THE PUBLIC relations guru who unexpectedly quit his job with a Southampton agency has launched a rival business.

The former head of the Remarkable agency's seven strong PR department, Grant Woodall has re-emerged at Southampton property planning consultancy Nex Communications to launch a new marketing arm.

Nex is the company founded by David Abrahams, one-time partner of Remarkable agency founder Stephen Pomeroy. The pair co-owned city agency GMX before a business disagreement sent them their separate ways in 2005.

Now he has hired Grant who also had a "difference of opinion" with Mr Pomeroy and surprised the city's PR industry in November by suddenly quitting Remarkable.

Until now a specialist political and community consultation agency with 40 property industry clients, Brunswick Place based Nex is branching out into public relations, new media and marketing.

The new division is also looking for business outside Nex's property heartland, targeting professional services, leisure and lifestyle businesses. Existing Nex clients include homebuilders McCarthy & Stone and George Wimpey as well as high street names Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.

Grant, 36, who now heads a three-strong team, said: "I think there's a lot of business to be had in Southampton. I know that there's a strong appetite for consultancy here and I'm looking forward to taking up the challenge with my team."

David Abraham said: "Since its launch, the company has grown rapidly and we have reached a stage where we are keen to broaden our communication services."