Andrew Bloch

Today is my last day at Frank as a full-time employee before I move into a new non-executive director role. Here's 20 things from my 20 years at Frank... linkedin.com/pulse/20-thing… #WelcomeToFrank #WTF

Karishma Vijay, You’re hired! Well done @karihsmua 🥂  A very worthy winner. Now the hard work begins. Check out kishkin.com For media and commercial enquiries contact @Blochstagram Email: ab@andrewbloch.co.uk

She just WON @bbcapprentice !

DONE DEAL 🚀 PCB Partners acts as exclusive sell-side partner to Wave on its sale to Opus Agency, backed by EagleTree Capital. I couldn’t be happier about this one. This deal was a personal one for me. Nic Cooper and I first met 20 years ago when we sold our respective agencies to Photon Group (later rebranded as Enero - ASX: EGG). It’s been quite a journey for both of us since, which makes this moment even more special. Wave is an incredible agency at the cutting edge of live and digital brand experience, and Opus Agency is a leading global experiential marketing business with BIG ambitions.  It marks an important milestone for The Opus Group, following EagleTree Capital’s recent investment, and signals continued momentum toward a more connected, globally capable business. 
Joining Opus Agency gives Wave a platform to scale across more markets, take on more complex global programmes, and create even greater value for the brands that trust them. Huge congratulations to Nic Cooper, Sian Thomas, Matt Phillips, Tony Barton and Marc Balhetchet as they embark on this exciting new chapter. Another great deal for the PCB Partners team 🚀 opusagency.com/article/opus-a…

@claudelittner Same! Not many of us can say that

What a joy😊 being involved from the very beginning 😃

Media Correction of the Day.

If Kanye truly wants redemption, it shouldn’t start on stage. It should start with genuine remorse and accountability. Cancel the shows. Step back. Do the work. Rebuild credibility. And then, and only then, think about reclaiming the spotlight.

Is all publicity, good publicity? I spoke to @BBCNewsbeat about Kanye headlining Wireless.

Wireless backs Kanye. But at what cost? Wireless Festival has made its call, and it’s a bold one: back Kanye to headline, despite the backlash. Festival boss Melvin Benn has framed it as a defence of his music over his personal views, acknowledging the comments he made were abhorrent but not cancelling the artist. Instead, he is offering a second chance. From a commercial standpoint, brands have already made their views clear. Sponsors like Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and Diageo have pulled out. Association matters. And while fans may not care, corporations absolutely do. Behind the scenes at Festival Republic, things will be intense: calls to partners, reassurances to stakeholders, deals being renegotiated. Sponsorship can account for up to 30% of festival revenue, easily £5m+ for an event like Wireless. That gap has to be filled somehow. Ticket prices may rise. Production could be scaled back. Expect a bigger push on VIP experiences, food, drinks, and merch to make up the shortfall and recover margins. Can Wireless survive without sponsors? Yes, but not without consequences. And that’s the bigger question: not “can they do it?” but “should they?” Because while most fans won’t care and will still turn up, reputation isn’t just about today, it’s about where you stand when the dust settles. This isn’t just a commercial decision. It’s a statement and a clear PR response - artistic freedom and audience demand over sponsor pressure and public backlash. Let’s be clear: Kanye’s past behaviour isn’t a one-off misstep. We’re talking about repeated anti-Semitic, racist, and pro-Nazi rhetoric. That’s not “controversial,” it’s dangerous. And while there’s been an apology, it was self-serving and transactional, a far cry from genuine accountability. Can you separate the art from the artist? In theory, maybe. In practice, it’s a lot harder. He performed in LA this weekend and showed no signs of remorse. Why should we expect anything different at Wireless? And what happens if he doubles down live and goes "death con 3 on Jewish people,” with a global audience watching? There’s a real risk here. This isn’t just about optics. It’s about platforming someone unpredictable, volatile, and hugely influential. Wireless has chosen artistic freedom and audience demand over public and commercial pressure. Time will tell if that was brave or short-sighted. If Kanye truly wants redemption, it shouldn’t start on stage. It should start with genuine remorse and accountability. Cancel the shows. Step back. Do the work. Rebuild credibility. And then, and only then, think about reclaiming the spotlight.

Official statement in response to other official statements. As I’ve maintained from the start - NOT a PR Stunt. This was something no agency could have planned for, but the reaction has been a masterclass in PR crisis management. #KitKat

How the KitKat heist turned into crisis PR gold. My thoughts in The Wall Street Journal. lnkd.in/eA4ETQdg

@Steve1871 No idea what you are talking about 🤐

@AndrewBloch I think it’s the work of someone we both know.

12 tons of KitKat bars stolen just before Easter. I am convinced this is going to be revealed as a PR stunt. The theft itself might be genuine, but this quote is too good not to have come from a PR. Whoever you are, take a bow. This is a PR masterclass unfolding before our eyes. At least, I think it is.

Meanwhile, a very expensive branding agency lies on a bed of cash, chuckling quietly to itself.

PR Pitch Wins and M&A Review for March on the PR Moment podcast:  Pitch Market 
Businesses are trading slightly better than expected, with relatively high confidence levels, resulting in a solid start to the year for many. However, the shorter month and half-term period disrupted momentum to some extent. Clients are taking longer to make decisions, leading to large pipelines as agencies await sign-off, which is creating a sense of a slow grind. There remains a gap between budgets and expectations, with clients often asking for more than is realistic. On a positive note, recruitment is becoming easier. As global events continue to unfold, many agencies are approaching Q2 with caution. Agencies need to continue to stay proactive, focus on organic growth, and avoid relying solely on new business opportunities. M&A 
The market is showing strong resilience despite global uncertainty, with increased deal volumes and high demand for specialised and tech-driven agencies. Buyers are maintaining a disciplined approach to valuations. UK agencies remain attractive to international buyers, particularly those from the US, driven by a desire to acquire specialised capabilities and data expertise. AI continues to be a major driver of activity, with investors actively targeting AI-enabled agencies. There is ongoing consolidation among holding groups, alongside “buy-and-build” strategies from mid-tier marketing groups and private equity firms looking to enhance their service offerings. PR is also becoming increasingly attractive as groups recognise the power of storytelling. Overall, niche agencies continue to outperform generalists in terms of buyer appeal. Listen here: prmoment.com/podcasts/the-p…

AI Personality of the Year 2026 is a global initiative celebrating the next generation of AI influencers, creators, and digital personalities, organized by OpenArt AI and Fanvue , with support from ElevenLabs Enter here - aipersonality.ai

I’m 79 today and I’ve decided to join TikTok. You can follow me at @lord_sugar" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">tiktok.com/@lord_sugar

Probably the only time I’ll ever be on stage with Michael McIntyre.  At the Habs Dragons’ Den Grand Final celebrating 10 years of the initiative, students from Habs Boys and Habs Girls pitched their business ideas to a panel of Dragons including comedian Michael McIntyre,  tech entrepreneur Alex Depledge and Lord Sugar’s adviser on The Apprentice, Tim Campbell. TV and radio presenter Sonali Shah hosted the competition. Huge congrats to Team EcoBuild who came out on top.

February PR Pitch and M&A Review on the PRmoment podcast: Overview of the PR Pitch Market in February: The pitch market in February was steadier and more positive than anticipated. Agencies are starting the year on a firmer footing compared to the mood at the end of last year. While new business is moving and there are big wins, clients are taking slightly longer to make decisions, which stretches pipelines but does not stop them outright. - Edelman win SXSW London, Ikos Group and Singapore Tourist Board. - Words + Pixels win Enthesa, Aurora and Comply Cube. - Black Diamond win Zurich Tourism. - Smoking Gun win Blue Light Card. - Brazen win Tesco Insurance. - Tangerine win Villeroy & Boch. - The Academy win Shokz and Edgewear Personal Care. - Fleet Street win Suntory Beverage. - Splendid win Rowntree Lollies. - PR Agency One win Cake Box. - W's win Bayer and Virgin Atlantic. - Hope & Glory ITV and Global's Birthday Draw and Asics. - Earnies win Domino's project. - Hatch win Ivy Restaurant Group project. - John Doe win Meta's Reality Labs. Summary of Public Relations M&A Activity: Agency M&A is currently booming. Buyers are arriving from all directions, including private equity and strategic buyers. Demand is outstripping supply, particularly for agencies with an enterprise value around the £20 million mark. Competition at the sub-£20 million enterprise value is driving up prices and deal velocity, partly due to a rise in entrepreneurial buyers using finance to execute buy and build strategies. Although AI is reshaping the industry, buyers are becoming more confident, recognizing that agencies leveraging AI intelligently are commanding big premium multiples. Buyers are seeking clarity regarding an agency's point of differentiation, but revenue dips are not necessarily deal killers if the business shows strong normalized profitability and strategic fit. - WPP's Restructure/Merger Discussion: WPP's move sees a shift from a collection of independent agencies into a single unified business, creating four core units (media, creative, production, and enterprise solutions) to simplify organizational complexity. PR brands will sit under WPP Creative, with a focus on a data-first model, which could enhance efficiency and collaboration. However, the risk remains that PR might lose its independence or become a support function for advertising. The move is a more intelligent solution than simple consolidation, reflecting WPP's forward-facing view on market changes like AI and platforms. The process is phased over three years, and the announcement has been well communicated. - Residence’s acquire of OK Cool. - Future Group acquire Alfred's assets. - KINC acquire Lobby PR. - Havas's acquire a stake in Acento Public Affairs. - Source Code acquire Rally Point. AAR, PCB Partners, PRmoment, Andrew Bloch & Associates, Ben Smith lnkd.in/eSc6RTQm

Blimey...there's a lot of agencies out there, so to be named one of the Top 100 in the World after less than two years is pretty mega. provokemedia.com/events-awards/…