Mars introduces new agency model; Weber Shandwick earns brand PR duties

Current Global MENAT has been appointed as the PR partner for Paws & Co., a new pet care, health and wellness business preparing to launch in the UAE.

The agency will lead the brand’s launch in the UAE, supporting the business’s ambition to create a connected pet healthcare ecosystem.

Peter Jacob, Managing Director, Current Global MENAT, said, “As a father of two dogs, I know first-hand that there isn’t a shortage of vets. With Paws & Co., this isn’t simply about another entrant into the market. Paws & Co. is founded on the idea of changing how people think about pet healthcare and building a brand and an experience designed around the needs of pets, pet parents and veterinary professionals.”

Matt Butterworth, Co-Founder Paws & Co. said, “For many pets and pet parents, the current process is fragmented, reactive and clinical yet the way people see their pets has changed, and frankly the veterinary experience hasn’t evolved at the same pace. From the beginning, we wanted to rip up the institutionalised playbook and build a pet healthcare experience that feels different. Pets are family, and their care should be personal, consistent and reassuring. In Pete and the Current Global team we have a partner that gets us and understands our intention and wider growth ambitions.”

TEAM LEWIS has launched version one of its AI operating system, Orbital (OS1), as part of its global offering. The platform is designed to connect insight, creativity, messaging and public-facing delivery.

Orbital combines data from across public relations, customer relationship management, paid media and web activity. It is structured around three pillars:

Intelligence
Orbital works with each organisation’s own data and context to identify the signals influencing reputation, demand and AI visibility.

Creativity
The platform helps teams turn insight into creative work, while preserving marketing judgement and originality.

Delivery
Orbital supports the people representing an organisation, spanning media interviews, keynote presentations and leadership moments.

Fairil Yeo, EVP of AI & Growth at TEAM LEWIS, said: “The advantage increasingly lies with organisations that can act quickly on what they already know. Orbital is designed to shorten the distance between insight and action - helping marketing and communications teams work more effectively across markets, channels and teams.”

Chief Operating Officer at TEAM LEWIS, Yvonne van Bokhoven, added: “Technology can connect information, but it cannot replace judgement. Orbital gives our specialists a clearer view of what matters, more quickly. The decisions - and the responsibility for making them well - remain human.”

Zac McLean has been appointed Strategic Communications Manager and Speechwriter for NSW Minister for Transport John Graham. He has wrapped up nearly five years at The Daily Telegraph, most recently as Head of News. Prior to this, Zac was Executive Producer of Ben Fordham Live at 2GB.