PR company Bec Brown Communications (BBC) has just slotted in the last piece of the puzzle with the Australian Radio Network, taking on the PR and communications across all the network’s operations nationally.
To do this, apart from recently launching another office in Melbourne, the team has brought on Sacha McDougal (pictured below) as a senior PR manager who will be based in Melbourne.
The increased scope includes PR and communications strategy across ARN’s national KIIS and Pure Gold networks – a total of nine stations nationally – plus Sydney’s The Edge 96.ONE and iHeartRadio Australia.
From January 2016, working alongside the ARN marketing team, BBC will now take responsibility for the remaining ARN stations, Melbourne’s GOLD104.3 and KIIS 101.1, with the day to day PR managed by McDougal.
McDougal is an experienced Melbourne-based media professional with almost five years as a publicist for the Seven Network working across news including national flagship shows like Seven News, Sunrise, The Morning Show and Sunday Night, plus seasonal and entertainment programming including The Australian Open, Spring Racing Carnival, My Kitchen Rules, The X Factor and Dancing with the Stars. Prior to moving into PR, McDougal worked as a journalist and chief of staff for Fairfax Media. McDougal’s education credits include a bachelor of journalism and in January she will graduate with a Bachelor of Law.
From Melbourne, McDougal will also be working across several of BBC’s other long-term clients including The Wiggles, Red Nose Day and Cover-More Travel Insurance.
ARN’s national marketing director Anthony Xydis said: “Our investment in a strong communications and PR approach has been a key part of ARN’s wider company strategy, which has resulted in strong growth and consistent performance across all our brands in the past three years. Bec Brown Communications are an integral part and extension of the internal marketing team and this expansion of the agency’s role is recognition of their outstanding contribution to our business.
“BBC are a trusted advisor when it comes to strategy and big picture thinking across both corporate and internal communications and social media messaging, in addition to their focus on the lighter side of entertainment and celebrity PR which is critical for a media company as diverse as ARN.”
BBC’s Director Bec Brown said: “ARN are one of Australia’s leading entertainment companies and from the moment we began working with them in 2012, it was clear they were also one of the most engaged, innovative and creative teams you could ever hope to work with.
“BBC love working with the hard working staff across all ARN brands and it’s both exciting and energising to be part of the team that continues to cement itself as a competitive and contemporary media company.
“Since launching BBC almost four years ago, our key driver has always been to work with great people on projects we’re truly passionate about. Sacha will be a valued addition to our team who all live and breathe media, entertainment and travel. Her depth of experience working in broadcast, news and entertainment will further strengthen BBC’s offering at a national level as the agency continues to expand and count some of the best brands in Australia as clients.”
