B&Q starts 2014 with two new agencies - WCRS and Good Relations - as well as the appointment of a new Director of Brand Communications.

B&Q, the nation's leading home improvement retailer, starts the year with a new brand management team and two new agencies with the scope to deliver integrated marketing and communications solutions for the brand and the range of branded products and services.  With a total marcomms spend of over £50 million across all channels, WCRS and Good Relations will work into the management team to shape brand reputation and increase customer engagement.

Amanda Walker joined B&Q on 13th January in the new role of Director of Brand Communications, responsible for advertising and digital.

Amanda has a breadth of experience with a career path covering FMCG and Financial Services brands, most recently as Marketing Director for Churchill Insurance at Direct Line Group.

Chris Moss, Customer and Marketing Director, said: "B&Q has an incredible library of stories to tell.  Up and down every aisle in every store are stories about innovation in product creation and supply chain sourcing, feats of environmental achievement that are truly market leading and human stories about our people and the partners we work with.  We are strengthening our team and have appointed agencies to help us uncover these stories, package them and engage with our customers and stakeholders in increasingly creative and innovative ways.  I am delighted to welcome Amanda to the team as Director of Brand Communications. We're excited about these new appointments in WCRS and Good Relations, and are looking forward to what 2014 has to offer.'

WCRS Chief Executive Matt Edwards, who led the original WCRS pitch, said:  "There could be no better way to start 2014 than with a new, ambitious client asking for stand-out creative work."

Richard Moss, Managing Director Good Relations Brand Communications added: "We are hugely excited to be working with such an ambitious client, shaping the future stories told and unlocking the potential of this iconic retail brand ".

WCRS will start work at the beginning of February as B&Qs above-the-line Creative agency, taking over from the incumbent Karmarama.

Good Relations starts in January and is replacing ZPR.  The remit includes all brand and product communications across all earned media channels.  The team will be led by Consumer Director Claire Curran with a national team based in London, and regional offices across the UK.

MEC remains as media agency.

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