Tag: Public relations

Singapore – The Singapore arm of public relations firm Sandpiper Communications welcomes Rasheed Abu Bakar as its new associate director, bringing a multitude of client experience from technology, energy, and aviation industries.

Through his new role, Rasheed will lead Southeast Asia and international briefs for the firm’s expanding technology, energy and environment, and aviation practices, and is tasked as well in growing these practices.

Prior to the role, he has worked with management consulting APCO Worldwide as its director, where he led international corporate communications and public affairs briefs for clients of the firm’s Singapore and Indonesia offices. In addition, he has also worked with public relations company The Hoffman Agency as account director where he also led growth for the business across both Singapore and Indonesia, which included establishing Hoffman’s office in the latter.

Speaking about his appointment, he said, “I was drawn to Sandpiper’s entrepreneurial spirt and inclusive and empowering culture and I look forward to contributing to our team’s success. The pandemic has created both opportunities and challenges for the sectors where I specialize, and it is exciting to see the communications needs of technology companies maturing as digitalization has accelerated significantly.”

“I take great pride in building innovative and impactful teams and count Sir Alex Ferguson as an inspiration. I hope to help lead our talented team towards our common goals of delivering pioneering work for clients, fostering a great culture, and growing our agency,” Abu Bakar added.

He will be working closely with Sarada Chellam, general manager for Singapore at Sandpiper Communications.

“Rasheed has an impressive track record of delivering strategic and high-impact client work, and driving business growth across the industries where he specialises. He also brings a sense of fun to his work, which is one of Sandpiper’s core values. I look forward to having Rasheed as a colleague and working with him to grow our business together,” Chellam stated.

According to Emma Smith, chief executive at Sandpiper Communications, Rasheed’s appointment is timely, as there has been a trend specifically among technology companies to seek after corporate communications to grow and protect their reputation capital.

“Rasheed brings very relevant experience for the times we face, and I am delighted to welcome Rasheed to our team,” Smith added.

Singapore – Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), a global public relations consulting company, has appointed two key senior hires to strengthen its regional hub capabilities in Singapore.

The new hires are Jason Cheang, the new director of integrated communications, and Vylvianne Devajothi, the new regional PR services lead. Both will report directly to Matthew Briant, the head of H+K’s I+C Hub in Asia and managing director of H+K Singapore.

Cheang has previously worked as the head of digital for the Metia Group teams in the Asia Pacific and Japan. He specializes in digital strategy, creative ideation, and experiential events, which enabled him to work with various companies and government clients, such as the Singapore Tourism Board, Ministry of Transport, and GovTech, as well as Singtel, among others. Cheang will now be responsible for the H+K Asia’s Innovation + Creativity (I+C) Hub, bringing with him his sixteen years of experience in digital strategy and marketing communications.

Meanwhile, Devajothi previously led integrated communications for corporate clients across PR and social at Havas Singapore. She specializes in PR, digital, social, and offline, with a focus on content strategy and distribution, and has worked with different brands, such as Nikon, Philip Morris International, and Singapore Management University, as well as Roche Diagnostics, among others. Devajothi brings with her almost a decade of experience in the consumer and enterprise technology sectors across both the Asia Pacific and the US.

The H+K’s regional hub in Singapore aims to build a team that will drive forward regional consistency while being aligned with local market nuances, and helps brands to communicate effectively.

Commenting on the two new appointments, Briant said, “I am thrilled to have these two accomplished individuals join our regional Hub team. At H+K, we put creativity and team culture at the heart of everything we do. I am confident that this further strengthening of our regional capabilities will drive greater value for our clients through consistently delivering the highest standard of creative and strategic communications across Asia.”

Meanwhile, HS Chung, the president of H+K Asia, also shared that having Cheang and Devajothi onboard underlines their ambition to aggressively pursue growth and focus on creating leading-edge offerings for their clients across the region. 

“Our Innovation + Creativity Hub has been successfully providing our regional clients with Podcasting and Multi-Platform Measurement services particularly in these times among others. By bringing on board these talented minds, I look forward to strengthening our capabilities by implementing customer-centric solutions ensuring purpose and excellence at the center,” added Chung.

Hong Kong – The Hong Kong arm of global public relations firm, The Hoffman Agency has recently appointed Kevin On as its general manager for its local operations in the special administrative region.

Through his new role, On will be furthering Hoffman’s Integrated Marketing Corporation (IMC) proposition within Hong Kong, as well as working closely with the agency’s other eight offices in the region. His appointment comes after the agency hit a record high global revenue of US$15.12M in 2020, up 1% from 2019 despite the pandemic, with over half the revenue coming from its Asia Pacific operations.

Prior to joining the agency, On has worked as the global marketing and communications director for drone brand DJI, based in Shenzhen, China, where he led major product launches across APAC, as well as strategic partnerships, and issues management. He also boasts a background working for ad agency Ogilvy, where he worked with blue-chip clients such as Intel, Nokia, and Dell. Overall, he has over 20 years of experience in the public relations industry.

“We’re in an interesting time where companies are looking for new and innovative ways of doing business, and with this, a new approach to doing communications with their customers, the public, and different stakeholders,” On commented. 

He added, “I’m excited to be back on the consultancy side to help clients navigate the unprecedented challenges they are facing, and shape interesting stories around the role of technology and its impact on businesses, communities, and our everyday lives.”

On reports to Caroline Hsu, managing director for APAC at The Hoffman Agency. Hsu stated that On’s recent appointment can be described as a ‘rare find’ since On has worked with various marketing communication roles and moved many times from Canada to China in line with his work.

“We pride ourselves as an international agency that gets tech brands, and solves business problems – but to do that in Asia, where cultures and social norms constantly collide, you need a team that’s not just on the ground, but one that understands the ins and outs of a market. With Kevin on board, we’re looking forward to sparking new creative juices that take all his experiences to date and apply them in a uniquely Asian way,” Hsu commented.

Singapore – PR & marketing agency Bud Communications has expanded its presence in the Southeast Asian region by designating new appointments across its PR and digital content in Singapore, Jakarta, and Sydney.

The first appointment is Sherawaye Hagger (left of the banner picture), the agency’s new client director, and will report to Oliver Budgen (right of the banner picture), founder and managing director of Bud Communications. Prior to joining the agency, she had more than 15 years of integrated communication background and was a former practice director of H+K Strategies Singapore.

The agency has also appointed a new account executive, Virginie Cosentino, and a new account manager Maina Harjani, who was a former managing editor of Indonesia Tatler. Cosentino will overlook the agency’s digital offering, while Harjani will overlook the agency’s regional capability and editorial and content offering.

Stuart Edwards is the agency’s newly-included non-executive director, and will advise on operations and business growth and receive reports from the three aforementioned hires. Prior to joining Bud Communications, Stuart was the founding partner of the business advisory service Edwards & Cowas, was previously COO of Edelman APACMEA, and managing director and part-owner at MullenLowe Profero which was acquired by IPG in 2014. 

“As we dust ourselves off from a turbulent year that has rocked tech companies around the world, the response we’ve seen from our clients vindicates Bud’s journey in becoming Asia Pacific’s leading PR agency for challenger tech brands,” said Budgen.

He also added, “COVID-19 has shown us that as tech companies adapt to fit a changing consumer landscape, they’re increasingly looking for agile, kinetic partners that can offer impactful communications that deliver true strategic value. As a fresh, challenger agency we are extremely proud of how far we have come this year and as 2021 approaches we’re committed to continuing the momentum into the new year.”

Bud Communications’ team and regional expansion have been an effect of recent clients that they are working on, including OTT-revenue management platform, Evergent, electronics e-commerce company RS Components, entertainment marketing agency Culture Group, media intelligence company CARMA ASIA, and cybersecurity firm, White Ops.

Singapore – UK-based fintech company Revolut is expanding its Singapore regional team by adding two more key persons to the company’s local growth team.

Sam Chui is Revolut Singapore’s new senior marketing manager, wherein she will be responsible for leading new marketing initiatives and exploring new creative ways to engage with potential customers. Prior to her current position, she has worked previously with marketing brands for UOB, Singtel, and Eu Yan Sang.

“Revolut has been sinking its roots deep into the local market and the opportunity to help drive its growth in the years to come greatly excites me,” Chui says.

Meanwhile, Deborah Tan-Pink, former CEO of edtech startup SmartUp, joins the company’s local rank as senior communications manager, where she will be responsible for brand awareness, media, and public/private organization connections.

“I’m excited to see what wonderful stories we can build around Revolut and its services,” she says. “We mustn’t forget that, ultimately, a customer needs to see how a service fits into their lifestyle and personal aspirations,” Pink stated.

Both of the two new hires will report to Pam Chuang, Revolut Singapore’s head of growth.

With the regional branch of Revolut reaching its first anniversary, Revolut Junior, an app for teaching kids on financial management and Revolut Business, an app for opening business bank accounts, are some of the upcoming services the company will offer this year.

Germany – PR company GlobalCom PR Network (GCPR), an alliance of 80 public relations agencies in more than 100 countries, has appointed communications firm Interprose’s CEO Vivian Kelly, and Singapore-based PR company PRecious Communications’ Managing Director Lars Voedisch, as its newest members of the board, with both bearing the title managing director.

They will join GCPR founder Ralf Hartmann and Richard Merrin, managing director of UK-based PR firm Spreckley, on the GlobalCom board of directors to provide strategic direction for the growing GCPR network. 

GCPR provides clients with a worldwide network of independent PR agencies offering services on crisis communications, media relations, analyst relations as well as influencer marketing and SEO PR. Its PR partners boast of expertise in a slew of verticals such as consumer electronics and lifestyle, financial services, fintech, and also healthcare and IT.

Both Kelly and Voedisch carry with them decades of experience in their field. Kelly has been specifically well-versed in working with tech companies. She founded Interprose in 1998, which provides strategic communications among global B2B tech innovators. In addition, Kelly has been an active advocate for technology companies promoting diversity and inclusion via providing opportunities for brand ambassadors of all backgrounds to serve as spokespeople and thought leaders. 

Meanwhile, Voedisch is known for growing, managing and defending leading brands’ reputations. He has been with PRecious Communications for eight years, having provided strategic communications counsel to over 300 startups across APAC, which includes 15 unicorns as well as enterprises, lifestyle brands, and government agencies. His firm has been honored with multiple industry accolades including the Independent Agency Head of the Year award at the 2019 Marketing Talent Awards. 

Commenting on the appointment, Hartmann said, “We live in a decentralized world, and companies are looking for trusted partners who understand their business, and can scale as they expand into new markets.”

“Our clients are assured of the best, most cost-effective approach to multi-market PR, from experts in their field. Having Vivian and Lars join the board, gives our clients a more comprehensive global view on new markets and how best to penetrate them from an awareness building perspective,” he added.