PR News
Bastion Shine

Bastion Shine helps power automotive launch with NordEast

Bastion Shine has been appointed as NordEast Vehicle Distributors' integrated agency partner, supporting the distribution business in uniting six Geely Group brands under one umbrella.

NordEast, the new distribution division of Giltrap Group, will be uniting Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Geely, Farizon, and Zeekr, collectively accounting for 85 per cent of New Zealand's electrified vehicle market.

The partnership will see Bastion Shine deliver across advertising, creative, digital, PR, social and experiential, pairing its integrated model with NordEast's team to launch with a single, cohesive strategy and execution.

Bastion Shine's CEO, Toby Sellers, said: "We're incredibly proud to partner with Dane and the team at NordEast from strategy through to execution, in what is one of the most significant launches in New Zealand’s automotive history.

"Supporting NordEast gives our team the opportunity to deliver the full breadth of our services across a portfolio of amazing brands to elevate NordEast as leaders of electrified mobility in New Zealand."

Previous story

WPP announces global leadership appointments

Next story

SCMP Business Reporter starts new chapter in comms

You might also enjoy

2025
Industry update

2025 MEPRA Awards winners revealed

The 17th edition of the MEPRA Awards announced its 2025 winners on 27 November, recognising work demonstrating strategic thinking, creativity, effective storytelling and measurable impact. The awards highlighted achievements in brand reputation, integrated communications and strategic narrative development, reflecting how agencies are adapting to a rapidly changing communications landscape.

Agency winners
Weber Shandwick MENAT dominated the evening with 26 wins, followed by Gambit Communications with 18 awards, securing their positions as leaders across popular categories. Weber Shandwick MENAT also claimed Large Agency of the Year, while Current Global MENAT was named Medium Agency of the Year, and The Romans took home Small Agency of the Year.

Individual honours
The Chairperson’s award was conferred upon Scott Armstrong (founder, Mentl) for accelerating mental health advocacy, whereas Brian Lott of Mubadala Investment Company won the Best Communicator of the Year. Tala Majzoub of HAVAS Red ME won the ‘Dave Robinson’ award for Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year, and Fathimath Nooha of Murdoch University won the Outstanding Student Campaign.

Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson, commented, “MEPRA Awards has become a vital benchmark for recognising PR brilliance and exceptional talent in the Middle East’s PR and communications sector.  This has been a standout year for creative resilience, and work across the communications spectrum has been truly astounding. The honorees have showcased the power of PR to inform and engage, elevating the art of an insightful communications approach. Congratulations to all the winners tonight, and we would like to thank them for redefining excellence benchmarks, motivating the entire fraternity to gear up for the upcoming year.”

The 2025 awards were supported by Gambit Communications (Diamond Partner), TAQA (Platinum Partner), Weber Shandwick MENAT and CARMA (Gold Partners), along with Mubadala, Kibsons, SEC Newgate Middle East, Telum Media, Burson, Place Communications, First and Ten Productions, Current Global MENAT, Matrix Public Relations and AMEC.

View the full list of  2025 MEPRA winners here.

ACID
Moves

ACID brings in new Associate Partner

Stephanie Thng has taken on a new role as Associate Partner at ACID. Based in Singapore, she works with business founders, startups, and companies on strategic communications, media relations, brand narrative development, and executive positioning.

Stephanie's prior communications experience includes roles at Fullerton Fund Management, Aberdeen Asset Management and iFAST. She currently also serves as the Head of Communications for Femtech Association Asia in an advisory capacity.

Sophie
Moves

Sophie Spooner moves into the insurance sector

Sophie Spooner has joined Allianz Australia as Senior Manager Corporate Communications. She has wrapped up her recent contract at Ogilvy PR, where she was Head of Travel & Lifestyle. Prior to that, Sophie was Executive Director - Consumer at HerdMSL.