GO Communications wins PR mandate for Malaysian F&B brand

PRCA MENA has appointed new Board members to its restructured Advisory and Strategy Boards. The new Boards include: 

PRCA MENA Advisory Board

• Chair: Ahmad Itani, Founder and CEO, Cicero & Bernay
• Amina Taher, Chief Marketing Officer, WIO Bank
• Faheem Ahamed, Group Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, G42
• Huda Buhumaid, Chief Marketing Officer, Dubai Holding
• Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director Marketing Communications, UAE Media Office
• Maitha Ahmed, Group Director PR and Communications, PureHealth
• Nahla Kamal, Vice President, Marketing Communications & Corporate Affairs, Nestlé MENA
• Nicholas Sandham, Vice President Corporate Communications, Alshaya Group
• Shaikha Alaraimi, Government Communications and International Relations Advisor, Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
• Shaima Al Suwaidi, CEO of Arts, Design and Literature, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
• Taif Al Amiri, Director of Government Communication Department at Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

PRCA MENA Strategy Board

• Chair: Imad Lahad, Global Chair – AI and Intelligence, APCO
• Alice Walker, Managing Director, Four Agency
• Ashraf Shakah, President, Public Relations and Influence, Memac Ogilvy
• Barry King, Managing Director, Action Global Saudi Arabia
• Claire Micheletti, Founder and Joint Managing Director, Cosmopole Consultancy
• David Kingsmill-Moore, Managing Director, Edelman UAE
• Gregg Fray, Owner, Seven Media
• Loretta Ahmed, Founder and CEO, Houbara Communications
• MacLean Brodie, CEO, MSL Group Middle East
• Sophie Simpson, Managing Director, Ruder Finn Atteline

Conrad Egbert, Head of PRCA MENA, said: “The industry in this region is evolving quickly with a need to address culture, artificial intelligence and the role of the Arabic language with discipline and intent. Our MENA strategy is designed to provide structure to that work and if it delivers measurable results in the UAE, it will inform how we implement across MENA.” 

Cloud marketplace company, Pax8, has appointed Vanessa Cremona as Communications Lead, APAC. Based in Sydney, she joined the team after more than seven years at Rackspace Technology, most recently serving as Head of Communications & Brand Asia-Pacific / Japan (APJ).

Prior to moving into the tech sector, Vanessa worked as an editor across a range of magazines and held communications roles with clients spanning the fashion, design, and travel sectors. 

Havas Group ANZ has announced a planned leadership transition at health communications agency, Bastion Brands, with Dan King promoted to Managing Director.

The appointment follows Founder and CEO of Bastion Brands, Simon Davies' decision to step away from the Australian business at the end of June to spend time with family overseas. He will subsequently support Havas Health projects in Europe.

As Managing Director, Dan will lead Bastion Brands' Melbourne and Sydney offices. His focus is to continue the agency's momentum through innovation, specialist capability, and collaboration across Havas, working with both local and international clients.

Dan joined the agency in 2019 and was most recently Executive Director. During his tenure, he's worked across Australian and global clients on commercial and communications programs for medical, pharmaceutical, and life science businesses.

"Bastion Brands has always stood for work that respects science and moves people to act," said Simon.

"I am incredibly proud of what this team has built with our clients since 2012. Thank you to our people and our partners for the trust and the results we achieved together. The business is performing strongly, and the acquisition has been a huge success, we are now fully integrated within Havas, this is the right moment to pass the baton. Dan knows our clients, our people and our craft. The agency is in great hands. I want to thank the Havas leadership of James Wright, Donna Murphy and Charles Houdoux for their incredible support, partnership and valued counsel."

James Wright, CEO of Havas Group ANZ said: "Simon leaves a legacy at Bastion Brands and within Havas ANZ. He helped create a specialist agency that pairs scientific depth with powerful creativity to drive outcomes for clients. Simon is a great friend, and I want to thank him for the enduring impact he has made.

"Equally, I want to celebrate Dan’s promotion, he has been central to the agency’s continued growth. His leadership through the transition will ensure continuity for clients and set the pace for what comes next. We hope to welcome Simon back into the Havas ANZ fold when he returns from Europe in late 2027."

^{(Pictured, Bastion Brands senior team from left: Matthew Gill, Sidony Laing, Daniel King, Simon Davies, Rhian Shinners, Katie Colson, and Matt Chilvers)}