Tag: PR agency

Singapore – Public relations consultancy Elliot & Co. has recently secured a slew of new corporate client wins in Singapore, including Colt Technology Services, UOL Group Limited, Employment Hero, and Wee Hur Holdings Ltd. 

Elliot & Co.’s appointment as the PR agency partner for these companies reinforces its commitment to delivering impactful, results-oriented communications solutions while solidifying its reputation as a trusted advisor across various sectors.

These new appointments come on the heels of the agency’s strategic leadership hires earlier this year, marking a pivotal phase in its 8-year journey. This new strategic direction encompasses both large-scale companies and early-to-mid-stage startups seeking unique storytelling opportunities for their businesses in Singapore and the region.

Leading the agency’s pivotal shift is its senior leadership team, headed by managing director Mayda Jutahkiti. With 20 years of PR agency experience, Jutahkiti excels at shaping strategies and ensuring client satisfaction across various industries.

Joining Jutahkiti are account director Jayeeta Mazumder, who brings a 15-year career in journalism and corporate communications to deliver compelling storytelling and media strategies, and partnerships director Vanessa Wan, an integral part of Elliot & Co.’s journey, who brings a wealth of experience in the consumer and lifestyle space with her creative, solution-centric approach to campaigns.

Speaking on the new partnership, Jutahkiti said, “I am heartened that these industry leaders have placed their trust in us to drive their messaging and develop and amplify their stories. We pride ourselves on delivering creative and compelling PR narratives, and this has demonstrably benefited the startup landscape since our inception. It is a natural progression for us to extend our influence into the corporate and strategic communications space that is teeming with yet-to-be-told stories.” 

Meanwhile, Serene Cheng, deputy general manager (group marketing communications) at UOL Group Ltd., said, “Partnering with Elliot & Co. for our campaigns this year marks the beginning of an exciting journey for us at UOL Malls. With their collaborative approach and expertise, we are excited about the potential this partnership holds.”

Shereen G., PR and communications lead for SEA at Employment Hero, also shared, “Elliot’s impressive track record in supporting enterprises in the region aligns perfectly with our goals. Their expertise not only strengthens our PR initiatives but also expands our market presence in Singapore and Malaysia, enhancing our brand visibility.” 

“We believe in growing together and creating a win-win situation with great chemistry for amazing results. Elliot effectively connects us with our target audience and boosts our industry credibility, highlighting the strategic importance of this partnership. Employment Hero’s vision of making employment easier and more valuable for everyone resonates with Elliot’s approach, further emphasising this collaboration’s potential,” she added. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – PR agency Mutant has announced the appointment of Renny Rengganis and Charmaine Goh as directors in Indonesia and Malaysia, respectively, growing the agency’s leadership team and capabilities across the region.

These appointments come with Mutant’s growth of its regional headcount from 31 to 50 in the past year, driving the need for fresh senior veterans to lead its growing team.

Rengganis joins Mutant Indonesia with 17 years of experience, having previously led successful communication campaigns for brands such as X (formerly Twitter), Smartfren Telecom, Frisian Flag, and Unilever Citra Body Lotion.

Goh on the other hand, brings over a decade of experience to Mutant Malaysia, having worked with global brands, such as Diageo, Michelin Guide, Sony Pictures, Nestlé, Heineken, Philips, and adidas.

Renngganis, who has previously held roles at Edelman Indonesia, Zeno Indonesia, Burson Cohn and Wolfe Indonesia, will report to Indonesia country manager, Tanya Tresnasari, whilst Goh, who was previously senior account director at ROOTS PR, will report to Malaysia country manager, Archana Menon.

Talking about her appointment, Rengganis said, “Mutant has swiftly established a solid reputation for itself and I’m excited to join forces with the talented team to craft extraordinary results for the clients.”

Goh also added, “I look forward to leading our talented team in delivering innovative and impactful solutions for clients as we continue to navigate the dynamic media landscape in Malaysia.”

Meanwhile, Joseph Barratt, CEO of Mutant, commented, “These senior hires reflect our commitment to the Malaysia and Indonesia markets, which have shown significant growth in the past year, even with economic odds stacked against them. In this demanding environment, the bar for communications is higher than ever – and delivering world-class work takes world-class people and that’s exactly who Charmaine and Renny are.”

Singapore – The Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) announced today that it has appointed SPRG Singapore as the Agency of Record for its PR and social media work in Singapore after a competitive pitch.

Through the partnership, SPRG will be developing myriad communications strategies and handling media relations and outreach to build brand awareness and credibility for the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore.

Furthermore, the agency will also be responsible for developing and implementing innovative social media strategies, creating compelling content, and managing BCF’s social media channels to drive engagement and awareness. Through its communication efforts, SPRG Singapore hopes to cement top-of-mind awareness for BCF.

Talking about the partnership, Natalie Lau, head of advocacy & communications, Breast Cancer Foundation, said, “As we evolve with the times, we must remain committed to our vision of being the first port-of-call for our survivors. In that same spirit, we have decided to embark on a brand rejuvenation journey with SPRG Singapore to continue advocating for the early detection of breast cancer.”

“The team not only showed that they understood our mission and challenges – they were also able to present creative, yet realistic ideas on how to take our brand story forward with both marketing ideas and strategic PR. We look forward to a long partnership with them,” she added.

Meanwhile, Edwin Yeo, general manager, SPRG Singapore, commented, “We are proud to be part of this exciting and meaningful journey with BCF. They have always been creative in their breast cancer awareness efforts, and we’re pleased that they liked our ideas. We look forward to working together with the team at BCF and changing the way breast cancer is talked about in Singapore.”

Malaysia – Tourism Malaysia London has enlisted UK-based ATW Travel Marketing as its official PR agency to handle the promotion of their Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. 

This collaboration marks Tourism Malaysia London’s first dedicated partnership with a PR agency since the pandemic, reflecting a hopeful resurgence in the nation’s tourism sector. 

The PR agency’s remit includes crafting and executing a comprehensive PR strategy to raise awareness and bring attention to Visit Malaysia Year 2026. ATW Travel Marketing will work to generate favourable media coverage and encourage tourists to explore the vibrant beauty of Malaysia. 

The Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign is Malaysia’s national endeavour to revitalise the country’s tourism, which was heavily affected by the pandemic. It will showcase Malaysia’s rich cultural tapestry, breathtaking natural wonders, and unparalleled experiences to travellers around the world.

The Malaysian government has already set targets to enhance the country’s tourism, both domestically and internationally. There will also be assistance provided to more than 200 cultural enthusiasts to help arrange artistic and cultural activities.

Noran Ujang, director of Tourism Malaysia London, said, “We are excited to collaborate with ATW Travel Marketing to boost our efforts further as we prepare for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Their extensive experience and proven track record in the travel and tourism industry make them the ideal partner to help us showcase Malaysia’s diverse offerings. We welcome travellers to explore Malaysia’s rainforests, mountains, and pristine beaches. We aim to showcase Malaysia’s cultural diversity and natural beauty to captivate travellers and foster a deeper appreciation for our rich heritage.”

Hannah Filer, managing director of ATW Travel Marketing, also shared, “We are honoured to be selected as Tourism Malaysia’s official PR agency. Drawing on our extensive travel experience and deep understanding of Malaysia, we’ll craft captivating campaigns that ignite wanderlust and showcase the magic of this extraordinary destination. We’ll delve into diverse experiences like its captivating cuisine, sustainable travel options, and unique niche packages, from archaeological adventures to diving experiences, highlighting why Malaysia is a must-visit destination.”

Singapore – Global PR and social media agency W Communications has announced its latest appointment by VP Bank, strengthening its banking and finance portfolio in Asia.

Following a competitive pitch, VP Bank will now consolidate its PR and social media scope across Singapore and Hong Kong with W Communications, ensuring a refined approach to building and reinforcing the brand’s story and positioning.

As part of the brief, W Communications will continue to amplify the bank’s key narratives and thought leadership content to increase the brand’s share of voice and engage the relevant audiences of financial intermediaries and private clients.

The engagement will also further solidify W Communications’ corporate offerings, building on its past and present partnerships with some of the most notable corporate institutions including Tricor, Microsoft’s Xandr, Crossbridge Capital, BASF and more.

Talking about this acquisition, Kenneth Chew, account director, W Communications, said, “In the highly competitive wealth management space, it is critical for pure play banks such as VP Bank to demonstrate their agility and customised approach to clients in order to stand out and be the bank of choice for financial intermediaries and high net worth individuals.”

“Our team’s experience in the financial sector provides us with this nuanced understanding of the markets, enabling us to communicate the bank’s key messages to its stakeholders through a well-rounded approach that encompasses market technicalities and overall branding”, he added.

Singapore – APRW, a local integrated communications agency based in Singapore, has announced its appointment as the official public relations agency for Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2024.

Through this appointment, APRW will be playing a pivotal role in managing media relations, elevating the profile and prestige of the event, and contributing to the global discourse on maritime excellence.

As the official PR agency for SMW, APRW is committed to promoting international relationships and advancing the maritime sector by leveraging its strategic communication skills.

Talking about the appointment, Cho Pei Lin, managing director of APRW, shared, “This marks our agency’s significant voyage into the maritime industry. Anchored in passion and propelled by expertise, the Singapore Maritime Week 2024 is set to make waves like never before.”

“Together, we will chart a course for a week filled with groundbreaking conferences with key industry leaders, strategic partnerships, meaningful networking sessions, and the celebration of the maritime spirit,” she added.

Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), this year’s SMW will feature conferences for topics in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and talent development in the maritime industry, solidifying Singapore’s standing as a global hub port and leading international maritime centre.

China – Public relations and marketing services firm Influence Matters has announced the launch of Influence Matters Startups, a startup PR activation programme designed exclusively for early-stage tech companies.

To be led by Simon Vericel, Influence Matters Startups will leverage the agency’s offices in China and Indonesia plus their networks of partners across Asia to get innovations and innovators noticed in the region, helping them get their businesses off the ground and make the impact they aspire to, fast.

The programme is designed to help founders and leadership teams craft their missions and visions into actionable stories that will reach their most important stakeholders—customers, investors, partners, and talent.

Influence Matters’ new programme will also be managed with a more favourable budget and contractual conditions, offering tech startups that meet the conditions the maximum flexibility.

As the agency’s clients have grown over the years, they have started to serve more established companies. However, the agency also wanted to reestablish its roots, which are to support B2B tech startups and scale-ups in crafting and telling their stories.

The launch of Influence Matters Startups comes as the agency aims to help innovators cut through barriers, making their innovations and solutions stand out. It is working with startups not only to create their story but also to establish their public brand and presence, including building visual identities and online properties to complement media and social media programs.

Simon Vericel, managing director and founder of Influence Matters, said, “I have been on a mission to support and encourage borderless innovation for as long as I can remember as I firmly believe that humanity’s efforts should be 100% focused on collaboration rather than competition and conflict. Influence Matters Startups will work with innovators and founders that share this vision and work towards a better functioning, peaceful world.”

Singapore – Integrated communications agency APRW Pte Ltd. has been appointed as the PR agency of Muslim Pro, PUTIEN, ABA Productions, Oona Insurance, Nintendo, and several more to bolster their media relations and audience reach in SEA.

Joining the list of the PR agency’s clientele is digital general insurance platform Oona Insurance, which is headquartered in Singapore and operates in two markets in the region: the Philippines and Indonesia. The agency has since been working with the insurance firm to bolster its awareness in Indonesia.

APRW will continue to foster stronger relationships for the insurance firm with the media in Indonesia, increasing consumers’ awareness of choosing Oona Insurance as their first option when looking to purchase travel insurance.

Also joining the agency’s roster of clients is Trehaus, a preschool and childcare institution based in Singapore that provides early childhood education. APRW will lead the launch of Trehaus in Indonesia, ensuring that Indonesians will have an increasing awareness of the preschool’s commitment to bringing unique education curriculum and programmes to the country.

APRW has also received the mandate to drive publicity efforts for the PUTIEN Group of restaurants. With 20 outlets in Singapore and 101 globally, the PR agency will be responsible for furthering media relations, publicity strategy, and influencer engagement for the restaurant chain.

Global Muslim lifestyle app Muslim Pro also handed their agency mandate to APRW to take over their PR-related services, including strategic planning and PR counsel for campaigns across Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, following the company’s recent launch of their OTT English language streaming service Qalbox.

Another client joining APRW’s wins this year is the global theatre production company ABA Productions. With the set launch of Madagascar the Musical in Singapore in January 2024, the PR agency was tapped to help drive ticket sales by increasing public awareness and generating buzz surrounding the upcoming shows.

APRW will also be handling three more major event promotions as part of their client wins, including providing support in driving awareness for the upcoming Anime Festival Asia. They are also appointed by Avex Asia to serve as the PR agency for the launch of their first Nintendo pop-up store in Southeast Asia. APRW is expected to raise awareness and drive excitement for the pop-up store in Singapore as a must-see destination in 2023.

And lastly, APRW will serve as the PR agency to support Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and the National Cancer Centre Singapore’s (NCCS) ‘Run for Hope 2023’ event. They will spearhead its PR efforts to promote the event, generate excitement, and raise awareness for this meaningful cause.

Anu Gupta, director of APRW, who leads the accounts for both Oona Insurance and Trehaus, said, “Our recent wins in Indonesia are a clear testament to our commitment to take Singapore companies into Indonesia and vice versa.”

She added, “There is no better time than now for companies to cross borders and tap on  Indonesia’s fast-growing, digitally savvy population and vibrant environment, and for Indonesian companies to scale into a market like Singapore and go global. Being a Singaporean firm ourselves, who took this plunge a few years ago, and with our sound on-ground understanding of both markets, we are well positioned to partner our clients in their journey to grow regionally.”

Nurul Rasheed, associate director of APRW, who leads the account for Muslim Pro, also shared, “We are truly proud and excited to announce the renowned Muslim Pro as our client. Muslim Pro has revolutionised the way Muslims engage with their faith with its recently launched Qalbox streaming service, which brings high-quality Muslim-friendly content with a diverse selection of acquired and original movies, animation, documentaries, TV shows, and more. We look forward to creating a significant impact and bringing Muslim Pro to greater heights  regionally!”

Also commenting on the recent wins, Julie Chiang, director of APRW for ABA Productions account, said, “We are thrilled to have ABA Productions as our esteemed client and to be part of the excitement leading up to Madagascar the Musical. This phenomenal show has captivated audiences worldwide since its debut, and we are honoured to play a pivotal role in bringing it to Singapore. Together with ABA Productions, we aim to create an unforgettable experience for theatre enthusiasts in the region.”

“For APRW, undertaking PR activities for Run for Hope 2023 is more than a professional endeavour for us; it’s a heartfelt commitment. As an agency committed to making a positive impact, we are honoured to support Run for Hope 2023 and aim to make this year’s run an emblem of strength, support, and resilience for every individual touched by cancer,” Chiang, who leads the account, added.

Wee Ling, director of APRW, leading both the Nintendo and Anime Festival Asia accounts, also shared, “APRW is thrilled to add an element of fun to the year-end with Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023 and the new Nintendo Pop-Up Store in Singapore. We are privileged to work with industry leaders to bring gaming, entertainment, and popular culture to the region.”

Manila, Philippines – MullenLowe TREYNA is celebrating its 45th anniversary with significant personnel changes across the board. 

Viboy Palillo has been promoted to the position of chief strategy officer for the MLT Group, following more than a decade of leadership within the agency’s strategic planning team. Meanwhile, Sachi Iwasaki is promoted to the position of account director. She has a track record of producing projects for clients such as Surf, 7-Eleven, and Axe.

Nina Romero and Krystel Ibaez have been promoted to senior copywriter and senior art director. They are known for their work on Lucky Me, Intermed, and Closeup, among other projects.

MullenLowe TREYNA is a few full-service network agencies in the nation, and is strengthening its finance and content production teams by promoting key personnel. At Paradigm, JL Marfori was promoted to the position of senior lead multimedia artist. Meanwhile, Jobelle Llanita has assumed the position of associate finance manager.

The MullenLowe MARC PR division has made the most promotions this year, following a string of organic and new business growth for clients like Galderma Consumer and Aesthetic lines, FWD Life Insurance, Unilever, and the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines, as well as recognition in local and regional award shows.

Moreover, Gerald Lim has been promoted to head of accounts, with Alyssa Dizon now serving as account director under his supervision. Jean Sanchez has been appointed as operations supervisor.

The MARC media relations team has announced new appointments, with Iris Del Fierro assuming the lead position as head of media relations. Joining her in a promotion is Nikka Ramos, who is now in her new role as senior media relations manager.

Speaking about the 45th anniversary and the appointments, Mike Trillana, chairman and CEO of MullenLowe TREYNA group, said, “We are extremely proud to see homegrown talent taking up leadership roles in the agency. It reflects the same commitment to excellence that we’ve always brought our clients for over 45 years.” 

Jakarta, Indonesia – Smartphone company POCO has reappointed KlikPR as its PR partner for the second consecutive year in Indonesia. This partnership will see KlikPR continue to assist POCO in building and maintaining a solid reputation in the marketplace through effective and targeted communications strategies.

The selection of KlikPR for this partnership was based on the firm’s proven track record of delivering successful public relations and communications campaigns for POCO in 2022 and its deep understanding of the mobile device industry. 

The team has also conducted a number of traditional and non-traditional communication activities, from product launches and unique interviews to hands-on activities and product seedings. 

Jeannie Purnamasari, managing director of KlikPR, said, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working with POCO Indonesia on their brand communications and media engagement efforts. We look forward to creating more unconventional approaches for POCO in engaging its unique markets and reaching new heights.”

POCO Indonesia has increasingly established its presence as an independent brand by providing full support for the trend of Indonesian subcultures. In the past year, KlikPR helped POCO become a trendsetting brand that executed many bold activities. 

This includes engaging cross-subcultural media and influencers from the sports, music, game, and art sectors, increasing visibility within the youth communities. Furthermore, by sharing the same DNA as Gen Z, POCO is unique in speaking directly to its target market, as they understand their needs and wants.

Andi Renreng, head of marketing at POCO Indonesia, commented, “Their team has worked very closely with us and demonstrated a clear understanding of what we as a business are trying to achieve and how to stay relevant in today’s world. In addition, their unique creativity in connecting with our hyper-targeted market has helped increase our exposure. I look forward to the continuing work of making POCO the ultimate brand within the Indonesian youth market.”

KlikPR’s portfolio includes clients such as SnackVideo, Ajaib, CARRO, OCBC NISP, and Glints.