Ogilvy PR Australia has signed affiliate agreements with two specialist public relations firms in New Zealand to create its first Trans-Tasman network.
Blackland PR (pictured) and Cadence Communications (below) will partner with Ogilvy PR Australia to broaden the reach for clients on both sides of the Tasman, from their bases in the capital, Wellington, and Auckland, respectively.
CEO of Ogilvy PR Australia, Kieran Moore, said, “This agreement is the culmination of many months of work to find and secure the right partners to support our company’s work in New Zealand.
“Given the size of the NZ market, it was quickly evident that one agency was unlikely to be able to meet all of OPR’s needs in New Zealand. We identified Blackland and Cadence as the two most reputable, independent, unaffiliated agencies who could deliver for us and we are excited about our futures,” she said.
Among the advantages identified by Moore, the perks include the local expertise and input from established communications entities; opportunities for hot-desking or office exchanges for teams on both sides; and, where it makes sense, local activation on the ground in each country.
Mark Blackham and Nick Gowland are a power combination who have worked at the highest level of government in New Zealand, and with some of the biggest corporate brands in the country.
Commenting on the partnership, director Mark Blackman said, “We specialise in helping organisations in the crucial ‘last mile’ of communication – actually connecting them to real people in every corner of New Zealand. We’re delighted that an international agency of Ogilvy PR’s standing recognises our expertise in getting real messages through to real people.”
Cadence Communications was founded by Suzanne McNamara and Anna Radford. According to Cadence principals, Anna Radford and Suzanne McNamara, the partnership is great news for Cadence and its clients.
“Achieving great outcomes for our clients lies at the core of the way we do business and we believe that our affiliation with Ogilvy will strengthen our ability to deliver upon this promise,” they said.
“Best results are achieved by having a PR team on the ground in a country, so it’s great we can offer our clients such a highly-respected Australian partner as part of our wider team.”
