PR Agency Poem Overhauls Leadership Team With New Promotions
Independent creative PR agency, Poem, has unveiled a new leadership team, with Katie Raleigh and Rhania Farah being promoted into newly created management roles alongside co-founders Rob Lowe and Matt Holmes.
It is the first major leadership restructure since the agency was founded seven years ago.
Katie Raleigh has been promoted to the newly created position of managing partner. Raleigh joined the agency in 2018 from Samsung with a focus on helping launch, lead and grow Poem’s production and creative division, Poem Studio.
Raleigh said: “I’m really proud of what the Poem team has achieved so far and what I’ve been able to add over the past few years on several key accounts and then with Poem Studio. But there is a whole lot more to do and I’m more excited on how much we can still achieve by working to a clear vision and setting everyone up for success from top to bottom.
“I’ve worked under exceptional leaders over the years and now with these three great leaders, it feels like the best time for me to contribute and help implement change at the agency. My new role will be aimed at creating stronger skilled Poets, stellar work for our clients and just as importantly continuing to maintain a more human approach across the board.”
Rhania Farah was promoted to business director at the end of 2021. On her appointment to the senior management team, Farah said: “To be given a focus to lead such a brilliant bunch of PR professionals and genuinely good people, while now having a hand in aspects of the running of the business and decision making on future direction is an incredibly exciting opportunity.
“Poem is renowned for putting culture and people first and while I have a reputation for loving the hustle and getting my hands dirty, I’m also looking forward to expanding my business and agency operating experience with three people I already love working with.”
Co-founder and MD, Rob Lowe, explained the thinking of the restructure: “This is a significant life stage for Poem, so it’s important we have the right people, the best possible environment and the most appropriate tools, to allow us to make the most of this huge opportunity for growth and development.
“It has become clear to us that in order to keep evolving, we need to scale the business and we can’t do this by ourselves. We need smarter people than us in different areas to help take our vision of a deeply human agency to the next level, introducing greater structure and processes to allow this to happen without losing the focus on humanity that makes us unique.
“Katie and Rhania have both given so much to the business already, they’re so talented and are so ingrained in what we are, that they’re perfectly positioned to help us take that next step.”
Matt Holmes, co-founder and ECD, added: “I couldn’t be happier to have Katie and Rhania by our side as we look at just how much the agency could achieve in the future. They both have the complete respect of the agency and make coming to work more enjoyable. Quite frankly, both do a hell of a lot of things better than I do, so it’s brilliant to see them thrive and be recognised to play pivotal roles in the future direction of the business.
“We’ve already done a lot of work as a new senior management team on how as we scale we stick to our original goals of making Poem the best agency to work for and also creating earned first ideas that people actually give a sh*t about. We’ve refreshed our creative and strategic methodology and are rolling that out to clients now with further agency refresh announcements in the pipeline. I haven’t been this excited for what’s to come from the Poets in a long time!”
The agency has also made eight new hires in the past year, promoted 12 and moved into a new office as headcount reached 25 for the first time. Working with GU Interiors the office fitout brief was a space to suit the new way of working that people would actually want to come in to use. Greater creative collaboration, multipurpose spaces for workshops, video call breakout booths and a more lifestyle working feel, inspired by several famous New York hotel lobbies and London owned creative members clubs.
Poem recently won the global Tourism Australia retainer PR account, joining an enviable client list including Sony PlayStation, Nespresso, KitKat, Icebreaker, TEDxSydney, Place Management NSW, Impossible Foods and Oporto.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Poem PRLatest News
Enjoy A Hahn Solo… And May The Fourth Be With You
This May the fourth Hahn will celebrate alongside Star Wars fans rewarding their passion via a giant Hahn travelling solo through the sky. It’s the one day of the year when all sci-fi fans rejoice and giggle to themselves and Hahn in partnership with Thinkerbell, UM and Affinity is celebrating with an out of this […]
DMARGE Founder Unveils Creator-Led Social Media Agency Feedstar
New creator-led social media agency Feedstar to be aimed directly at Gen Zs. Well, they'd hardly want print, would they?
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): A total of 1,753,000 Aussies Witness Port Adelaide’s Defeat
Seven's AFL numbers almost double that of the NRL last night. The NRL still easily winning for ruptured ACLs.
Hotglue Cashes In With La Trobe Financial Digital Media Account
Hotglue staffers learning their cashflows from their collaterals today after nabbing La Trobe Financial's digital media.
M&C Saatchi’s Sydney Creative Lead Exits
B&T's stopping short of calling it a revolving door at M&C at the present, but there's definitely heat on the hinges.
Taylor Swift’s Music Re-Enters TikTok As Universal Pens Landmark Deal
Yes, B&T may have spent 152 hours failing to get Taylor Swift tickets, but, as you'll read here, it's all behind us now.
HAVAS Red launches inaugural Influencer White Paper
Havas Red has debuted its first influencer white paper. Unless you print it out in colour, of course.
Two Sides Global Campaign Reports Increasing Greenwashing As Organisations Focus On Sustainability
New report confirms greenwashing's on the rise. Apparently Mars' 'work, rest & play' claims also under investigation.
Aruga Launches New HQ & Changed Ownership Structure
PR agency Aruga proves Brisbane is 'so hot right now'. So hot in fact, Adelaide's had to go on anti-anxiety meds.
Delicious & American Express Partner To Launch Month Out 2024 In Sydney
Cost of living got you eating noodles prepared in the two-minute style? Why not live vicariously through this.
Aussie Ad Market Continues Decline In March
The belt-tightening in adland shows signs of a turnaround soon. Bar the belt-loosening at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
VMA Focuses On Skills And Training For Members
If there was a post-COVID hangover (bar the anti-vax ranters) it was the rise in skills shortages. Here's another one.
Nearly 90% Of Consumers Want Transparency About AI Images, Finds Getty Images Report
Study finds consumers want transparency around AI images. Couldn't care less about photoshopped magazine covers.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Partners With VML To Boost Funds
Anyone else feel we've exhausted the office morning tea for cancer? B&T proposes the office moonshine still instead.
Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris Named New National Hit Network Announcer
Why is it mandatory for the media to only publish the nicknames of people in radio & underworld crime figures?
Before Adland: Garry Dawson’s Journey From Teacher To Marketer
Here, the Hopeful Monsters marketer talks his shift from the classroom to the room wherever marketers congregate.
Scott Cam Urges Tradies To Prioritise Sun Protection
The Block host promoting sun protection to tradies. Also, don't try getting into the RSL after 6pm wearing high viz.
PubMatic Study: Advertising On Retail Media Is 50% More Effective Than Social Media
New study finds retail media 50% more effective than social. B&T says two-for-one Tim Tams trumps the lot.
From MOWING to life GROWING: Jim Penman launches ‘Life Coaching’ services
Can't decide on getting the hedges trimmed or finding a deeper meaning to life? You're in luck with this new venture.
Budweiser Brazil Turns Songs That Name Drop The Iconic Brand Into Spotify Ads
It's strange that Budweiser never found a market among beer-swilling Aussies. Then again, neither did the fluffy duck.
Effie Worldwide Strengthens Board With 6 New Members
B&T hopes everyone's wearing their Maseur sandals at the Effies, as it's standing room only at the next board meeting.
Special Enlist A Penguin Named Nigel In Latest Energy Campaign For Contact
Special unveils Nigel the penguin in work for energy provider Contact. Apparently Percy the peacock was booked.
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth & George Miller Ignite Sydney For Epic Mad Max Launch
The Mad Max film franchise is Australia's cinematic gift to the world. That & Chris Hemsworth's near perfect cheekbones.
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Always thought you could do with better 3D immersive measurement? Happy days are ahead here.
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.