LONDON — The Co-operative Group has hired Grayling to handle its six-figure corporate PR, communications and public affairs brief. The account will be overseen by director of group communications Russ Brady and Paul Gerrard, director of public affairs at the Co-operative Group, which covers grocery retail, funerals, insurance and legal services across the UK.

LONDON — Shopping centre company Westfield has appointed The Academy as its retained consumer PR agency after a competitive pitch. The agency will be delivering PR for campaigns for Westfield London (pictured) and Westfield Stratford City with the objective of enhancing Westfield’s brand presence and attracting increased footfall to both locations. As well as the two London sites, The Academy will also be supporting Westfield Rise UK, Unibail Rodamco-Westfield’s in house media and brand partnerships and data solutions business. Westfield has also appointed Headland Consultancy to handle its corporate PR. The consumer and corporate accounts were previously held by H+K Strategies.

LONDON — W Communications has been appointed by global entertainment platform Fever as agency of record for its Candlelight Concert series in New York and Los Angeles. The agency has been briefed to implement creative brand-building campaigns and oversee all media relations to drive exposure for the brand and its expansion plans into new venues and the launch of its new brand programming, including with Warner Bros Discovery Global Themed Entertainment.

LONDON — English winemaker Chapel Down has appointed Stir as its retained PR agency, with a brief to manage the brand’s UK press office and projects, including digital and influencer work. The brand previously worked with W Communications.

LONDON — Finn Partners has won two new travel brands. The agency has been appointed by Journey Beyond, one of the largest tourism experience providers in Australia, to handle UK PR. Journey Beyond owns and operates The Ghan and Indian Pacific trains as well as Reef Sleep overnight stays on the Great Barrier Reef. Finn Partners is now also working with luxury Madeira hotel brand Savoy Signature to lead its PR in the UK, including media relations for the Savoy Palace hotel. 

LONDON — Renewables communications specialist Pier has won two new clients after competitive pitches: global renewable energy company Low Carbon; for which the agency will provide stakeholder and community relations for the proposed new Beacon Fen Energy Park; and Freeport East, one of the UK’s ten new Freeports announced by the government, centred around Felixstowe and Harwich, a region regarded as a clean energy powerhouse.