BUCHAREST — MSL has strengthened its strategic communications offer in Romania by launching MSL Consultants, specialising in corporate reputation, executive positioning, issues and crisis management and public affairs. MSL Consultants will operate under the MSL umbrella brand, but independently of the group’s Romanian PR agency, MSL The Practice. The new venture will be led by Andreea Logigan (pictured), who previously led corporate communications at MSL The Practice.

LONDON — Pagefield has published its policy for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in communications. The policy aims to promote the responsible use of generative AI among Pagefield employees, setting out 10 guidelines, including only using AI programmes for legitimate business purposes and being transparent about the agency’s use of these; ensuring the safeguarding of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of company information; following a formal escalation process for suspected data leaks or breaches; and verifying data produced using generative AI to protect the integrity of its work.

LONDON — Former agency MD Ally Kennedy has launched Luminate, a multi-disciplinary communications agency for the built environment sectors. Kennedy was previously managing director of Infrastructure Matters, a consulting business specialising in major infrastructure and development projects, and spent four years as a board director at Cavendish (formerly BECG). Kennedy has worked across the energy, property and transport sectors, and his new venture offers a range of communications services including public consultation and planning communications, public affairs, PR, digital and creative.

LONDON — John Doe Group has launched a dedicated insight and research agency, Elsewhere. It is the second new agency offering this year within the group, following the launch of The Heard in February, headed up by Roxy Kalha, former managing director of The Romans.

LONDON — The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy. The strategy outlines the CIPR's plans to develop and adapt its activities and champion EDI best practice across the CIPR staff team, volunteers, the Institute's governance structure, CIPR members, the wider PR profession, and private, public and third sector leadership. The strategy has been developed by the CIPR's EDI Committee following years of research highlighting a lack of progression in the PR profession on diversity.

LONDON — Freelance PR platform The PR Cavalry has become the first PR talent platform to be awarded the quality mark of The Trusted Talent Partner programme, which is run by Open Assembly, part of the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard. The programme audits platforms against 13 measures such as the depth of talent and client support as rated by employers who have hired freelancers. The PR Cavalry claims to have the largest PR freelancer talent bank in the UK and works with clients including The Royal Artillery and The Queer Comedy Club, as well as PR agencies.

LONDON — Barley Communications, which became employee-owned last year, has become the latest agency to become a certified B Corp. The agency has created a new ‘Purpose Plus’ proposition to reinforce its commitment to support organisations tackling pressing social and environmental issues. Purpose Plus has three strands: people (with a commitment to flexible working and zero gender and ethnicity pay gap); only working with clients that align with its values and make a positive difference; and the environment, including signing up to Creatives for Climate, a partnership with Greenly to measure and reduce its environmental impact, and team volunteering opportunities.