Lonza names Global Head of Communications

Erin Bouda has joined Qantas as Corporate Communications Manager. She has wrapped up nearly five years at the NSW Police Force, most recently as Media Manager. Prior to this, Erin worked in the journalism field for nearly a decade at Nine.  

Sequencr AI has launched Stratum, a full-stack AI agent platform built for communications and marketing teams and agencies. Through working with thousands of communications and marketing professionals, the company has identified a consistent set of needs that generic AI tools do not adequately address, including producing consistently quality outputs, accessing real-time data relevant to each organisation, and protecting sensitive information.

Stratum is built around Sequencr AI's principle that AI should scale understanding and impact, while humans continue to scale judgement, trust and meaning, using agents to handle signal detection, information synthesis and workflow execution, while keeping people in control of strategy, interpretation and accountability.

The platform brings these capabilities together in one system, combining AI agents, domain-specific models, and live data to help teams move from information to insights faster and more effectively.

“Stratum was built to help teams deliver smarter communications and smarter marketing,” said Matt Collette, Founder and CEO of Sequencr AI. “We’re moving beyond the productivity-first mindset of most AI tools to harness the technology’s real strengths for communications and marketing teams: its ability to scale insight, surface meaningful signals, and drive outcomes that matter to brands and their audiences and stakeholders.”

“Unlike general-purpose tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, Stratum was built for communications and marketing experts, by experts,” Matt added. “Stratum’s agentic layer was designed specifically for professionals who need AI that adds values, not just respond to prompts.”

“Technology can scale insight and execution. Trust, judgement and relationships remain human. The most successful communications teams will be the ones that combine both,” said David Gallagher, Co-Founder and Partner at Folgate Advisors and Non-Executive Director of Sequencr AI.

“We’re entering a new phase of AI adoption where the winners won’t be the organisations with the most tools, they’ll be the ones that successfully embed AI into how decisions get made and work gets done. Stratum’s approach to combining agents, organisational context, and real-time data reflects where I believe the market is headed,” said Jennifer Granston, Chief Growth Officer at Zignal Labs and Non-Executive Director of Sequencr AI. 

Jonty Summers (pictured) will start a new role at Burson as Head of Corporate Affairs in Dubai at the end of June. He joins from Hanover, where he spent ten years as Regional Managing Director, establishing and running Hanover's advisory business in the Middle East.

“We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Jonty’s calibre to our team,” said Fouad Bou Mansour, CEO, MENAT, Burson.

“In a region as dynamic and fast-paced as the Middle East, clients require senior counsellors who combine a deep, nuanced understanding of the region with a proven track record of delivering results. Jonty embodies this. He has over 20 years of experience providing strategic, C-suite-level counsel to top-tier organisations, helping them navigate challenges, growth, and transformation. His expertise will be a tremendous asset, and I am confident he will play a pivotal role in continuing to elevate our corporate offering and helping our clients win in this complex environment.”

Jonty's career includes senior leadership roles at Edelman, where he was Senior Vice President for corporate practice across the Middle East. Prior to this, Jonty was Managing Director at Bladonmore in London, before transferring to Abu Dhabi in 2009. He began his career as a journalist and then worked in publishing in London.

"Having spent my career helping organisations build and protect their reputations through periods of transformation, growth and change, I am excited to join Burson as it continues to grow and evolve its offering across the Middle East,” said Jonty.

“This is one of the world’s most dynamic and strategically important regions, and organisations here face both extraordinary opportunities and increasingly complex operating environments. Burson's sector expertise, global reach and local relevance position it exceptionally well to help clients navigate, lead and grow in this breathtakingly disruptive landscape."