Senior Appointments at top PR agency

February 2005

Hot on the heels of several major new business wins, top public relations consultancy, Porter Novelli New Zealand, has appointed three senior staff: a new Senior Account Director and two Senior Account Managers.

New clients - primarily from the IT&T, financial services, professional services and creative sectors have signed with the agency. These include Vodafone, Loewe, Terabyte, Calcium Software, BT Funds Management, Bridgecorp, Turners Auctions, and accounting firm Staples Rodway.

“We’ve had a period of fantastic growth which has required us to add to our talented team of communication experts,” says Managing Director, Jane Sweeney.

Senior Account Director Sarah Newcombe joins the Auckland team fresh from her role as Senior Employee Communications Manager at BT Retail in London.

“Sarah has a deep understanding of internal communications issues. She has been integral in helping BT communicate significant global changes to its workforce and, with her telecommunications experience, has proved invaluable for our work with Vodafone,” says Ms Sweeney.

In addition, Kerry Gardner has joined Porter Novelli as a Senior Account Manager in Auckland. An expert in financial and investor relations, internal communications and media liaison, Kerry has worked in New Zealand and Australia, as well as the UK. A former journalist, Kerry has previously worked on the Manukau Courier and the Christchurch Star newspapers.

Porter Novelli Wellington has recently won the New Zealand Film Commission work, along with Visa government relations work. As a result Sharon Williams has joined in a Senior Account Manager role.

Sharon Williams - former speech-writer and media advisor for Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendergast – will assist in new business acquisition and client servicing.

A former journalist on the Evening Post, Sharon has 11 years communications experience, having previously worked in communications roles for the Post Primary Teachers Association and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

“The need for strategic communications counsel has never been in greater demand and we are now well placed to service our existing and potential clients’ needs going forward,” says Ms Sweeney.

ENDS

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