Not the usual beast!

Bupa, the leading international health care company, has appointed Brando to deliver a consumer PR programme for its UK health business. Brando was awarded the account after a competitive pitch and will be developing a strong brand personality for Bupa that celebrates its wellness and healthcare credentials. Sue Moore, marketing and customer development director, Bupa UK membership, said: "We are delighted to welcome Brando on board. We were impressed with their strategic approach and knew straight away that their creative campaign was right for us." The Bupa account will be headed up by Brando Managing Director, Mandy Sharp. Brando will look to implement a mix of media relations, digital and social media activity over the next six months. Brando’s Mandy Sharp said: "This is a great win for the agency and a fantastic way to start the year. We’re looking forward to delivering a campaign with a strong digital element alongside creative news generation and social media. It’s great to be able to use Brando’s unique combination of skills and experience to bring such an established and respected brand to life."

London Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second biggest airport has appointed Brando to run a four month PR and experiential campaign over the summer.   Part of a major marketing campaign to increase retail spend at the airport during the peak summer months, Brando will be running an intensive media relations and event-led programme to remind holiday-makers about the great shopping and money savings available at the airport.   The account will be headed up by Brando’s Managing Director, Mandy Sharp, and one of the first jobs will be organising an exciting ‘Gatwick Fashion Week’ at the North Terminal with TV fashion presenter, Gok Wan confirmed as celebrity host for one of the days.     The experiential event will show-case retailers’ products through a series of glamorous fashion shows and holiday makers will be treated to hair, make-up and fashion makeovers from top stylist Kirsty Drury who has worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Rachel Stevens and Claudia Schiffer.   Brando joins forces with other top agencies including advertisers Naked, media planners MindShare and BTL agency DNX as part of the external marketing team for this project.   Mike Luddy, London Gatwick Airport Commercial Director, said: “We’re really looking forward to working with Brando over the next few months. Brando responded to the brief with creative, yet strategically sound and deliverable ideas.”   The activity will be supported with an extensive social media programme, run by David Cushman from Brando Social. 

Brando has won a Gold Award at The Institute of Sales Promotion Awards 2009 for its work on Paula, the children's dessert from Dr. Oetker. The agency won the 'Best Product Launch' category in conjunction with i2i Marketing, beating off stiff competition from big budget campaigns for Fiat 500 and Colgate Palmolive. It's been a good year for awards so far. We were a finalist at the EMEA Sabre Awards for our Sony Ericsson internal comms programme and are shortlisted for best internal magazine at the forthcoming CIPR Excellence Awards.

 MARS, one of the largest confectionery companies in the world, has appointed Brando to its UK Brand PR roster. Brando was awarded the business after a four-way pitch and will be working across Mars Chocolate brands including in the first instance, MALTESERS® and TWIX®. The Mars account will be headed up by Deputy Managing Director, Shelley Morrell.  One of Brando’s first jobs will be the launch of the MALTESERS® Daily Giggle campaign – a nationwide effort to get the country giggling and supported on-pack and via mobile, digital and PR.      

Brando hosted a 'Big Night In' event for Somerfield to show the outstanding cost savings that can be made by simply eating at home. The media were wined and dined with Somerfield food and drink at The Violin Factory, an exquisite and original home which featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs. They also enjoyed a series of 'eating in' scenarios such as the classic 'Romantic Night In' and 'Girls Night In'.