Four Communications to acquire Consolidated PR

/0 Comments/in /by

Four Communications, part of the Four Communications Group, has made an offer to acquire 100 percent of Consolidated PR Limited, the UK public relations brand. The offer has been recommended by the board of Consolidated PR and more than 90 percent of shareholders have already agreed. The deal is expected to be completed successfully sometime in early October, 2014.

With the addition of Consolidated PR, Four Communications Group’s fee income would reach up to £15.5 million. Nick Clark, Managing Director of Consolidated PR would join the Four Communications Group operating Board, and Directors Will Holt, Elspeth Rothwell, Liz Fay and Anne Clarke would become Practice Directors. Upon completion, Consolidated PR would initially retain its brand whilst the companies plan for the future.

“We are please to make this offer to the shareholders of Consolidated PR and look forward to the completion of the deal as the next step in both our futures,” says Nan Williams, Chief Executive, Four Communications Group. “Consolidated PR is an excellent fit alongside our other communications teams and does exceptional work for their list of clients.”

Nick Clark, Managing Director of Consolidate PR adds, “We believe the future of communications is integrated and international, so by joining Four Communications we are opening up those opportunities for our clients and people. The board has unanimously voted to recommend this future to shareholders.”

Al Jazeera launches AJ+

/0 Comments/in /by

Al Jazeera has launched AJ+, a connected global news community. With socially shareable content, AJ+ will highlight human struggles and achievements, as well as providing context on the world’s most prevalent news stories.

“AJ+ gives Al Jazeera the flexibility to innovate, grow and adjust in an era of rapid change in the news industry,” says Dr. Yaser Bishr, Director of Strategy and Development, Al Jazeera Media Network. “AJ+ is topical, direct and tonally relevant to a younger audience that relies heavily on mobile consumption and their social streams.”

AJ+ is available as a free iOS and Android app that conveys content, making the delivery and consumption of news fast, dynamic and simple. These cards are divided into the following sectors –

  • Video: This section offers bite-size videos containing relevant information that is shareable.
  • Debate: AJ+ enables you to vote on a certain issue, take a stand and advocate your position within the community.
  • Conversation: This space dives deeper into issues, connecting you with the global community to engage and learn from one another.
  • Quiz: Take a quiz and test your knowledge on issues, a novel way to explore stories.
  • Art: The section is designed to highlight key points around issues, and is designed to share on local streams.
  • Resource: Let AJ+ Google stories for you, this space will make your life a bit easier with links to relevant stories, articles and bits of information.

With over eight million views, AJ+ content will continue to be made available via its dedicated YouTube channel, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sandra Farrero joins Madinat Jumeirah

/0 Comments/in /by

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company, has appointed Sandra Farrero as the new Director of Marketing and Communications at Madinat Jumeirah. Having joined Jumeirah in June 2011, Sandra most recently co-led the pre-opening and launch phase of Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Mallorca, and brings to her new role a diverse portfolio of experience having worked across luxury hotels in Spain and England. Sandra will work alongside the Director of Sales and Marketing, where she will lead and further develop the resort’s dynamic marketing and communications team across PR, marketing and partnership development. From 2015 onwards, the pre-opening phase of Madinat Jumeirah’s expansion will become a crucial aspect of Sandra’s role, combined with an increased force on the resort’s digital strategy and brand development.

“I am very excited to have joined Madinat Jumeirah after spending the last three years in Mallorca,” says Sandra. “Madinat Jumeirah is the indisputable leader in luxury resort hospitality, and to be part of this incredible team of colleagues is an honour.”

New online magazine launches

/0 Comments/in /by

Online ‘blogzine’, Style Vault Dubai, has launched its first issue. Co-Founded by PR professionals Zainab Imichi Alhassan and Natasha D’Souza, Style Vault Dubai offers a new perspective into the Dubai lifestyle, covering fashion, beauty, food, nightlife and creative people. With an online platform updated daily – stylevaultdubai.com – Style Vault Dubai is now available monthly with a free subscription.

“Style Vault Dubai was created as a platform to curate global fashion and lifestyle content and give it a Dubai point of view,” says Zainab. “We wanted something laid-back, young, modern and cool.

Natasha adds, “The magazine caters to Dubai’s tech-savvy and intelligent populace, and our readers are people who will match a Prada bag with a Zara dress. We are trying to create something cheeky, something different.”

Carat predicts 5% global ad growth

/0 Comments/in /by

Carat, a leading independent media planning and buying specialist, has published forecasts for global advertising expenditure, predicting a boost of 5% for this year, as well as in 2015. Based on data received from 59 markets across North and South America, Asia Pacific and EMEA, the Dentsu Aegis network’s latest forecast shows an increase of ad spending from the 4.8% prediction made in March 2014.

Regionally, the Carat Advertising Expenditure forecast has predicted further positive growth from North America and Western Europe. Significantly, the US continues to show strong market growth, with levels of advertising expenditure in North America expected to exceed the pre-recession peak of 2007 for the first time by the end of this year. Western Europe is forecasted to return to positive growth of 2.7% after two consecutive years of declining advertising spend – driven by a strong UK advertising market prediction of 7.5% growth for 2014.

Although forecasts show a slight decline in growth when compared with March 2014 predictions, Asia Pacific and Latin America are still both forecast to outperform global predictions with growth rates of 5.4% and 12.1% respectively.

Digital ad spend growth is predicted to exceed previous predictions for 2014, with a year-on-year growth forecast of 16.1%. The digital sector will also increase its total share of spend, set to reach 20.5% in 2014 and 22.6% the following year, where it will outpace the combined Magazine and Newspaper global share for the first time.

The Print sector, while in steady decline, is expected to continue, and all other mediums are set to achieve year-on-year growths of approximately 3-5% in 2014 and 2015.

“Carat’s latest advertising forecast gives us increased optimism for the outlook of global and regional advertising spend,” says Jerry Buhlmann, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network. “With the global recession further behind us and a healthy trend of 5% year-on-year global ad growth, there is positive momentum building across the industry. Whilst Digital continues to headline market trend discussions, the components within this dominant media now provide the interesting chapters, with the opportunities in mobile leading the debate. With changes and trends in consumer behaviour driving business opportunities, brands need to deliver innovative and integrated solutions to reap rewards ahead.”

For access to the full Carat Advertising Expenditure forecast, visit http://goo.gl/kCEnzw