Polley had previously spent five years as Director for Southern Africa for the Africa Practice and arrives at College Hill with significant experience of working with industry players across the natural resources, ICT and FMCG sectors, as well as institutions such as the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

Commenting on her appointment, Tim Fallon said:

'I'm delighted that someone of Kim's background is joining our growing Global Corporate Practice. Based on College Hill's already significant presence and experience in South African Capital Markets, Kim's appointment as our first ever Head of Corporate for South Africa is testament to both the opportunity that exists, and the ambition we have to develop a broad world class business communications offer in southern Africa and beyond.”

Nick Williams also stated:

“Kim’s appointment brings leadership to our established and developing corporate communications practice in South Africa. Over recent years, we have been building out our business from pure capital markets communications to an holistic range of complimentary services in corporate reputation, employee engagement and public affairs. Kim’s huge experience in broad stakeholder communications adds considerable firepower as we seek to deliver what clients need and an integrated approach to communications and reputation across all areas of society as well as the business and political worlds.”

Kim Polley commented:

“For the last five years, I have had the enormous privilege of working with multinationals and public sector institutions that are serious about Africa. I have helped them identify engagement strategies, build relationships and communicate successfully through the ups and the downs of an increasingly complex and dynamic stakeholder environment.  I am thrilled to be bringing these skills to College Hill, an organization with a sterling reputation in the international business community and an ambitious outlook for the continent.”

In his new role, Damian will be working closely with Paul Downes, CEO of College Hill Capital Markets, in implementing and managing the business’s further growth and development, which in turn is part of College Group’s overall international expansion strategy. The Capital Markets business is the largest operation within College Group, which itself is continuing to enjoy strong growth and is currently seeking a number of additional strategic acquisitions globally.

Commenting on the appointment, College Group’s Chief Executive, Richard Nichols, said:

“We are delighted that Damian is joining us. He has a first class reputation as a journalist and Editor and his appointment adds a new edge to our profile and positioning. It is also indicative of the direction in which we are progressing as we are joined by further high level advisers and teams who can make a similarly significant impact and contribution toward realising our strategic objectives.”

Paul Downes said:

“Damian has enjoyed a highly successful career in the media during which he has become one of the best regarded Business Editors and journalists of his generation. He has had a front row seat at all of the major corporate and financial events of the past 20 years or so, including as a senior commentator on the financial crisis, and his experience, insights and the connections he has accumulated put him in a unique position from which to enter the advisory business. I very much look forward to working closely with him in capitalising on our growth and in developing the significant opportunities we see ahead.”

Damian Reece said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career in journalism and have had the privilege of working at some great publications, but I am very excited by the opportunity to move into the advisory world with College Group at this point in its evolution.

“The firm is clearly well positioned for further growth and the achievement of its objective to become a leading global advisory firm. It’s a compelling proposition and especially so given the combination of financial PR with Public Affairs and other relevant services that it offers, and because it is a well- established business platform on which to build with strong financial backing in place for the further acquisitions of talent and businesses. I look forward to working closely with Paul and with my new colleagues across the Group in realising the opportunities ahead of us.”

Tim Fallon, Managing Partner of College Hill's Global Corporate Practice commented -

"I'm delighted someone of Tali's calibre and background has chosen to join College Hill. She brings with her a wealth of experience in managing complex international client assignments, as well as an enviable reputation in media handling and broadcast management. These skill sets, coupled with a deep knowledge of the technology sector, make her a perfect fit for our growing and developing business and we're incredibly excited to have her join us."

Tali Kramer also commented -

"I am excited to join College Hill at a time where the company is flourishing.  I am looking forward to working with the group of inspiring individuals that make up the team and I know it will be a motivating and rewarding journey.”

• Consolidates growing presence in Russia and CIS

• Shared Value’s business to be integrated into College Hill’s Capital Markets

• Third acquisition following backing by Vitruvian Partners LLP

College Group, one of the fastest growing international business communications consultancy groups, has today agreed to acquire the investor relations team and business of Shared Value in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Low Countries and Eastern Europe. 

The Shared Value team, led by Mark Walter and Galyna Kulachek, together with their clients, join the College Hill Capital Markets division of College Group.

Shared Value was formed in 1999 as a specialist investor and public relations consultancy focused on Northern Europe, Russia and CIS with the aim of serving the capital markets needs of multi-listed high growth companies.   College Hill is committed to building its Russia and CIS business which focuses on providing strategic communication and reputation management advice, including in connection with capital raising and M&A transactions.

College Hill is one of the leading consultancies in the region advising a number of FTSE listed and unlisted companies, GDR issuers and private businesses, and handling listings and IPOs of companies from Russia and CIS.   The acquisition will see an enlarged Russia team now advising over 25 businesses across Russia and CIS.

Richard Nichols, Chief Executive of College Group, commented:

“Our aim is to become the leading global Capital Markets communications advisory firm of choice for corporations and financial institutions alike. With that in mind, we are continuing to seek the right talent and businesses to add to our established “footprint” in Europe, Africa and Asia in support of this underlying objective. We are delighted to welcome the Shared Value team and their clients to College Group and look forward to building on the very strong Russian and CIS markets positioning that we enjoy and capitalising on the many other expansion opportunities we see ahead.”

Paul Downes, Chief Executive of College Hill Capital Markets, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome the Shared Value team and business to College Group and specifically to College Hill.  We have experienced a strong growth from Russia over the past couple of years and work with an increasing number of listed Russian and CIS companies.  The acquisition reflects our commitment to the Russian and CIS markets and represents another important step forward in our broader growth strategy.”

Andrew Best, Founder and Managing Partner of Shared Value commented:

“College Group offers the team an excellent platform on which to build the business we have developed in Russia and the CIS. The newly combined business has a real depth of knowledge and experience and offers a market leading service to clients based in or doing business within Russia and the CIS.”

In Europe, the team has been commissioned by France-based Nanobiotix, Austria-based Hookipa Biotech, and Germany-based AiCuris.
• Paris-based Nanobiotix (Euronext: NANO) is a nanomedicine company dedicated to the development of new treatments for cancer. Listed on Euronext in 2012, it has retained College Hill to support its financial and corporate communications internationally.
• Hookipa Biotech, a venture-backed company developing a new class of innovative prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, has sought input from College Hill to support its corporate communications needs in particular on its corporate identity and website together with media relations outreach.
• AiCuris is a private company focused exclusively on the discovery, research and development of novel antiviral and antibacterial agents for the treatment of severe and potentially life-threatening infectious diseases based around Bayer's portfolio of antiviral and antibacterial R&D programs, compounds and intellectual property. College Hill has supported media outreach on a project basis.
 

From Australia, new clients include ASX-listed Antisense Therapeutics as well as Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) portfolio companies, Polyactiva and Helmedix.
• Antisense Therapeutics (ASX: ANP) is a publicly traded pharmaceutical drug discovery and development company whose mission is to create, develop and commercialise novel antisense therapeutics. College Hill is supporting its financial communications through an investor/analyst/media roadshow in London.
• Melbourne-headquartered Polyactiva has engaged College Hill Life Sciences to support media relations outreach around its drug delivery technology. It uses a unique drug-polymer conjugate technology to enable site specific drug delivery from medical device components, such as implants, films or fibres.
• Helmedix, a new start up based on technology from the ithree institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), has chosen College Hill to design its logo and to manage its first news release announcing its seed financing. It is developing novel therapies for autoimmune diseases based on an immune-modulating peptide derived from a helminth parasite.

“Many commentators have suggested that 2013 will be a good year for biotech companies and we are delighted to have been chosen by these new clients to support them in using brand building and business communications to support value creation”, said Sue Charles, Managing Partner at College Hill Life Sciences.

Tim has over 30 years’ experience in the City as a stockbroker and investment banker. He worked at Panmure Gordon for over 20 years and was Chief Executive for eight years. He was previously with Hoare Govett. Tim has advised many companies across a wide range of sectors and sizes from FTSE 100 to fast growing AIM stocks.

The appointment follows a period of considerable success for the Capital Markets and a busy 2012 and encouraging pipeline for 2013.

Paul Downes, the CEO of College Hill Capital Markets said:
“We are delighted that Tim Linacre has accepted our invitation to be a Senior Adviser to the business. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts and is a highly regarded trusted adviser to companies in the London market. This appointment reinforces the momentum we are seeing in the business. I and my colleagues look forward to working with Tim.”

Tim Linacre said:
“College Hill are a first-class firm with an excellent reputation, creative people, and a real desire to succeed through helping their clients. Their client-driven philosophy  is absolutely in accord with the way I think business should be done. The broader College Group has an impressive offering as an Integrated Business Communications Consultancy. I very much look forward to working with the team to further strengthen and broaden the business.”

 

The Life Sciences team of College Hill, part of the international business communications consultancy, College Group, has strengthened and expanded its Investors Relations and Financial PR offering with the appointment of Veronica Sellar as Partner.

Veronica joins with 20 years’ experience in finance and communications. Most recently she was based in the USA working as a consultant and also as Communications Business Partner for AstraZeneca plc. Prior to this she gained in house communications experience as Head of Communications for Xenova plc (listed in the UK and USA) as well as in PR/IR consultancy. Before her career in communications, she spent six years in equity sales. Veronica has a BSc in Biology with Management and an MBA from Imperial College London.

College Hill Life Sciences provides a full service offering across corporate, marketing, financial and healthcare communications. It has an integrated specialist life sciences design team and provides international reach through life science offices in London, Manchester, Munich, Melbourne, Sydney and Boston. It currently represents some 50 life sciences companies globally, including 20 listed companies traded on exchanges in the UK, Germany, Australia and the USA.

Commenting on the expansion, Sue Charles, Managing Partner, Life Sciences said: "Veronica’s experience in Europe and the USA will enhance our ability to support clients globally. Her in-depth knowledge of the sector and considerable skills and expertise further enhances our service offering.”

“The team at College Hill work with some of the most exciting and dynamic companies in the Life Sciences sector and I am enthusiastic to be playing a part in expanding its client base further” said Veronica, adding “Being able to support clients in their outreach to shareholders in an integrated way across multiple markets is important to presenting a congruent story for our clients.”

As Partner, Veronica joins the Life Sciences Senior Executive team, which also includes Managing Partner Sue Charles and Partners Dr Lynne Trowbridge, Melanie Toyne Sewell and Chris Fisher.
 

- Expands operations in Germany and broadens Munich base

- Haubrok to be integrated into Stockheim Media strengthening the Group's European presence

College Group announces its acquisition in Germany of Haubrok Investor Relations-Beratung. The Company will be integrated with the Group’s German operation Stockheim Media, managed by Managing Partners, Ulrich Stockheim and Carsten Böhme.

Haubrok has built a strong track record and reputation and since 1990, not least in handling over 50 IPOs. The acquisition will complement the financial and corporate services currently provided by Stockheim Media and will further enhance the Company’s presence in the country with a new office in Munich (the other offices being Cologne and Frankfurt) and the number of employees increasing to 45. College Hill’s Life Sciences German team will also move from their current base in Munich into the new office.

Richard Nichols, Chief Executive of College Group, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome the Haubrok team and business to College Group and specifically to Stockheim Media. This acquisition is an important element in our growth strategy and reflects our plans for further acquisitions of specialist businesses in key global financial centres and markets. In the Mergermarket M&A league tables, we were ranked 5th in Europe over the most recent 2012 Q1-3 period.”

Ulrich Stockheim, Managing Partner of College Group and Stockheim Media said:

“This step is of benefit to our clients first and foremost. We are now able to offer an even broader spectrum of experience and specialists with a confident command of issues in and around the capital markets, business and finance.

The acquisition of Haubrok Investor Relations and our new Munich office represent the realisation of a key stage in our strategic development and growth, which will include further expansion in continental Europe.”

Axel Haubrok, CEO of Haubrok AG said:

"Haubrok Investor Relations looks forward to joining and working with College Group, a company that is internationally respected, and to providing our clients with an extended range of services and expertise that this union brings. Clients of Haubrok AG for whom we manage shareholder meetings will not be affected."

Kcell is Kazakhstan’s leading provider of mobile telecommunications services by market share in terms of revenue and subscribers.   It has operated since 1998 and has approximately 12.7 million subscribers.   

Tony Friend, Managing Partner, College Hill said, “We are delighted to be working with Kcell at this exciting time in the Company’s evolution.   It is a significant milestone for the company which has for the past 14 years led the formation and development of mobile telephony in Kazakhstan.”

The College Hill team consists of Leonid Fink, Kay Larsen and Tony Friend.