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Thrive PR

Thrive announces senior and creative appointments

Strategic communications agency, Thrive PR & Communications, has cemented its leadership team and revealed its newest talent line up, as its Excess Earned Attention framework drives the agency’s growth across Australia and New Zealand.

The swath of promotions plus new and growing roles includes:

  • Clare Basire has cemented her leadership since being elevated to Managing Director, Thrive Sydney, while continuing on Thrive’s AU / NZ Executive team.
  • Snezna Kerekovic has taken on responsibilities as Acting Managing Director, Melbourne. She continues her role on the AU / NZ Executive Team.
  • Tiana Miocevich, a seasoned corporate and brand PR professional based in Auckland, has been appointed to lead Thrive Aotearoa New Zealand with additional new local appointments in play.
  • Kyra Shakspeare has taken on the role of Client Partner, leading Thrive Queensland and expanding her local team.

Founder and CEO of Thrive, Leilani Abels, said: "At Thrive, we recognise and back the leaders who contribute to client success and building this business. Our investment in female leadership and entrepreneurship is central to our growth.

"Clare’s rise to Managing Director, Thrive Sydney is a testament to her strategic capability, her ability to nurture meaningful client partnerships and the high performance culture she inspires across teams.”

The agency has also made new appointments in its creative and culture specialist team, including Louise Jones as Thrive AU / NZ Head of Social, Brad Grey as Creative Lead Thrive AU / NZ, and Anna Porter as Senior Specialist: Culture, Creator and Brand Partnerships.

Leilani continued: "Driving Excess Earned Attention requires strategic communications capability, vast relationships and connections to make things happen, and a critical understanding of managing brand reputation. Continuing to innovate and attract and retain brilliant and ambitious talent, coupled with our service innovation are reasons that Thrive continues to attract world class partners like LEGO, NewsCorp, Diageo, TikTok, Cisco, Stihl, Harley Davidson, Blackmores, Chobani and many others.

"We are ready for new challenges, taking our clients on the Excess Earned Attention journey and we are looking forward to taking it up to another level for our clients in 2026.”

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Kainoa Blaisdell has rejoined FTI Consulting as a Managing Director in Singapore as previously reported on Telum.

Joining Kainoa in Singapore is Justin Teh, who has also returned to the consultancy as Senior Director. He brings experience advising on multi-stakeholder transactions, including M&A, IPOs, activism defence, and restructurings. In his new role, Justin also supports clients with investor relations programmes, as well as advises asset and wealth management firms across the region on issues management and corporate reputation strategies.

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