LONDON — Ready10 has been appointed by craft beer maker BrewDog (pictured) as its new retained PR agency, after a competitive pitch. The agency’s brief is to deliver campaigns that align with BrewDog’s three pillars: beer, people, and planet. Tasked initially with driving awareness and noise around BrewDog’s Black Heart stout and Lost Lager, Ready10 will be activating a number of campaigns for the brand as well as projects for BrewDog founder James Watt, starting with the ‘The Next Unicorn’, Watt’s search for the next billion-dollar company.

LONDON — Centropy has won two new clients: London-based fintech Kennek, which recently raised $4.5 million in pre-seed funding, has appointed the agency to handle PR strategy, media relations and external communications after a competitive pitch, while HeavyFinance, a climate tech investment marketplace for the agricultural industry, has selected Centropy to lead its global communications programme, overseeing core messaging, influencer relations and content creation as part of an integrated multi-market campaign.

LONDON — Search-first creative agency Rise at Seven has again been appointed as fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing’s retained PR partner in the UK and the US. The account was first awarded to Rise at Seven in 2021 without a pitch. The agency will continue its work with the brand to strategically support its PR work with collaborations and new product launches.

LONDON — The Jargon Group has acquired the business and assets of Basingstoke-based XL Communications, including the team led by founder Chris Bignell. As part of the deal, Bignell becomes chief operating officer of the Jargon Group. Founded in 2007, XL Communications specialised in mobile, technology, transport and related industries, providing strategic consultancy and campaign execution for start-ups and established corporates. XL Communications joins The Jargon Group alongside companies including sustainability PR agency Pelican Communications and processing, packaging and industrial automation specialist GloHouse Media. The XL Communications deal is the latest acquisition for the Group in the past three years which includes Vantage Marketing (November 2020), Souter PR (July, 2021), GloHouse Media (October 2022) and Pelican Communications (December 2022).

DÜSSELDORF — B2B tech marketing and PR specialist Fox Agency has opened its first office in Germany. The office will be led by Søren Kristensen, who joins as client strategy director and head of DACH. He brings more than 25 years of experience working in senior marketing roles for the likes of TMD Friction, Trelleborg Wheel Systems and, most recently, Deutz, where he was global marketing leader. Fox already works with a number clients in the DACH automotive and B2B technology industry, including Bobst, GKN Powder Metallurgy, BearingPoint, and TMD Friction.

LONDON — The Flywheelers, an integrated communications agency for high growth start-ups and scale-ups, has been selected by open banking leader Yapily as its UK comms agency partner to bolster its thought leadership and brand credibility. The media relations programme will reinforce the fintech’s position as a trusted voice in open banking, as the sector awaits the outcome of the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee on the future of open banking in the UK.

LONDON — Fluus, the world’s first flushable period pad, has chosen Alfred to handle its press and influencer strategy and execution. The agency has been appointed to launch the product in the UK, including strategic consultancy, consumer press communications and tactical influencer partnerships focusing on innovation and sustainability within period products; 4.3 billion menstrual products are used each year in the UK, generating 200,000 tonnes of largely plastic waste, while Fluus guarantees no microplastics.

LONDON — Segway-Ninebot, the robotics giant known for its self-balancing scooter, has selected Spreckley PR to launch Navimow, an AI-powered robotic lawnmower, in the UK, building on the success of Navimow’s 2021 launch in Asia and mainland Europe. Spreckley is tasked with generating news and reviews coverage across gardening, technology and national press. Segway is also working with Spreckley to launch the AI-powered VisionFence Sensor, a Navimow accessory that facilitates more intelligent and accurate mowing through an advanced visual recognition algorithm.