MWW Launches Public Affairs Practice in the UK

MWW, one of the top five independent public relations firms in the United States fronted by CEO Michael Kempner, today announced the appointment of Simon Gentry (at left) to lead a new public affairs practice. Focused on providing clients with public affairs support in London and Brussels, Simon will draw on his extensive experience in the financial services, healthcare, technology, energy and nutrition sectors to expand MWW PR Groups’s offering in London.

He has worked for a wide variety of clients including GSK, VISA, AstraZeneca, Microsoft, Abbott, Danone, the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, the Rugby Football Union and British Cycling in London, Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Rome. Simon brings two clients with him to MWW in the UK: the ATM Industry Association and Cash Zone. Simon is best known for delivering the smoking ban in the UK and France for GSK.

Simon joins MWW from Good Relations. Before that he ran his own specialist PA agency for ten years.  He was head of European Affairs at the ABI for three years from 2000, following a six year stint in the corporate communications function at SmithKline Beecham.

Patrick Herridge, UK Managing Director, MWW, commented: “Simon has an incredible track record and excellent reputation for intelligent, successful public affairs campaigns and he’s going to be a great addition to the team.  Expanding into public affairs is going to enable us to reach into new markets whilst at the same time enhancing our existing corporate offer to clients in a range of vertical sectors.”

MWW PR is one of the top five independent public relations firms in the United States and expanded into Europe in November last year.