Ong Hock Chuan, Managing Partner of Maverick Indonesia, has been appointed chair of One Asia Communications (OAC), a network of independent communications agencies spanning 12 Asian markets, for the 2025-2027 term.

The appointment was made following a members’ vote during the network’s annual gathering in Bangkok. At the event, OAC also released its regional white paper, "AI Adoption among PR Professionals in Asia 2025", which examines how communications practitioners across the region are adapting to AI technologies.

“Many brands and corporations will need help in navigating this increasingly complicated and interlinked communications landscape,” Ong said. “OAC is here to help them do just that, as on top of our Generative Engine Optimisation capabilities, we also have deep local knowledge of the markets where we operate.”

He added, “OAC is different from other communications networks in that it melds the commitment and in-depth business understanding of owner-operated agencies into a Pan-Asian network capable of serving clients operating in the region.”

Weber Shandwick has announced a series of appointments to its APAC healthcare public affairs offering.

In Beijing, Vincent Pung has been appointed Vice President, Healthcare Public Affairs, APAC. This role sees him leading the work of the regional healthcare policy team and supporting Weber Shandwick's healthcare and biopharmaceutical clients in their policy, stakeholder, and reputation challenges across APAC. Vincent brings with him experience in healthcare, public affairs, and strategic communications, as well as digital health and clinical experience.

In Tokyo, Keita Taniwaki has returned to Weber Shandwick as Senior Vice President, Head of Public Affairs, Japan. He began his career at the firm and went on to build up more than two decades of experience in corporate affairs, government relations, and reputation management. With work in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and organisational transformation, Keita previously held senior leadership roles at Viatris Japan, Teva-Takeda Pharma, and Nippon Otis.

In Singapore, Charline Bloch has taken on the role of Account Director, Client Experience, Healthcare. She leads client work across medical aesthetics, vaccines, and broader healthcare comms, and also served as a point of contact for Weber Shandwick's Public Affairs Division in Singapore to deliver integrated client solutions. Previously based in Europe and the UK, Charline brings with her experience in message development, campaign launches, and influencer engagement.

The three new hires are to work with the wider Weber Shandwick healthcare public affairs team in the region: Seongmi Jeon, Vice President Healthcare, in Seoul and Sonika Bakshi, Senior Vice President and Head of Healthcare & Social Impact, in Mumbai, who look after healthcare public affairs and policy projects in South Korea and India, respectively.

Robert Magyar, Acting Managing Director, China & Head of Healthcare, Weber Shandwick, APAC, said: “These additions to our healthcare team reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the sector. Healthcare clients today face unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and our new colleagues bring the expertise, creativity, and passion needed to navigate these complexities and deliver measurable results across the region."

(Pictured from left to right: Vincent Pung, Keita Taniwaki, Charline Bloch)

North Seventy Five, a new communications agency, has launched in the UAE to serve clients across the Middle East. Founded by industry veterans Lisa Welsh (pictured, left) and Iman Issa (pictured, right) with Paritee as its significant owner, the agency aims to craft high-impact communications that help clients solve complex challenges across the region while accelerating Paritee’s expansion and presence in the Middle East. 

“We launch in response to a clear market pull: clients want agile, locally rooted teams with the ability to solve complex challenges at speed. With Paritee as partner, its international network of agencies allows us to scale that promise across borders, disciplines and industries,” says Lisa Welsh, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of North Seventy Five.

The agency offers tailored integrated communications services spanning strategy, creative campaigns, design and identity, content and publishing, leadership training, corporate communication, crisis response and data intelligence.

“We want to provide the region with senior-led, culturally fluent teams that move faster and deliver more value than global incumbents, without compromising international reach or strategic depth. Becoming part of Paritee connects us with other agile, entrepreneurial agencies and extends our Middle Eastern roots to a broader international stage,” says Iman Issa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of North Seventy Five.

The partnership also expands Paritee’s EMEA platform and establishes its first strategic foothold in Dubai, serving as a gateway to the MENA region. Alongside its agencies, Brands2Life (UK/US), Fenton Fitzwilliam (Ireland/Brussels), Geelmuyden Kiese (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), LHLK Gruppe (Germany) and RPP Group (Brussels, France, Spain, Italy), the addition of North Seventy Five enhances Paritee’s ability to serve clients across borders, secure international mandates as well as attract talent.

“The partnership with North Seventy Five is a testament to our disciplined expansion – building scale in markets that matter most to our clients. The founding partners, Iman and Lisa, are an exceptional addition to our growing multi-market coalition of agency leaders. This marks yet a further step in our ambition to establish Paritee as a bold challenger in the international communications landscape,” says Lars Erik Grønntun, Founder and Executive Chairman of Paritee.

North Seventy Five is also a founding member of the Alliance of Independent Agencies Middle East.