Singapore – RICE, a strategic communications firm, has just opened operations in Thailand and the Philippines, capping 15 years of expansion around Asia. This initiative broadens the firm’s reach beyond its existing operations in Singapore, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. 

The expansion highlights social impact as a primary goal, utilising RICE’s ESG communications experience and partnerships with international development organisations, non-profit organisations, and global corporations. Leading the regional expansion initiatives and overseeing operations in Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines is Donna Garcia as its firm’s partner and regional director.

Now that the offices in Thailand and the Philippines are up and running, RICE is committed to offering thorough insights, tailored strategies, and involvement that is grounded in meaningful results.

Speaking about the expansion, Garcia said, “Our expansion into Thailand and the Philippines aligns with our larger vision of stewardship, which focuses on how RICE and our people can positively impact our team, clients, and the wider community. We’re not only broadening our reach geographically; we’re building creative impact hubs similar to what we’ve established in Myanmar, and making services more accessible to non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises in the region.” 

She added, “As we grow, we deepen our commitment to this philosophy by employing marginalised people who might otherwise find it challenging to land meaningful roles in our industry. In Thailand, RICE has partnered with Education for the Deaf (EDeaf) to train and hire graphic designers from their network.” 

Meanwhile, James Brasher, managing partner at RICE, said, “The Philippines and Thailand offer RICE plenty of opportunity for growth and social good. Guided by our vision, we’re always looking at how our work can make a positive contribution to our clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve.”

Singapore – Strategic communications consultancy, RICE, has added five new partners to its business. The new partners include Neil Mirano as director of client services; Donna Garcia as director and general manager for Myanmar; Mayda Jutahkiti is appointed to the position of general manager for Singapore; meanwhile, Agung S. Ongko is named as the director of strategy and insights; and Chai Zixin is appointed as the director for growth.

The long-term senior employees join Sonya Madeira, founder of RICE, and James Brasher, managing partner of RICE, as owners of the firm.

On the slew of new partners, Brasher commented, “Each of the new partners has been instrumental in building RICE into what it is today. We’re fortunate to have such exceptional people focused on the success of clients, and the team, every step of the way.”

He adds, “Ever since Sonya founded RICE, people have been at the heart of the business. A big part of that is recognising the sacrifice and contribution they’ve made. These five promotions are a significant step in expanding the ownership of the business as we enter our next phase of growth.”

RICE is a team of over 50 people across Asia, with offices in Singapore, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. Recently, RICE bagged tech firms UiPath and AI Rudder as new accounts.

Singapore – Strategic communications consultancy RICE has announced new technology retainer wins with enterprise automation software company UiPath and voice AI start-up AI Rudder. 

With the UiPath mandate, RICE will be driving the company’s leadership position in the enterprise automation industry. It will also be providing strategic counsel on UiPath’s regional brand communications, driving media campaigns and relations, as well as managing thought leadership content development.

Toni Iafrate, UiPath’s vice president and chief communications officer, shared that as digital transformation continues to accelerate and deepen across enterprises and industries, they believe that APAC shows great promise to unlock automation-led innovation and growth opportunities.

“We are excited to partner with the RICE team in Singapore to amplify our story in the region and help more companies recognise the power of automation,” said Iafrate.

Meanwhile, for the AI Rudder mandate, RICE has been appointed as its new communications consultancy of record, laying the groundwork for its regional communications. The remit includes media relations, thought leadership development, and content development. RICE will also be boosting AI Rudder’s presence in SEA and Australia.

Henrik Petersen, AI Rudder’s vice president and head of global marketing, noted that as voice AI technology continues to evolve and mature, it is poised to make the leap from experimentation to widespread real-world adoption, with potential for use cases spanning industries.

“We look forward to working with RICE to help amplify AI Rudder’s vision of establishing a new foundation for business communication powered by advanced voice AI,” said Peterson.

The RICE teams servicing both accounts are based in Singapore but will provide regional support and oversight of various markets in the region.

Singapore– Automobile manufacturer Audi in Singapore has recently appointed communications consultancy RICE as its new public relations (PR) agency partner for the next three years.

The partnership will see RICE using communications to drive Audi’s brand presence. RICE will also be handling the brand’s strategy and planning, media relations and activations, and content development.

Moreover, RICE will be focusing on supporting Audi’s brand growth in the premium segment and realizing its vision to bring premium electric mobility to Singapore. Leading the charges are the latest Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT, which deems to be the first high-performance electric sports cars from the brand, which are available for pre-orders in Singapore.

Rudi Venter, Audi’s head of marketing for Singapore, shared that they are experiencing one of the most exciting times in automotive history, and they want to play an instrumental role in shaping the transformation as they head into a new age of mobility.

“During the pitch process, RICE demonstrated a clear alignment with us on this vision, as well as their strategic and creative thought process and ideas. We are excited to embark on a new journey with them as our PR partner,” said Venter.

Meanwhile, James Brasher, the managing partner at RICE, commented they are really looking forward to building brand love for a brand that they already love. 

“Not just through the Audi cars, but also through driving experiences, and participating in conversations in the wider mobility space,” said Brasher.

In June this year, RICE also announced its partnership with IWG in Singapore and Hong Kong, two of IWG’s key hubs in Asia. The agency was selected as IWG’s partner after a comprehensive review of its communication partners worldwide.