New force in public relations created. In the UK the current Trimedia and Grayling businesses will be combined to create a business with excess of £15m of revenues and over 220 staff with offices across the UK and Ireland.
[UKPRwire, Mon Oct 05 2009] A management structure for the ‘new’ Grayling – which is being formed from the merger of Grayling, Trimedia and Mmd – is announced today. Huntsworth, the holding company of the three businesses, recently unveiled its plans to create a global public relations, public affairs and investor relations business with offices in 65 locations worldwide by bringing together the three companies.
UK: In the UK the current Trimedia and Grayling businesses will be combined to create a business with excess of £15m of revenues and over 220 staff with offices across the UK and Ireland.
Vivien Hepworth, currently Chairman of Grayling UK, becomes Chairman of the UK Public Relations & Public Affairs businesses. Loretta Tobin, currently CEO of Trimedia UK, becomes CEO of the merged UK Public Relations businesses. Tanya Joseph continues as MD Public Affairs, UK; a role she held in the business pre-merger.
Western Europe: Alfred Autischer will become Managing Director, Western Europe, with responsibility for Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. He was formerly Deputy CEO of Trimedia.
Central & Eastern & South-Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries: Chris Dobson, previously CEO Mmd and with a decade of experience in this region, becomes MD here. Chris will be supported by Deputy MD Stephen Lock who has specific responsibility for the expanding markets of Turkey, Russia and other former Soviet states.
Brussels: In Brussels the Grayling and Trimedia businesses are being merged and co-located. Russell Patten, currently head of Grayling Public Affairs in Brussels, becomes CEO of the combined business and Lieven Stas, who currently runs Trimedia in Belgium, becomes COO with responsibility for the Public Relations team.
Asia Pacific: Chris Davies will continue to run Grayling’s network in Asia reporting directly to Nigel Kennedy, who, as previously announced becomes Deputy Chairman. Nigel also continues to have responsibility for RS Live, the company’s events business.
US: Michael Murphy, Group CEO, takes overall responsibility for the growth plans in this region supported by existing management.
Public Affairs: The growth of Grayling’s already strong Public Affairs capabilities across Europe and the US will be a priority for the new company and Vivien Hepworth will become Global Head of Public Affairs leading a new PA Practice Board.
Global business: To support the growth of global and international business James Acheson-Gray, currently head of Grayling UK Public Relations, has been appointed Managing Director, International Business.
Chief Operating Officer: Rav Singh, previously CFO of Mmd, has been appointed COO of the new, combined company.
Commenting on the management changes, Michael Murphy, CEO of Grayling, said: “These changes bring together a top team from all three companies. This merger is about capitalising on an opportunity to create a new style of global public relations and public affairs company that is fit for the 21st Century.
”What has been so encouraging in the past few weeks is to see at first hand the strength of the professional and personal links that our top team already enjoy, as well as the number of clients we share. I’m confident that this will allow us to bring the three companies together in the weeks ahead in a very seamless and natural way and allow us to create a truly international culture which will set us apart.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Grayling: In August 2009, parent company Huntsworth plc announced its intention to merge Grayling, Trimedia and Mmd to form one global Public Relations and Public Affairs consultancy. The new company will carry the Grayling name from January 01, 2010 and will become the world’s third largest independent Public Relations and Public Affairs firm. It has 830 staff, revenues in excess of €80 million and offices in 65 locations around the world. www.thenewgrayling.com
For further media information please contact: Switchboard: +44 (0) 20 7224 8778 Email: michael.murphy@grayling.com
