Staff

Return of the Mac

 Jess MacDonald has returned to the agency as Account Director.

Jess re-joins Rule after previously working as Account Manager at the agency until early this year. She returns from an in-house role at The Fragrance Shop as PR, Social and Influencer Manager. Jess brings with her a wealth of consumer PR knowledge, in addition to fresh insight gained working in-house.

Jess will support on new business and team development, whilst leading on a portfolio of clients including Blackpool Pleasure Beach and EventCity.

Managing Partner, Rob Brown, commented: “Jess joined the agency for the first time in February 2017, when she left to join The Fragrance Shop I was sorry to see her go as she lives and breathes the culture at Rule 5.

“I’m delighted that she’s returned to the agency as an Account Director, bringing the experience and insight she’s gained working in-house.”

Jess said: “I had a fantastic few years here when I started in 2017, so after trying something a little different, I came back. I missed the agency style of working – the diverse range of clients and activity is really exciting. I’m so happy to be working with the team at Rule 5 again.”

 

Two New Hires for Rule 5

The agency has strengthened its team with two new appointments.

Shauna Hill and Oliver Leigh both join the MediaCityUK agency as Junior Account Executives and will be working across a varied portfolio of consumer and B2B accounts.

Hill holds a degree in PR and Journalism and whist studying wrote for a number of online consumer and lifestyle magazines; she joins the Agency following the completion of a four week placement.

With a Masters in Public Relations and Global Communications Management, Leigh joins Rule 5 to support with its growing roster of B2B clients, including Leep Utilities, EventCity and K7 Media.

Speaking on the growing team, Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown, said: “Shauna and Oliver have joined the business at a really exciting time; we are working with a diverse range of clients on some fascinating and exciting projects.

“At Rule 5 we are passionate about nurturing talent and providing an opportunity to those just starting out in PR. Since starting in the summer, Shauna and Oliver have impressed the team with their creativity and enthusiasm.”

Rob Brown in PR Power Book

Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown, has been listed in the 2019 PR Week Power Book. The book of leading PR professionals selected by the PR industry’s bible PR Week, was announced at the Soho House White City last night.

The book is an extensive list of the most influential and respected communications professionals in the UK today. The guide, complete with Q&As from each of the 400 entrants (from an industry estimated to employ 40,000), is available online:

Click here to see the full PRWeek UK Power Book 2019

The book was unveiled at the members club from the Soho House Group on the site of the former BBC HQ in West London.  The list also includes Matthew Freud, Brunswick’s Sir Alan Parker, Executive Director of Government Comms Alex Aiken and legendary showbiz PR guru Mark Borkowski.

Gemma Joins Rule 5

The agency has recruited Gemma Cowburn as Account Director to lead its growing consumer PR offer and strengthen the team.  Gemma joins from Amaze, a full service digital agency, where she spent eight years working on campaigns for a range of clients including The Saucy Fish Co., Imperial Leather, Manchester City Football Club and Eurocamp.

Gemma’s will lead on consumer PR across a portfolio of food, leisure, tourism and sports related accounts. These will include Park Leisure, Brother UK and Merlin Entertainments, which appointed Rule 5 to work on the Manchester Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Centres, at the start of the year.

Founding Director, Julie Wilson, said: “Gemma joins us at an important time for Rule 5 and we are thrilled to have her on the team.

“We have ambitious plans to build the agency in 2018 and bringing in a senior hire at the start of 2018 is a key part of that strategy. Gemma has extensive experience in the industry, with McCann, TBWA as well as Amaze and will help us to strengthen and grow our offer.”

Gemma said: “I am thrilled to be part of the Media City-based team here at Rule-5, having watched the agency win prestigious awards each year since launching in 2012. Now feels an exciting time in the agency’s milestones to come on board and I look forward to contributing to their award success.”

Rob Brown Talks Google Ads to the BBC

Rule 5 Managing Partner Rob Brown, was interviewed by BBC Breakfast Business Reporter Ben Thompson, this morning (Tuesday 21.03.2017).  The interview followed the revelation at the weekend, that Google was allowing adverts on its YouTube platform to run alongside extremist content, such as videos promoting terrorism and antisemitism.

Hundreds of advertisers have pulled ad spending from the online video platform.  Rob believes that this will mark a tipping point for online advertising. The revelations and the subsequent outrage from advertisers will result in a “fundamental change in the way internet advertising is going to be bought and sold in the future” said Rob. Online platforms “are going to have to employ more people and write new algorithms” he added.