LONDON—Edelman has acquired Smithfield Consultants, a financial and investor relations specialist, which has expertise in cross-border and domestic M&A and restructuring transactions, as well as IPOs and other capital raisings. Smithfield also has experience serving firms across the financial services and asset management industry. It adds a team of 20 consultants led by John Kiely.

LONDON—Hill+Knowlton Strategies has promoted Jessica Walsh to managing director of the healthcare practice. Originally with H+K’s New York office and based in London since 2008, Walsh has almost 15 years of healthcare experience, with a focus on patient advocacy. In addition, the firm has added Ginnie Tuck from Weber Shandwick, Victoria Hayes from GlaxoSmithKline, and Catherine Clifford from GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition).

LONDON—London Gatwick, the UK’s second largest airport, has appointed Brands2Life as its retained consumer PR agency following a competitive pitch. The agency’s remit is to boost awareness of the ongoing £1 billion transformation of Gatwick into a world class airport. The campaign will include highlighting the airport’s proximity and transport links to London, and building its credentials with business travelers.

LONDON—Premium single-malt whisky brand The Macallan has engaged  PR agency The Romans to work across a global communications brief, including content production and social media, following a competitive pitch process. The Romans will work across a variety of the brand's core global projects, including its Masters of Photography campaign.

LONDON—W has been appointed as the primary creative agency for Meatsnacks Group, a leader in premium beef jerky and biltong. The assignment will involve creation and implementation of an integrated campaign spanning consumer PR, corporate profiling, social media, content creation and product sampling, focused on brand building for key products Wild West Jerky, Texas Joe’s Jerky, Men’s Health Jerky, Cruga, Bundu Biltong and Hogbites.

LONDON—Megan Murray Jones has joined Lansons as a senior consultant to develop its content proposition, providing support and expertise to clients on how they create, optimise and monetise content. Murray Jones joins with seven years’ experience in branded content creation and digital storytelling, having managed campaigns for clients, including National Citizen Service’s first TV advert and a number of successful digital content campaigns for Shop Direct.

LONDON—Former journalist Tony Brown has joined Firefly Communications as head of content. Over the past five years, Brown has carried out freelance assignments for Edelman, Hill & Knowlton, Babel, 3 Monkeys and Atomic. Prior to that he was a client director at Nelson Bostock, 3 Monkeys and Kinross + Render for 6 years. He also has more than 10 years of experience as a journalist and served as City and business correspondent at the Press Association.

LONDON—Harvard, the integrated technology communications agency, has hired Phil Szomszor as digital engagement director and member of the board. He joins from Firefly Communications and will lead a specialist team, as well as expanding the digital expertise across the agency.