PMSA bolsters comms team with managerial promotion

 Ruder Finn Era has appointed Pawares Wongpethkao as Managing Director, Thailand.

Bringing with him more than 15 years of corporate and regional agency experience, Pawares previously led corporate communications and customer experience transformation at Mazda Sales Thailand. His other roles include serving as Deputy Head of Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning at SC Asset Corporation PLC., as well as Vero's Chief Digital Officer for the ASEAN region.

Commenting on his appointment, Pawares said: "In today’s environment, where multinational corporations continue to invest in Thailand as a strategic Southeast Asia hub, brands require communications that are both locally grounded and regionally scalable. In the past, integrated communications often meant working with multiple agencies across different specialisations and markets, which could result in fragmented messaging.

"At Ruder Finn Era Thailand, we act as our clients’ cultural ambassador - delivering fully integrated solutions across PR, corporate communications, crisis, creative, and digital under one roof, with seamless execution across Southeast Asia. We aim to partner with forward-thinking organisations that see communications not merely as a support function, but as a strategic driver of sustainable growth."

In commenting on the news, Anthony Larmon, Managing Director of Ruder Finn Era, attributed Thailand's high digital penetration, strong e-commerce adoption, and influential stakeholder ecosystem to its status as a strategic gateway for multinational brands entering Southeast Asia, as well as Thai corporations expanding abroad.

"At the same time, as brands optimise budget allocation, streamline operations, and prioritise efficiency, there is a growing need for strong local success stories - campaigns that are built for the market and genuinely resonate with local audiences, while delivering measurable impact," he added. "In an Era defined by geopolitical shifts and rising consumer activism, organisations need communications partners who can navigate complexity with precision and cultural fluency." 

Gabriella Bonanno has been welcomed at Thermomix in Australia as Marketing Manager - Brand & Community Engagement. She was previously Head of Marketing at Motto Fashions. Prior to this, Gabriella held a number of comms roles at Specsavers over the span of seven years.  

Patrick Lion has announced the launch of his national strategic communications consultancy, Lion Public Affairs, advising companies and interest groups on reputation and advocacy.

Patrick previously worked as Director - Media and Communication at Australian Energy Producers during the oil and gas industry's national regulatory reforms. Prior to this, Patrick was a political editor for Queensland's media outlets, a Canberra Press Gallery member for Sydney's Daily Telegraph, and a national business reporter.