60-second summary: last week's PR news (26 January)

Account reviews

Network Rail issued a wide-ranging comms brief to boost its planned £37.5bn investment in Britain's railways.

Captain Morgan, the Diageo-owned rum brand, launched an agency hunt for as-yet unspecified consumer brief.

A partnership involving the London Legacy Corporation and six London boroughs had a brief to get more local disabled people involved in sport out.

Bennetts, the motorbike insurance specialist, started a search for a new consumer PR agency.

People moves

Robin Kiely was promoted at Ryanair from comms manager to head of comms.

Ali Gee is departing Edelman to be group planning and strategy director at FH Group.

Louise Fish is leaving the NHS Confederation to lead Portland’s new health practice.

Amanda Callaghan is joining the British Retail Consortium as corporate affairs director.

Jane Bevis is leaving the British Retail Consortium to start her own consultancy.

Mark Thompson joined Emanate to head expansion of its corporate practice.

David Barker is switching from director of comms at Breakthrough Breast Cancer to become chief executive of Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Damian Peachey is moving from Yahoo to Wonga.com as head of media relations.

Leora Hanser is joining the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation as director of comms and fundraising.

Client wins

Bray Leino boarded Virgin Atlantic’s domestic routes business.

Grayling was called in by independent energy supplier First Utility.

Rooster PR bagged WOW Air, the Icelandic low-cost airline.

Dynamo PR was appointed by domain name and web hosting company Namesco.

Freud Communications won the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Maitland picked up the keys for online property specialist Zoopla.

Kindred landed the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

Capella PR was engaged by global advertising technology business Marin.

Agency investments

Hill+Knowlton Strategies is opening six offices in Africa as it strengthens its focus on the continent.

M&C Saatchi Group acquired a 60 per cent stake in the talent management agency Merlin Elite.

Other news

NHS Employers called on health service workers to embrace social media to communicate with the public.

Coca-Cola rebutted criticism from Prime Minister David Cameron, who told Parliament he was trying to steer his children away from drinking Coke.

Public trust in the energy industry substantially improved during the past year, according to Edelman's annual Trust Barometer report.

Leaving the European Union would damage the UK PR industry, according to sixty per cent of PR agency bosses polled by the PRCA.

Comms must do more and reach further to cope with the upcoming public health reforms, a landmark roadshow suggested.

And breathe ...

In the mood for more? Slow down and rummage through our features and opinion content from the past week.

This article was first published on prweek.com