Vanessa Regan to lead comms in the utilities sector

Kate Ashley-Griffiths has commenced in the utilities sector at Southern Rural Water as Senior Media Adviser. She recently finished a stint at the Department of Transport and Planning as Media Advisor and prior to that, was Corporate Writer and Editor at Yarra Valley Water. Prior to this, Kate worked as Chief of Staff for News Corp, managing a large team of editors and reporters.

Marriott International has appointed Swen Ehlender as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing across The Red Sea and AMAALA. In his new position, he is responsible for overseeing sales and marketing strategy, including PR across Marriott International’s luxury portfolio at The Red Sea and AMAALA, supporting continued growth, strengthening market presence, and driving commercial performance across the destinations.

Swen brings experience in luxury hospitality and commercial leadership to the role. Most recently, he served as Commercial Director at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre. His career has spanned international hospitality groups across Europe, the Middle East and Türkiye, including at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, Kerzner International, One&Only Resorts, Atlantis Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

“Joining Marriott International Luxury Group at this pivotal stage of growth across The Red Sea and AMAALA is an exciting opportunity,” said Swen. “To not only witness the transformation taking place across the Kingdom, but to play a part in it, is incredibly rewarding. I have always believed that great businesses are built by great people, and I am passionate about empowering Saudi talent, building strong teams, and supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders while continuing to elevate these extraordinary destinations.”

“Swen’s appointment reflects our commitment to attracting world-class talent as we continue to expand our luxury portfolio,” said Tony Coveney, Area General Manager, Marriott Red Sea Region. “His extensive experience across international hospitality brands, combined with his strong commercial leadership and understanding of the region, will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve our presence at The Red Sea and AMAALA.”

H/Advisors Klareco has made several senior appointments in its Singapore team, with Nicola Powell (pictured left) promoted to Senior Director and Alistar Lien (pictured right) joining as Associate Director.

Nicola leads the corporate and brand team, overseeing client strategy, media relations, crisis management, creative campaigns, and internal communications. She has been with the agency for more than six years and most recently served as Director, Corporate and Brand. Nicola also concurrently serves as Client Services Director at HAVAS Red.

As Associate Director, Alistar leads the firm's corporate and professional practice, overseeing strategic communications, media engagement, and reputation management for clients across industries, including professional and financial services, real estate, technology, investment, and corporate sectors. She brings more than 12 years of communications experience, having previously worked at organisations including Edelman and Randstad.