New Agency Launch Reunites Senior PR Team

A new public relations and social media agency in Leeds has reunited three of the region’s most experienced and well-known PR figures.

Leeds (I-Newswire) May 16, 2012 - Aberfield Communications has been set up by Phil Reed, former managing partner at Brass PR. The five-strong launch team includes the former head of Brass PR, Tim Downs, and their ex-Brass colleague Nina Hands.

Downs joins as a director of the business, and Hands as a senior consultant.

The new agency – based in Kirkstall, Leeds – will offer a full range of PR and social media services, as well as crisis communications and an in-house media training capability.

Aberfield brings together the creativity and experience behind many award-winning national and regional PR campaigns for clients including Littlewoods Pools, Pets at Home, ATOC, NG Bailey, Yorkshire Tourist Board, the National Apprenticeship Service and Young’s Seafood.

Phil Reed, who had been on ‘garden leave’ for the past 12 months after resigning from the Brass board, has worked in PR for over 20 years, with previous senior positions at Asda and global agency Porter Novelli, as well as in the financial services sector. He is also a former regional and local newspaper journalist.

Tim Downs has 14 years’ journalism and PR experience in Manchester and Leeds, including Cavendish Press and Communique PR, before joining Brass, which he left last month.

Nina Hands has 10 years’ PR experience, including at agencies Golley Slater and Brass, as well as at the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The initial team is completed by recent Leeds Metropolitan University PR graduate Hannah Shanks, and by finance director Sandra Reed.

Phil Reed said: “I think this must be one of the region’s most significant PR start-ups for many years, given the seniority and calibre of the team.

“There’s definitely room in the region for a PR agency that does things a little differently, one that focuses on how you positively influence an audience rather than simply communicating at it.”

Reed added that the agency would be looking to work closely with some of the region’s other marketing specialists, particularly in the design, digital and research sectors.

“We don’t want to be all things to all clients,” he said. “By working in partnership with a small group of creative agencies and freelancers, we will be able to provide clients with much more effective solutions.”

If you would like to learn more about the services that Aberfield offers go to http://www.aberfield.com/ or follow us on Twitter @aberfieldpr or on Google+ at http://gplus.to/AberfieldPR

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For further information please Phil Reed/ Tim Downs / Nina Hands on 0113 357 2070 or email: phil.reed@aberfield.com, tim.downs@aberfield.com or nina.hands@aberfield.com