Auckland Transport has welcomed Michelle Parish as Principal, Communications & Engagement - Major Projects. She joined from Fletcher Building, where she spent two and a half years as Communications Manager.

Prior to that, Michelle held various comms roles spanning the construction and government sectors.

FINN Partners has partnered with Design Hotels to lead its APEC communications efforts. In this partnership, the agency is responsible for the strategic public relations, storytelling, and content creation to strengthen Design Hotels' brand and presence across key markets in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Mainland China.

"We are thrilled about our new exciting partnership with Design Hotels," commented Annouchka Behrmann, Managing Director, FINN Partners Hong Kong. "The brand is about storytelling through design with each property having its own unique narrative. We're excited to help share that story with travellers across Asia Pacific." 

"At Design hotels, our strength lies in the vision of our community of Originals," said Stijn Oyen, Managing Director, Design Hotels. The 'Originals' refer to the pioneering owner of each property in the group's portfolio. "Partnering with FINN Partners helps us communicate that design-led ethos with clarity and consistency as we expand our portfolio in Asia Pacific.

"As we welcome more independent hotels, we remain dedicated to curating properties that truly captivate travelers through authentic cultural connections and expressive designs."

Ian Lee has started a new role as Senior Account Director at W Communications. Based in Singapore, he leads team operations, business growth and partnerships, in addition to servicing clients across the corporate, finance and tech sectors.

Ian has amassed over a decade of agency and in-house communications experience from organisations including Cognito, The Hoffman Agency, Mutant Communications, and Instagram.