New era for The Blue Cross as Head of Comms sought

The Blue Cross, one of the UK’s leading animal welfare charities, is seeking a new head of communications after the resignation of incumbent, Dan Tickle. Tickle has led the charity’s PR, online, publications and advertising activities for the last six years and leaves at the end of July to become Chief Executive of the No Smoking Day campaign.

Reporting to Blue Cross marketing and fundraising director, Tony Samuel, the new head of communications will lead the charity’s 14-strong communications team in developing its profile through media relations, advertising, online, publications and events initiatives. The closing date for applications is Thursday 7 June.

Dan Tickle, Blue Cross head of communications, said: "The past six years have been the most challenging and also the most rewarding of my working life. I'm so proud of the work of the Blue Cross comms team in delivering the sustained rise in awareness we've seen over that period, and in embracing the new techniques and new technologies that have enabled us to reach a much wider audience with our message of responsible animal ownership."

The announcement follows a period of staff changes within the Blue Cross communications team, starting with the appointment of new senior press officer Laura Dobson in January this year. Dobson was formerly part of the media teams at Network Rail and Transport for London. Since January, she has recruited two new press officers to the Blue Cross media team - resulting in an entirely new look for the charity’s media operations.

Laura Dobson MCIPR, senior press officer at The Blue Cross, said: "This is a very exciting time for The Blue Cross. After 110 years of caring for needy animals, our charitable services are reaching more and more people and pets every year. We are looking to extend this reach even further by expanding our core activities, making significant online developments and launching our new advertising campaign to target a new generation of pet lovers."

The Blue Cross operates 11 small animal adoption centres, three equine rehabilitation centres and four veterinary hospitals nationwide. It also provides an essential service in educating pet owners, with more than 80 free leaflets about different aspects of pet care available to download from www.AllAboutPets.org.uk.

The Blue Cross produces in-house a supporter magazine, Blueprint, and a monthly e-newsletter, Pawprint, which is distributed to 83,000 online supporters. Earlier this year the charity launched its first ‘petcast’ featuring celebrity supporter Martin Freeman. Other significant online developments will follow later this year.

Last month, The Blue Cross launched a national advertising campaign with the strapline: ‘All in the name of love’. The new press ads, which aim to raise the charity’s profile amongst the nation’s pet lovers, feature the true stories of three animals helped by The Blue Cross. They will run throughout the summer in titles including the Telegraph, the Mail, the Express, Reader’s Digest and Radio Times.

Media contact: Laura Dobson
Direct line: 0207 932 4065
Mobile: 07917132698

Notes to Editors

· Images are available on request

· Other new arrivals to the Blue Cross communications team are:

- Nicole McKendry, senior events officer, who joined in January 2007

- Louise Lee, press officer (centres and hospitals), who joined in March 2007

- Ziela Haider, press officer (marketing and fundraising), who joined in May 2007

· Blue Cross ‘petcasts’ featuring actor Martin Freeman and TV vet Joe Inglis can be downloaded from www.bluecross.org.uk/petcasts.

· The new press ads, designed and produced by WWAV Rapp Collins, are available to view at www.bluecross.org.uk/love.

· The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it re-homes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.