Agency appoints PR specialist who fled war-torn Ukraine

PR and communications agency Nielsen McAllister has appointed a new specialist, who arrived in the UK earlier this year after fleeing her home in war-torn Ukraine.

Alona Vvedenska has joined the Derby firm as account and content support executive.

In March, Alona, along with her 13-year-old son, fled Kyiv on an evacuation train, arriving in the UK as part of the Homes for Ukrainians scheme.

As a journalist, author of articles, and editor of national Ukrainian periodicals, Alona wanted to get back to work and use her expertise.

Her sponsor, Derby businessman Nino Simone, contacted Nielsen McAllister, which was looking for a content specialist to support its rapid growth.

Simon Wildash, director of Nielsen McAllister, said: “We were already recruiting and struggling to find someone with the right set of skills to support new and existing clients.

“After meeting Alona, it was obvious she would be an asset to the team – and, of course, it feels amazing to be able to help someone in Alona’s circumstances.”

Alona has more than 16 years of background working in PR, supporting international clients such as Rockwool and Siemens with market launches and press engagement.

As journalist and editor, she has conducted interviews with celebrities and politicians, and has been responsible for developing magazines from front cover to back.

Alona said: “The experience of war is something that is incredibly difficult to put into words.

“Everything that seems impossible or unbearable to us in peacetime becomes part of everyday life.

“It’s a state where you can’t feel normal, but the pain is just hellish.

“I am, therefore, heartily grateful to the UK and my new colleagues for the opportunity to live and work here.

“I am very happy to be a part of the Nielsen McAllister team and it’s helping me to achieve a degree of stability during such turbulent times.”