A new PR firm with clout has opened up shop in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Made up of 18 of Australia’s top PR professionals, Newgate Communications – part-owned by the British PR firm of the same name – has opened up for business today.

Seventeen of the agency’s employees worked for rival firm Kreab Gavin Anderson (KGA) until, earlier this year, they quit en masse.

Brian Tyson, former managing partner at KGA who worked at the firm for 17 years, is heading up Newgate. The team also includes fellow senior partner Felicity Allen, Campbell Moors, former head of finance at KGA, Sue Vercoe, former head of research, Jodie Brough, former KGA Sydney lead, Miche Paterson, former KGA Melbourne lead, Feyi Akindoyeni, former Canberra lead, and senior consultant Greg Baxter.

Baxter said: “The thing that’s unique about Newgate is the large number of very senior people who are all now gathered in one place. It’s as good a group as I’ve ever come across.”