Brand experience and communications agency DARKHORSE has expanded its Australian footprint with the opening of a new Sydney office, alongside new hires and client wins.

Located at 55 Clarence Street in Sydney’s CBD, the agency shares its new space with strategic experience marketing agency, George P. Johnson, both part of the creative alliance Project Worldwide.

Frankie Gair has rejoined DARKHORSE in Sydney as Business Director, bringing over a decade of experience in experiential and brand campaigns. She previously held roles at New Moon Australia and The World Of, leading projects for AFC Australian Fashion Week, Hermès, and ASICS.

Joining her is Senior Producer Isabella Ireland from Studio Messa, who has delivered campaigns for Dior Beauty, American Express, Snapchat, and Vogue.

Recent wins for the Sydney office include Bentley, Sephora, ZEEKR, and Chemist Warehouse, joining a client portfolio that also features Jaguar Land Rover and Pernod Ricard.

DARKHORSE Project CEO Asia Pacific, Ben Taylor, said: "We've been proud to support DARKHORSE as they've evolved from a Kiwi indie to a global player with offices across New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.

"It's a combination of client-centricity, smart creativity and white glove polish that makes DARKHORSE truly exceptional and we're thrilled about this next chapter of their growth."

DARKHORSE founder and CEO, Mike Hewitt, added: "We started the year with ambitious growth goals for Australia, and it’s been inspiring to see our team accomplish them.

"There's a real sense that we’re just getting started, and we’re excited for all that’s to come."

Penta Group has rolled out its proprietary stakeholder intelligence platform, Penta.Live, across the Asia Pacific region.

Acting as an early-warning system and strategic guide, the platform provides real-time visibility into reputation, media coverage, and stakeholder perception.

Penta.Live also provides continuous monitoring of reputational and performance issues, assessing ESG impact, sector sentiment, and stakeholder influence, and delivers multi-source, multi-region, and multi-language insights.

Deborah Giam, Managing Director of Singapore, who leads the initiative in Asia, said, “Asia’s business landscape moves quickly and demands constant awareness. With Penta.Live, organisations gain real-time visibility into how they’re perceived, where the risks lie, and how to respond with clarity and confidence. It’s about turning intelligence into action - helping leaders anticipate change, strengthen relationships, and stay ahead of the conversation.”

Weber Shandwick has announced a series of leadership and capability updates for the Chinese and Asia Pacific markets.

Corbin Hsieh (pictured left) has been appointed Head of Weber Create and Consumer Practice, APAC. He leads the expansion of Weber Create, an earned-first creative and integrated media offering that brings together influence and culture. Based in Shanghai, Corbin is to partner closely with market leaders across the region to scale creative capabilities and support client growth. Prior to this, he served as Weber Shandwick's Managing Director, China. 

Commenting on his new post, Corbin said, "My passion lies in the consumer side of business, where creativity and cultural understanding drive impactful work. I am thrilled about this role and eager to expand our earned-first creative and integrated media across APAC. Our goal is to connect culture, influence, and creativity to help brands succeed in a fast-changing world."

With Corbin's appointment, Robert Magyar (pictured right) has stepped up as Acting Managing Director, China, while continuing in his role as Executive Vice President, Head of Healthcare, APAC. In this dual role, he oversees Weber Shandwick's business and client growth across the market. 

"China is one of the most dynamic markets in the world, where reputation and stakeholder engagement are more important than ever," Robert said. "I am excited to build on our strong foundation here and continue supporting clients with the strategic solutions they need to succeed."

Based in Beijing, Robert brings over 20 years of business leadership experience. He has led and managed business units and advised senior executives and industry leaders across the Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Swiss, and American markets. Since rejoining Weber Shandwick in 2024, he has expanded its healthcare practice into one of the firm’s strongest growth pillars.

Weber Shandwick has also announced the integration of Bridge Beijing to consolidate its public policy and advisory services. Founded in 2016, Bridge Beijing is a boutique strategic comms agency for international organisations engaging with the Chinese market. The firm's portfolio includes global health organisations, philanthropic foundations, and NGOs, including a long-term partnership with the Gates Foundation.

Tyler Kim, CEO, APAC of Weber Shandwick, remarked, “These strategic leadership appointments, along with the integration of Bridge Beijing, represent a significant milestone in advancing our capabilities and deepening our commitment in China. By combining proven local expertise with the strength of our global creative network, we are uniquely positioned to deliver innovative, high-impact solutions for our clients as they navigate an increasingly dynamic market landscape."