Porter Novelli expands and hires new consultants
Strong growth by public relations agency Porter Novelli, driven by a significant increase in new business, has led to the appointment of five new consultants.
Senior Account Director Strahan Wallis, Account Director Andrew Craig, Senior Account Manager Joanna Glover, Senior Account Executive Bill Rundle and Account Executive Will Seal have joined the Porter Novelli team to further strengthen its corporate and marketing communications offerings.
These hires follow hard on the heels of the appointments of Account Director Joanna Macfarlane and Account Executive Alexandra Speedy earlier in the year.
Managing Director Jane Sweeney says despite marketing and PR budgets being tight in recent times, Porter Novelli has attracted significant new business and is experiencing a steady increase in demand for services.
"We've seen a real trend during and immediately post-recession towards agency consolidation as clients look for the administrative and cost efficiencies from using one communications service provider.
"Porter Novelli is one of the few firms in New Zealand who can meet the full range of a company's communication needs and we're thrilled that clients such as Vodafone, Microsoft and Visa, among others, have recognised this."
In addition the agency has won work from leading edge firms such as Rex Bionics, Endace and Vero who recognise its technology and corporate communications specialties.
In the consumer space Porter Novelli also made its mark this year with its work on the YellowTM Chocolate campaign. The campaign, won the Titanium/Integrated Award at the 2010 Cannes International Advertising Festival in France in May.
Mrs Sweeney says the result of the firm's strong growth in new business means there has been an ongoing requirement to find staff with specialist expertise.
"Quality employees are always hard to find so we're thrilled to have Strahan, Andrew, our two Joannas, Bill, Will and Alex join the team. Their experience will add real value to our clients," she says.
Strahan Wallis, Senior Account Director
Strahan Wallis has well over 10 years experienceas a PR and communications consultant in New Zealand and Europe specialising in corporate and financial communications. He hasdelivered communications solutions across an array of industries including financial services, agribusiness, sports, pharmaceutical, drinks, oil and gas and others.
Most recently he was National Communications and Marketing manager for KPMG in New Zealand and before that worked for Credit Suisse as Vice President of Corporate Communications in London.
Andrew Craig, Account Director
Andrew Craig has returned to Porter Novelli after two years travelling overseas and working in London.
Andrew is a media relations and reputation management expert with seven years of experience consulting to a number of major international and local brands across a variety of industry sectors. He has developed and managed campaigns for brands including Visa, Westpac, Gillette, Cisco, Pfizer and Staples Rodway.
Joanna Macfarlane, Account Director
Joanna has spent 10 years in PR, both in-house and in consultancies in New Zealand, Ireland and England. She is fresh from leading UK PR agency Fishburn Hedges where she headed up the high-profile Love Food Hate Waste campaign which raises awareness of the £10bn worth of good food wasted in the UK every year.
She previously spent four years at British Telecom where she helped to effectively communicate the biggest IT transformation project in the world internally, to stakeholders and media.
Joanna Glover, Senior Account Manager
Joanna joins Porter Novelli from Marlborough wine producer Seresin Estate where she has worked as the company's Marketing Manager for the past 18 months.
Previously, she worked as a journalist and producer with TVNZ, writing and producing stories for One News, Tonight, Midday and Breakfast, and was News Editor at Southland TV.
Bill Rundle, Senior Account Executive
Bill joins Porter Novelli from PR agency PPR where he worked on clients such as Dell, Black & Decker, Sanitarium and Bunnings. He graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Studies from Auckland University of Technology in 2008.
Alexandra Speedy, Account Executive
Alexandra has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Communications degree from Auckland University of Technology, with a major in public relations. While completing her university degree, Alexandra worked with KidzFirst Children's Hospital, managing several key fundraising events and lifting its online presence.
Alexandra has a keen interest in the rapidly expanding social media space and is a member of the Ymedia management team.
Will Seal, Account Executive
Will has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Communications degree from Auckland University of Technology, with a major in public relations. During his studies, he worked in a six-month placement as a communications assistant with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and since graduating has worked as a communications contractor to Vector , DesignerTech, NZ Fashion Week and Paul Blomfield PR .