Business on the Move: Dunkin' Donuts, Hotwire, Blanx, and more

Du, a UAE-based telecommunications company, has appointed TBWA\RAAD as its new creative agency-of-record following a competitive pitch.

It is the first time the account has changed hands since the brand launched in 2006, and TBWA\RAAD will take responsibility for the planning, creation and implementation of integrated communications strategies for Du across the UAE.

Singapore telco Starhub has ended its relationship with DDB and appointed independent agency Blk J. The agency was founded in 2016 by former employees of DDB.

Property management company Hostmaker has appointed Forever Beta as its global lead creative agency. The agency has awarded a retainer agreement including responsibility for developing and delivering communications strategies and campaigns around the world.

Online travel site Hotwire has announced its selection of FCB West as its creative agency-of-record after a full media, creative and public relations review. FCB West will be responsible for Hotwire’s brand repositioning and strategy, concept development and integrated campaign execution.

PR agency Dimoso has been appointed by Paris Retail Week to handle the event's UK media outreach for 2018. The agency will work alongside French PR incumbent Oxygen to raise awareness of the event, which takes place in September.

Leeds-based agency Brawl has been selected by The Jockey Club, the largest commercial horseracing organisation in the UK, to provide content for an app for racegoers. The app will serve as a mobile ticket to events and venues and will contain entertainment and data content for customers.

Teeth whitener brand Blanx has rejoined Label PR's client roster, with the agency taking an expanded brief including media relations and events for the Italian firm. Label has been tasked with raising awareness of the brand in the UK.

Promote PR has been appointed by EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise. Promote's brief for EMD will include media relations and awareness-raising activities.

Reviews

Family holiday brand Butlin's has begun the search for a new agency, as it strives to re-invent the British seaside break. Haystack will manage the agency search and pitch process on behalf of Butlin's.

Tourism Australia is on the hunt for a brand and creative agency partner to help develop its strategic and creative direction. The organisation has issued an open call for an agency that "can provide a tailored global agency operating model."

Launches

Zaid Al-Zaidy and Nic Ost, formerly partners of creative agency Above+Beyond, have announced the launch of an independent creative group, The Beyond Collective.

The group will function as a micro-network of specialist companies across the worlds of film, music, brand, media, PR, content production and advertising.

UK PR firm Mason Williams has announced the launch of a new division within the company. The Brands2UK division will combine the agency's specialist brand expertise across its roster of international clients.

We Are Social has announced the launch of We Are Social Studios, a production company specialising in content creation for social platforms. The new studio will launch initially in the UK, France, Italy and Germany.

Acquisitions

Riley Hayes has acquired branding agency Triage. The company was founded in 2016 as a brand consultancy, and Riley Hayes has said that Triage's addition will provide increased strategic capabilities for the firm.