Burger King Selects Frank for UK PR
After a four-way competitive review, fast food chain Burger King has chosen Frank as their UK PR agency of record. The firm will focus on consumer campaigns and push to connect with a younger demographic. Burger King’s head of branding Soco Nunez cited Frank’s creativity as what made them stand out among the competition. Frank founder Andrew Bloch reported mutual feelings saying, “Burger King produces some of the best marketing campaigns in the world, and I can’t wait for Frank to be part of that.”
Padilla Chosen as Avocados from Mexico Agency of Record
Following a competitive review that began last fall, Padilla picked up the Avocados from Mexico account from Ketchum. Padilla will specifically be in charge of Avocados From Mexico’s consumer, corporate, and crisis communications. Padilla will also be in charge of brand awareness campaigns for big events like the Super Bowl and will help the company capitalize on other holidays and cultural events. Padilla president Matt Kucharski is interested in making sure avocados are known for their versatility as both casual and healthy food.
CVS First Major Brand To Boycott Pro-Smoking and Vaping Agencies
CVS has taken a big stand by becoming the first big brand to boycott any agencies that promote smoking over vaping as part of the Quit Big Tobacco campaign. This comes after continued efforts by tobacco firms to continue attracting new customers. Chief marketing officer for CVS Norman de Greve expressed concern about big tobacco targeting youth demographics as a major influence in the company’s decision saying, “We unequivocally take the Quit Big Tobacco pledge…and we urge other companies to join us in this critically important fight.”
Slate PR Promotes Elyse Weissman and Rachael Trager to VP
Entertainment public relations firm Slate PR has promoted veteran PR duo Elyse Weissman and Rachael Trager to VP. Weissman joined the company in 2014 and is based in Slate PR’s Hollywood office. She heads various PR campaigns such as Critics’ Choice Awards, American Music Awards, GLAAD Media Awards. Trager has been with the company since 2013 and is based in the HQ office in New York. She handles events such as the Vanity Fair Oscar party, the Tony Awards, Billboard Music Awards, the NBA Awards.
Rensselaer Partnership with PR Firm Causes Concerns
Relentless Awareness, a local PR firm, has been hired by the economically-challenged river city Rensselaer on a $40,000-a-year contract. It’s intended to promote the city but some critics are concerned about how it will make it easier for the firm to impact the city’s planning department in an attempt to make it easier for craft breweries to locate there. Relentless Awareness’s IDA attorney Paul J. Goldman insisted the city has no current plans to locate any type of alcohol distilling facilities in Rennselaer and that any future projects would be subject to local law. He also explained that in the event of the city getting a proposal from a business represented by Relentless, the firm would be forced to recuse itself from the project.