Manning Selvage & Lee Appoints Nick Woods as Head of Food & Drink Division

Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L) today announced the appointment of Nick Woods as the agency’s new director of the Food & Drink division. Woods’ appointment is effective June 1 and he will be based in London.

Prior to joining MS&L, Woods was Director at Weber Shandwick, where he consulted across a portfolio of clients including Pernod Ricard UK and Yum Restaurants International. There he focused on providing senior client counsel, strategic insight and issues management, across domestic and trans-national accounts. His experience also includes roles at Consolidated Communications and Porter Novelli.

During the course of his career Woods has supported a broad range of sector- leading food and drink brands – including Johnnie Walker, Jacob’s Creek, Gordon’s, Chivas Regal and Heinz Ketchup - for major multinationals including: Diageo, Seagram and Heinz. In addition to his strong focus on food and drink clients, Woods has also worked for companies as diverse as Harley-Davidson, TfL, American Express, Gillette and British Airways.

“Nick is a great addition to the MS&L London team and we’re very pleased to have him on board,” said Stuart Wilson, CEO of MS&L London. “Not only does Nick have a strong track record in directing major food and drink accounts, but he brings a real entrepreneurial spirit and focus on new business. I am looking forward to working with him to grow our already significant food & drink client portfolio over the next 12 months.”   

Commenting on his appointment as head of Food & Drink, Woods said: “It’s a good time for me to join the MS&L team – the Food & Drink division has fantastic clients, great people and a track record of excellent work. I’m very excited to be building on this and working with Stuart and the rest of the Senior Management Team to continue the company’s successful growth.”

Woods replaces Bronwen Andrews, who has moved within MS&L to take up the European Director of New Business role. MS&L’s food and drink clients include: Beam International (Courvoisier, Maker’s Mark, Teacher’s); The Coca-Cola Company GB and Nestle Cereal Partners.  

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L is one of the world's leading global communications firms. Headquartered in New York, MS&L has 54 offices throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, as well as an extensive global affiliate network.  The agency meets the needs of global and local clients by providing best-in-class services in consumer marketing PR, healthcare PR, corporate communications and technology communications, as well as industry-leading work in digital communications.  MS&L won PRWeek's Best Use of Internet/New Media Award in both 2006 and 2007.

MS&L is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and NYSE: PUB), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 42,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe's activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com.

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