further expansion of our expertise at a senior level. We understand the importance of laying strong foundations, which has led to this significant growth of the lucre team in both our London and Leeds offices this year. We’re confident this will be the first of many announcements from us in the coming months.”