LONDON — Global recruitment specialist PageGroup has appointed Niamh O’Grady as head of communications for the UK and North America markets. O’Grady previously headed up the comms function at online learning platform FutureLearn, founded by The Open University. Her agency tenure includes stints at Nelson Bostock, Porter Novelli and Kwittken & Company. Having worked with PageGroup for four years, 3 Monkeys Zeno continues its work in the UK as well as expanding its remit to deliver a corporate communications strategy for the Group globally, with a focus on sustainability.

LONDON — Independent European strategic communications firm Rud Pedersen Group has recruited Baroness Natalie Evans (pictured) as a senior adviser in London. Evans was a cabinet minister in the Theresa May and Boris Johnson administrations, from 2016 to 2022, was the longest serving leader of the House of Lords in 70 years, and its youngest ever female leader. She also served in David Cameron’s government as a junior minister responsible for education, justice, work and pensions. Evans will support the firm’s consultants in providing advice on the broad development of UK policy and regulation and will have no role in advocacy for Rud Pedersen clients.

LONDON — Lynn Davidson, British political adviser and journalist, has joined APCO Worldwide as a senior director. Davidson served as communications adviser to COP26 President Alok Sharma, directing climate messaging, positioning, tone and narrative across all communications channels in support of the overarching strategy and objectives of the UK presidency. Davidson was previously an MD at global CEO advisory firm Teneo and before this, she was a special adviser to the UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and to the Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt in the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development and the Government’s Equalities Office. Before moving into politics and communications, Davidson was a senior reporter at the Sun and a news desk executive at the Daily Mail.

LONDON — Dentons Global Advisors (DGA) has promoted two EMEA team members to partner: Sarah Al-Shawwaf in Dubai brings expertise in the Gulf region across government relations, market entry and expansion, and partner development, while in Brussels, Kasia Colombani becomes partner after helping to develop the EU practice and technology portfolio.

LONDON — Milk & Honey PR has made a series of promotions and hires. Zharina Arnaldo – already a partner and co-owner in the business and an Emmy nominated broadcast journalist – joins the UK board. After three years with the business, Imogen Wallis, formerly head of discovery, has been promoted to associate partner, digital. She will be leading the European digital offer working closely with Sianna Peal who runs digital services in North America. Sanjiv Winayak has been promoted to client director heading a fashion and lifestyle portfolio. And in the Munich team, Melanie Richter joins as senior client manager.

LONDON — Former FleishmanHillard associate director Abigail Van-Arnold has joined B2B technology agency Made By Giants, founded in 2020 by James Beveridge and Grace Keeling, as communications growth director. Before joining the agency, Van-Arnold worked with enterprise technology, fintech and cybersecurity brands including Western Union, McAfee, and Salesforce.

LONDON — Entertainment PR agency Multitude Media has made a number of hires and promotions as it launches a digital division. Chris Younie has joined the company in the new role of director of digital, reporting into MD Will Wood, after holding senior digital entertainment roles at Twitter, ITV and for Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. The company has also announced several promotions within its television division. Charlotte Kershaw has been promoted from senior PR manager to associate director of television, while Abigail Johnson has been promoted to senior publicist and Nicole Campbell has been promoted from senior publicist to PR manager, television. Alice LeMaistre, previously at Freuds, and former BBC publicist Faith Whitehouse have also joined Multitude’s television team in the roles of senior publicist and publicist respectively.

LONDON — The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has appointed Richard Fernandez as director of external and public affairs, after the departure of Koray Camgöz to Ketchum. Fernandez brings nearly 30 years of experience to the role, most recently leading on policy and public affairs for organisations working in health promotion. He will oversee a team of five at the trade organisation.

LONDON — Alex Davies has been promoted to director at purpose-led communications agency, Higginson Strategy. Davies joined the 18-strong agency three years ago as associate director to focus on public affairs, policy, and thought leadership. He has worked on public affairs and communications campaigns for organisations including the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), plastic replacement innovators Xampla, and real estate investors Castleforge. He now takes on responsibility for developing Higginson Strategy’s growing team in London and Manchester. In his previous role as chief of staff for former Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, Davies was responsible for advising on political and media matters.

LEEDS, UK — Digital marketing agency ICS-digital has appointed Matt Chappell as head of content, as part of investment in its strategic leadership team. Former head of content Emma Carey moves into a newly-created head of global resourcing role. Chappell joins the team with experience in content production and strategy at organisations such as Search Laboratory and Kin + Carta, working with clients including Co-op Food, Dorchester Hotels, and GiffGaff. He joins the agency team following a number of client wins and the recent appointment of Laura Smith as digital PR director.

CARDIFF — Folk has made two appointments. Amy Martin has joined the agency as account director, working with clients including Veygo (part of the FTSE 100 Admiral Group), Atradius and the Welsh Government. She joins from dash cam brand, Nextbase, where she led the global PR team and oversaw campaigns to drive awareness and launch new products. Rhian Drummond joins the agency as senior creative having worked on award-winning public sector campaigns, including work for National Adoption Service Wales, Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.