McDonald's "Grimace's Birthday" campaign, created by Golin, was the star of the North American SABRE Awards, winning the top prize for Best Public Relations Campaign of 2023. This marks a historic night for Golin, becoming the first agency ever to snag three major awards: Best Agency to Work For, Large Agency of the Year, and Best in Show.The award-winning campaign addressed a significant drop in birthday celebrations at McDonald's. They brought back a beloved character, Grimace, to reignite excitement. This clever strategy resulted in a staggering 900% increase in birthday celebrations at McDonald's after five years of stagnation."This campaign was pure, fantastic consumer marketing," said Paul Holmes, head judge and founder of PRovoke Media. Awards often favor purpose-driven initiatives, but sometimes, great PR boils down to a creative idea that captures consumer imagination and fosters meaningful engagement."And the results in this case were nothing short of phenomenal," he concluded."Grimace's Birthday" triumphed over other impressive campaigns to win the coveted Platinum SABRE. These finalists included:  Dove's "Black Hair is Professional" with Ogilvy  SAG-AFTRA's "2023 Negotiations and Strike Campaign" with SAG-AFTRA  DHL Supply Chain's "Step Up for Safety" with Fahlgren Mortine  Aura Freedom's "For Her" Campaign with Veritas Communications and Forsman & Bodenfors"These finalists represent the incredible range of PR work seen this year," said Holmes. "From social justice efforts by Dove to navigating the Hollywood strike for SAG-AFTRA, to internal communications for DHL, any of these campaigns could have rightfully won the top prize."Ogilvy walked away as the biggest award winner, taking home eight trophies. MSL and Weber Shandwick followed with five awards each, while BCW snagged four. Finn Partners, Golin, and M Booth rounded out the top with three awards apiece.

Weber Shandwick UK has named Yan Elliott as its new chief creative officer, a newly-created role. Elliott has been serving as the agency's interim creative lead since September.Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Elliott held creative leadership positions at several prominent London advertising agencies, including Mother, Lucky Generals, The And Partnership, and most recently as executive creative director at AMVBBDO. During his career, he has developed award-winning creative campaigns for clients such as Dr Pepper, Orange, Sky, and RNIB.In his new role, Elliott will be responsible for leading Weber Shandwick's creative department and overseeing the strategy and execution of creative campaigns for the agency's clients. Some of his recent work for Weber Shandwick includes a collaboration between Budweiser and artist Sir Peter Blake, resulting in the launch of a limited-edition pop art can featured in an interactive exhibition in London, housed in the "world's first fridge frame" to keep it cool.Based in London, Elliott will oversee a team of creatives across Weber Shandwick's UK offices in London, Manchester, and Scotland. He will report to UK president Amy Garrett, who expressed her enthusiasm about the new hire. "We are thrilled to have Yan as part of our team," said Garrett. "His wealth of experience and innovative approach to creativity, which lies at the heart of our business, will elevate our brand and drive forward our strategic vision for our clients and colleagues." Elliott shared his excitement about the new opportunity, stating, "Weber Shandwick is an agency boasting a diverse range of talent, capabilities and expertise. It's a new world for me, and I have been blown away by the talented people and the smart way they go about their work. I am excited about collaborating with our talented teams to unleash the business's full potential. It's impactful creativity that can take our clients to new heights."

Weber Shandwick has announced key leadership changes to strengthen its crisis, issues, and risk management offerings across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.As part of this, Barnaby Fry (pictured) has joined as Head of Crisis and Issues, EMEA. Fry brings over 20 years of experience in crisis communications, having previously served as a director at Hogarth Partnership and MHP Communications.He will focus on expanding Weber Shandwick's crisis and issues capabilities across EMEA, leveraging his expertise in crisis preparation, mitigation, and response.Rod Clayton Transitions to Head of Risk and Advisory, EMEA. Clayton, a Weber Shandwick veteran of 28 years, will take on a newly created role focused on advising senior executives and boards.He will help clients identify, manage, and communicate about operational challenges and potential reputational risks.Together, Fry and Clayton's leadership, alongside Weber Shandwick's existing team of crisis and reputation management specialists, positions the firm to address a wide range of challenges faced by clients in the region.These challenges include:Misinformation and disinformationCybersecurity threatsArtificial intelligence (AI) integrationGeopolitical issuesEmployee and labour relationsBrand safetyGovernment and regulatory affairsBusiness operationsLitigationOrganisational changeBusiness and financial communicationsThis strategic expansion underscores Weber Shandwick's commitment to providing clients with a data-driven and human-led approach to navigating complex crisis situations across the EMEA region and globally.

Tinder has chosen The Academy to handle its creative earned media campaigns in the UK market, following a competitive pitch process.Founded by Mitch Kaye and Dan Glover a decade ago, The Academy boasts an impressive client list including Amazon, Disney, and Mastercard. While remaining tight-lipped about the new addition, The Academy is known for its innovative campaigns.Tinder, part of the Match Group, previously partnered with agencies like Weber Shandwick, W Communications, and Ogilvy Paris. Interestingly, Tinder intends to maintain these collaborations for project-based work.The Academy's win comes amidst a period of growth. The agency, a finalist for PRovoke Media's EMEA consumer agency of the year award, saw fee income increase by 9% last year, reaching £6.5 million.This expansion is further reflected in their recent creation of dedicated "columns" within their structure. Sophie Pettifer, who joined in 2016 during the Shine merger, will spearhead an entertainment column. Meanwhile, Sam Beecham, joining in 2017, will lead a newly formed sports column, assuming the title of Head of Sport.

Stephanie Shelton has recently assumed the role of Executive Vice President of Client Experience at Current Global's healthcare practice. In this capacity, she will play a pivotal role in enhancing The Weber Shandwick Collective and bolstering IPG’s healthcare business.With her extensive background, including her recent tenure as a senior partner at FleishmanHillard, Shelton brings valuable expertise to steer communication strategies for flagship pharmaceutical clients of both Current and IPG. Additionally, she will spearhead new business ventures and initiatives across various brands.Reporting directly to Global Chief Client and Growth Officer Renee Austin from the Chicago hub, Shelton's appointment signifies a strategic move to leverage her diverse skill set in traditional healthcare, corporate health, and consumer health domains.Austin emphasized Shelton's contributions, stating, "Stephanie adds a unique blend of traditional healthcare, corporate health, and consumer health experience to our team. Her wealth of experience in reputation management, awareness elevation, brand enhancement, and behavior change through impactful campaigns and integrated media strategies is invaluable."Shelton's arrival follows a successful five-year tenure at Fleishman, where she held the positions of Senior Vice President and Senior Partner. Prior to that, she served as Managing Director at W2O Group and spent nearly twelve years at Edelman, further enriching her expertise in the field.

Chris McCafferty, who served as group CEO of MSL London and sustainability consultancy Salterbaxter, is departing the firm. Taking his place is Rebecca Grant, former CEO of BCW London, who will now lead as chief executive of Publicis’ UK Influence practice.In her new role, Grant will helm MSL, Taylor Herring, and Salterbaxter, while also expanding her responsibilities as EMEA chief client officer for Publicis' influence practice within the French-owned holding group.McCafferty, having led for over four years, has chosen to step down to pursue fresh challenges. Reflecting on his tenure, he expressed pride in fostering inclusive growth and prioritizing people-centric decisions. He emphasized the transformative impact on both commercial and personnel fronts, noting the industry's positive reception to their approach.As CEO of Publicis Groupe UK’s influence practice, Grant will drive growth strategies for existing agencies, collaborating with agency leaders and the Publicis Groupe UK executive committee. Her role as chief client officer will concentrate on identifying novel avenues to create value for multi-market clients. Grant will report directly to Demet Ikiler, CEO of Publicis Groupe EMEA.Grant arrives with a wealth of experience, having spent 13 years at BCW, where she held positions including CEO for BCW UK and global chief brand officer. Notably, she spearheaded the merger of Cohn & Wolfe and Burson-Marsteller in the UK before assuming the role of CEO in 2018. Prior to her tenure at BCW, Grant held leadership roles at Cohn & Wolfe and Weber Shandwick, among others.Grant's team will include Jo Grierson, managing director of MSL, James Herring and Cath Taylor, co-founders of Taylor Herring, and Steve Lindsay, managing director of Salterbaxter.Commenting on Grant's appointment, Publicis Groupe EMEA CEO Demet Ikiler commended her leadership prowess and proven track record of driving innovation and growth. Ikiler expressed confidence in Grant's ability to advance the Influence practice in the UK and expand solutions across EMEA, collaborating with agency leaders in the region. Ikiler also extended best wishes to McCafferty in his future endeavors.In response, Grant expressed enthusiasm for joining Publicis Groupe UK during a period of substantial growth and innovation, particularly in AI and data intelligence. She looks forward to building on the foundation laid by the agency portfolio and ushering in a new phase of growth, recognizing the pivotal role of influence in brand and business success.

Weber Shandwick West is making a power move to expand its regional presence, promoting two industry veterans to key leadership roles.Cheryl Cook takes the helm as Los Angeles market leader, leveraging her 30-year career, including eight years at Edelman, to drive growth in the LA market.Lee Anderson-Brooke steps up as the first-ever West Coast tech lead, drawing on his experience as senior principal at Weber's management consultancy and former Weber Shandwick executive VP to spearhead the agency's tech focus across the West Coast.These strategic hires, as President Jordan Rittenberry emphasizes, are part of Weber Shandwick West's commitment to becoming a "serious player" in the western US tech sector."We see significant opportunities," says Rittenberry, "and we're building the team to ensure we can scale and grow our business."This growth strategy also includes a focus on corporate affairs and C-suite advisory. Last year, Christian Brown was appointed as both Seattle market leader and the firm's regional corporate affairs lead, demonstrating the agency's commitment to comprehensive client service.Promoting Cook and Anderson-Brooke reflects a broader leadership shift under Jim O'Leary, who joined Weber Shandwick in 2023 as North America CEO. O'Leary's focus on strategic growth has included key hires like Rittenberry and Central region president Sheila Mulligan, both veterans from Edelman.Weber Shandwick West is clearly positioning itself as a major force in the western US market, with a strong emphasis on both regional expansion and specialized expertise in tech and corporate communications.

Weber Shandwick is stepping up its efforts to diversify its healthcare practice with the launch of a new fellowship programme specifically designed for Black undergraduate students.Called HealthFellows, the programme targets STEM-focused Black students and is developed in partnership with the Ron Brown Scholar Program, a renowned leadership development organisation.The 32-week pilot programme equips participants with vital skills in communication, marketing, digital content creation, client management, and hands-on experience through real-world client projects.Weber Shandwick boasts an ambitious goal: hiring 80% of the inaugural class upon graduation.This initiative tackles a crucial challenge in healthcare PR: the lack of diversity in communication teams, hindering effective outreach to diverse populations."Representation is critical," emphasizes Jamie Dowd, president of Weber Shandwick Health Americas. "Our staff needs to reflect the audiences we serve, and this program fosters that change."Judith Harrison, Chief DE&I Officer at Weber Shandwick, highlights the programme's strategic design: "Matching Ron Brown Scholars' STEM expertise with our science-based communication needs creates a powerful synergy."Building a Brighter Future:The inaugural class includes seven talented individuals: Asha Yearwood (Northwestern), Brianna Freeman (Vanderbilt), Brooke Solomon (Howard), Harmony Arungwa (University of Pittsburgh), Jahnea Pressley (Temple), Jonathan Goshu (Brown), and Jordan Richardson (Howard).By nurturing the next generation of Black communication professionals in healthcare, Weber Shandwick and the Ron Brown Scholar Program are paving the way for more inclusive and impactful communication in the healthcare industry.This programme builds upon a longstanding partnership between Weber Shandwick and the Ron Brown Scholar Program.By investing in diverse talent and fostering career development in healthcare communication, Weber Shandwick sets a positive example for the industry, promoting meaningful representation and effective communication within healthcare.

Weber Shandwick has elevated Alison McMillon and Laura Cederberg to pivotal leadership roles, completing its Central region executive team.With two decades of service at Weber Shandwick, McMillon takes the helm as the agency's Dallas market leader. Previously serving as an executive VP and deputy general manager in Dallas, she spearheaded global, integrated programs. McMillon boasts a versatile career, having excelled in corporate, B2B, crisis and issues, consumer, and internal communications.Simultaneously, Cederberg assumes the role of Minneapolis market leader. Having joined Weber Shandwick four years ago, she most recently held the position of senior VP on the corporate and public affairs team. Cederberg's earlier experience includes a role in politics, where she served as the spokesperson for former Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith.Both Cederberg and McMillon will report to Central region president Sheila Mulligan, who took on her role last August after a 17-year tenure with Edelman. The regional team also comprises Dave Collett in St. Louis and Katie Adams in Detroit.Sheila Mulligan expressed confidence in the new appointments, stating, "Weber Shandwick has long held a leadership position in the Central region and possesses extensive experience across dominant industries, from agriculture to industrials. Alison and Laura are the ideal leaders for this transformative moment, bringing combined experience across sectors and stakeholders, coupled with deep roots in these key markets."The move to appoint McMillon and Cederberg as market leaders is part of a broader restructuring of senior leadership initiated by Jim O’Leary. O’Leary, who assumed the role of Weber Shandwick's North America CEO after stepping down from his position as Edelman’s US COO and corporate affairs chair a year ago, has focused on refining strategy and making key hires, including seasoned professionals like Mulligan and Weber Shandwick West president Jordan Rittenberry, as well as senior advisor Ashley Etienne, a communications strategist with experience working with Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris.