PR News
Concerto

Concerto welcomes CAPZA as a shareholder

Concerto, an international group specialised in business intelligence, strategic communications, and public affairs, with presence in Africa and the Middle East, announces the entry of CAPZA into its capital as a minority investor. This transaction marks a new chapter of growth for Concerto, with no change in governance; the management structure remains centred around its Founder and CEO, François Hurstel, alongside the partners and the executive committee.

With the arrival of CAPZA, Concerto aims to accelerate its international expansion by strengthening its positions in markets where it is already established, opening new territories through targeted acquisitions, and creating new teams. These priorities concern Anglophone Africa, the Middle East and other emerging markets, alongside strategic investments in artificial intelligence and data-driven capabilities to support the group’s scale-up.

“This transaction sends a strong signal. It validates our positioning and our ambition at a time when managing risk, reputation and narratives has become essential. I would like to thank CAPZA, a leading private equity player, for the trust placed in Concerto. This partnership will allow us to accelerate our growth while remaining true to our strategic direction,” said François.

Thomas Meurisse, Principal, CAPZA, commented, “Concerto has established itself as a key player, capable of operating in markets with significant geopolitical, economic, and reputational stakes, particularly in Africa. We are delighted to support the group in this new phase of its development.”

Previous story

PRCA APAC Conference 2026 set for March in Singapore

Next story

Aston Martin Lagonda apppoints APAC Head of Marketing & PR

You might also enjoy

FINN
Moves

FINN Partners brings in new Partner

FINN Partners has named Anusuya Mitra as Partner to lead the agency’s corporate communications in Hong Kong and accelerate strategic growth across Hong Kong, Greater China and the APAC region.

She brings over 17 years of agency and in-house experience across Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. Her mandate includes driving business development, winning strategic client remits where corporate storytelling and brand reputation are central, alongside team growth.

"I love the art and hustle of communications - it suits my high-energy, people-first style. There's nothing quite like the rush of diving into a brand-new sector, decoding its nuances, and turning a business challenge into a killer narrative," said Anusuya. "I am thrilled to be part of FINN Partners because of their strong reputation for combining global reach with deep local insight. I admire the agility and global-local synergy and am ready to go after meaningful remits where brand reputation really matters, while making sure our teams deliver incredible work with love."

"Anu brings a proven track record of navigating regional landscapes and executing integrated corporate communications strategies," said Annouchka Behrmann, Managing Partner, FINN Partners Greater China. "Her understanding of cultural nuances across India, Mainland China, and Hong Kong will be valuable as we grow our portfolio and deliver communications excellence for our clients.”

She has experience supporting diverse client sectors across logistics, technology, property, and education such as Pacific Basin, CBRE, Central Crossing, FedEx, New Development Bank, Hong Kong Talent Engage, Lenovo, HP, Honeywell, and BMC Software. Most recently, she was Regional Director - Corporate Communications at Sinclair in Hong Kong. Her career includes pivotal roles at brands and agencies, including FedEx Express APAC, Ketchum, Duhno Marketing, WPP, We. Communications, Archetype, and Adfactors PR.

POP
Industry update

POP MART appoints Malaysian communications agency for fan engagement

POP MART has appointed GO Communications to provide public relations and communications support for two fan-focused initiatives in Malaysia.

The first activation was a HACIPUPU artist Meet & Greet and Malaysia-exclusive product launch at POP MART Gurney Plaza in Penang, followed by the Twinkle Twinkle Farm Tales Pop-Up at The Exchange TRX in Kuala Lumpur.

POP MART said: “GO Communications has supported us in sharing these stories with the right audiences and building awareness around each experience. As our community here continues to grow, we look forward to creating more fresh ways to reward that passion and bring fans even closer to the IPs they love.”

Peter de Kretser, CEO of GO Communications, added: “POP MART has grown to become such a cultural force around the world and a pop culture icon, bringing its distinctive characters and creative universe to fans across more than 90 countries and regions.

“This global success reflects the strength of its IPs, the creativity of its artists and the passionate communities that have formed around them. Naturally, we’re very excited for this opportunity to help translate that global momentum into locally relevant stories and experiences for Malaysian fans.”

Global
Industry update

Global Communications Search Partnership expands into Australia

International alliance of independent corporate affairs executive search firms, Global Communications Search Partnership (GCSP), has welcomed Australian corporate affairs search firm, Temple Executive Search.

Founded in 2013 by Rebecca Tabakoff and Ross Thornton, Temple Executive Search joins Taylor Birchwood (UK and the Middle East), Heyman Associates (US), the newly merged GKPRCC (Germany), and Barber Search (Hong Kong). Each firm remains focused on its home market, while collaborating on cross-border searches.

Rebecca and Ross will also join the GCSP board as part of the agreement.

Rebecca said: “We are so excited to be part of the GCSP. For years we have been talking to each other, because we all shared the same relentless focus on being the experts in corporate affairs in our markets. While we remain an independent business, we can now bring our collective expertise and shared experience together for our clients, candidates and our industry.”