MHP Communications announced two major hires to add to its senior team. Simon Packard joins the financial services practice as a senior director and Robin Invest joins the brand division as a director.

Packard comes from Bellier Financial, a public relations consultancy headquartered in the Netherlands, where as a director he opened the London office and built a practice of pan-European clients. A former reporter who for 20 years worked for Bloomberg in London and in Paris, Packard’s financial services experience includes advising private equity firms, trade associations and leading fund management platforms.

Packard will report to Mike Robb, MHP’s head of financial services, who has successfully led the division for the past 12 months. Under his leadership, the agency has won a string of new clients including a significant account with Nationwide.

Invest joins MHP’s award-winning Brand team from Sky where as a senior creative he was responsible for creating innovative PR and social concepts that delivered high-impact brand campaigns for Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Sky Mobile and Sky. Previous roles include positions at Shine Communications, Frank PR, Jackie Cooper PR and Hearst Magazines UK, where he developed disruptive brand campaigns for a wide range of clients including EA Games, NFL, Burger King, Esquire, Men’s Health and Good Housekeeping.

He will report to Gemma Irvine, MHP’s head of brand. Irvine was promoted last year to head the brand team who with Engine delivered the Missing Type campaign for NHS Blood and Transplant, which has received over 60 awards. Other notable campaigns include Shop Small for American Express, English Sparkling Pantone for Laithwaite’s, and the Aviva Community Fund.

Packer says, "It's a privilege to be joining a company that is going places. Financial services clients are looking for support from agencies with the scale and expertise to advise them across all of the specialist PR disciplines. The impressive MHP team has a strong reputation for responding to these needs."

Invest adds, “I’m thrilled to be joining MHP at such an exciting time for the agency. The brand team has a great reputation and a proven track record of delivering award-winning integrated, forward-looking campaigns. I’m looking forward to helping develop more creative work that delivers change for new and existing clients.”