Public Relations Management

Diageo, the world's leading, spirits, wine and beer company, today announced a groundbreaking strategic alliance between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Ciroc vodka. Under the terms of the deal, Combs and Sean Combs Enterprises will take the lead on all brand management decisions for Ciroc, while sharing in the future profits of the growth of the brand. This exclusive US multi-year collaboration, which calls for a 50/50 profit split, is a first for the spirits industry and could be worth more than $100 million for Combs.


"Sean Combs has a proven track record of developing high-end brands and we expect his alliance with Ciroc to follow suit," said Debra Kelly-Ennis, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo North America. "We are confident that Sean and his team are the right partners to further enhance the luxury profile of Ciroc."


As part of the new alliance, Combs will take the lead on brand management decisions, including marketing, advertising, public relations, product placement and events.

Israel SEO Internet Marketing To Specialize In Real Estate

Jerusalem ----September 16...... Leyden Communications (Israel), Israel's most experienced and respected Internet Marketing, Internet PR and SEO (search engine optimization) organization has announced that it will expand it's Internet marketing and SEO activities in New York, Europe and Israel to include real estate. "Since 1995, Leyden Israel SEO Internet marketing has served many industries including public relations, advertising, hi-tech, Jewish non-profit, venture capital, b2b, jobs, employment, Israel governmental public affairs, consumer business, foods, tourism and travel, foreign markets, banks, commerce, telecommunications, special events, start-ups, investment, computers, Internet, education, medical, legal, health care, textiles, automotive, celebrities, entertainment, crisis communications, reputation management and real estate," said Joel Leyden, CEO of Leyden Communications (Israel).

Torch Today

Updated throughout the day, it's the Torch News Ticker with all the news and info that's not fit for print. Bookmark it every Monday! Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:00 p.m. - TNA management was pleased with last weekend's turn-out in Ohio for the house shows in Troy and Youngstown, continuing what they believe has been "nothing but strong experiences in 2008." Steven Godfrey, TNA's public relations manager, tells the Torch: "It's exciting to start the year with this kind of momentum for our live shows, because we feel like this will create a buzz for our pay per view events in Greenville and Norfolk, as well as more live events slated for the coming months." TNA has a three-night tour of New York in late February, and they will be announcing another series of live shows soon. 4:00 p.m. - NWA Notes: The schedule for the "Pro Wrestling Showcase" TV tapings in Las Vegas includes: Feb.

Probes into lecturer's indecent assault bid complete

Two official investigations into a former senior childcare lecturer convicted of attempted indecent assault have been completed, it emerged tonight.The gardaí have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions after its inquiry into Athlone Institute of Technology ex-lecturer Dr Niall McElwee.Separately, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said it is considering whether to publish its own probe into the circumstances surrounding the case.Dr McElwee resigned from the third-level college last year over his prosecution in the Netherlands of attempted indecent assault on two young women in an Amsterdam hotel room.Children's Minister Brendan Smith ordered an independent review of the the case last July while the gardaí were investigating if Dr McElwee broke sex laws in the Republic.Individuals are obliged under the Sexual Offenders Act 2001 to inform authorities here of any prosecution abroad for an offence also deemed criminal in Ireland.A garda spokesman said: "The investigation is complete and the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions."Separately, lawyers are to decide whether the HSE probe will be published after health chiefs receive the findings in the coming days.Independent management consultant Conal Devine - a former Director of Industrial Relations at the Irish Medical Organisation - was appointed to carry out the HSE inquiry last July.Child protection experts were to be brought in from outside the State to help Mr Devine with his investigation, it was announced at the time.The report is now understood to be concluded and will be handed to the Assistant National Director of Primary Community and Continuing Care (PCCC) services in the HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster Area before the end of the week.A HSE spokesman said its lawyers will study the findings before a decision is taken on whether or not to make them public."The HSE is committed to establishing the full facts of what information was available to the health services in relation to Dr McElwee," he said.A review inquiry team headed up by Mr Devine was charged with looking at concerns about child protection relating to the incident.It was expected to investigate:::Documents from State agencies, including the gardaí, government departments and Athlone IT relating to Dr McElwee and child protection issues.

Faked wildfires briefing costs US official his job

A US administration official has been left without a job after a fake press conference staged in response to the California wildfires.

John Philbin, who was chief of public relations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), held a televised news briefing last Tuesday at which questions were posed by junior agency staff, rather than journalists.

He had been due to take over as media chief for the US's top intelligence official yesterday, but he has lost his new job before even taking office, the New York Times reported. Reporters had been invited to the Fema press conference, but they were given just 15 minutes' notice and could only access the meeting by a telephone line, which allowed them to listen in but not ask questions.

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Fortis transformation reflected in new top management structures

Fortis will restructure its top management as of 1 January 2008.[1] The Executive Committee will be recomposed and responsibilities redistributed. A Business Executive Committee - which will replace the Fortis Management Committee - will be installed and will operate in closest collaboration with a Group Executive Committee. Taking into account the Fortis managers who have already taken up responsibilities within ABN AMRO, Fortis is convinced it now has the adequate management structure in place, not only to guarantee the successful integration of the acquired businesses, but also to develop Fortis as a whole.

1. The Group Executive Committee will consist of:

* Jean-Paul Votron, CEO and Executive Director (Audit reports directly to the CEO);

* Herman Verwilst, Deputy CEO and Executive Director (Human Resources, Public and External Affairs, Business Transformation Office report to the Deputy CEO);

* Gilbert Mittler, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Finance, Risk and General Counsel;

* Filip Dierckx, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Merchant Banking;

* Lex Kloosterman, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Private Banking, Asset Management, Investor Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility;

* Camille Fohl, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Retail Banking and for Global Branding and Communications;

* Peer van Harten, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Insurance and for Real Estate;

* Alain Deschênes, Member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Technology and Information Services, Operations, Facility, Purchasing and Process Improvement.

Letting consumers do the work

Spending less on television time, newspaper space or other media advertising has not always been a goal of many advertising agencies. Their compensation has usually depended, to some extent at least, on the size of an ad campaign, measured in the amount of media spending.

PROJECT THANKSGIVING

He and Davis set up the sound system on loan from First Baptist Church in the hallway outside the cafeteria.