Network PR to close, Twitter slip reveals
The Australian office of Network PR is to close its doors within the next couple of weeks.
The Sydney agency – which focused on B2B and technology clients after dropping its consumer PR practice about two years ago – employed about 12 people at its height.
Managing director Grant Common, who is Network PR‘s sole shareholder, told Mumbrella: “We aren’t going to go on operating in our present form. We’ve mutually decided to go in separate directions.”
The other two senior member of staff at the agency are Lesley White and Geoff Hoddinott.
Common declined to elaborate on his own plans, but said arrangements had already been made for clients, and jobs had been found for most staff. He said: ‘In the last three or four weeks we’ve been looking to place the staff and we’ve found something for just about everyone.”
He added: “It will be a couple of months before I resurface in another guise”
The changes do not affect Network PR’s sister agency in New Zealand.
Common was critical of the way news of the agency’s end reached the public domain, after the principal of rival agency Porter Novelli’s Sydney technology practice Anthony Lowe revealed it on Twitter today after talking to a candidate.
Common said: “The sad thing is we’re trying to place a member of staff at another agency and what was said at a private meeting ended up being broadcast over Twitter.”
Lowe tweeted a message aimed at Zing PR’s Scott Rhodie, a former colleague: “Just heard that Network PR is closing its doors at the end of this month.”
But he failed to send it as a direct message so it was visible to his 359 followers, and from there it quickly spread despite him later deleting the original message.
Lowe’s tweet drew an angry reply from Network PR’s White who publically messaged Lowe:
“Last I looked job interview info was considered confidential! Suggest u check with yr superiors about Porter Novelli ethics.”
Lowe told Mumbrella that he had intended to private message Rhodie in the hope of helping find the person a job. He said: “It was a mistake. I apologise to the guys at Network.” He also apologised on his Twitter profile.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Poor form on Anthony’s behalf. Best of luck to every at Network PR. Always sad to hear when a business closes.
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Network PR were at the forefront of digital PR in Australia. They were way ahead of most companiesband I applaud them for the work they did online before any other agency. Their work will be missed.
Best of luck to Grant, Geoff and Lesley – along with the rest of the team.
On iPhone and watching Scotland get gubbed 4-0 by Norway in World Cup qualifier, so orgive any mistakes!
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I restarted my career in PR consulting after I relocated to Sydney a couple of years ago at Network PR.
Grant and Geoff are exceptional individuals who took me under their wing and helped me to get a grasp of the ANZ PR market. They were lovely to work with, generous as an employer and kind hearted as individuals.
I am very grateful for having the opportunity to work with them and wish them all the best in the future!
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I’m sorry, Gabriel, but I had a very different, extremely negative experience involving Network.
(The rest of this posting has been removed for legal reasons – Tim)
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Takes a bit of force out of criticism when they write “u check with yr…”
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Thanks Scott and Gabriel. Yes it has been a great place to work and I have enjoyed the role I have had in working with lots of folk who have moved onwards and upeward over the years – especially you two, plus Jess (of course!) and Jenna and Alicia. Then there are many of the journos, many great suppliers and of course the many clients with which we all worked. Disregard other comments as many people have very selective memories and place more value in revenge than regrowth . Keep in touch personally and professionally on Facebook and Linkedin – that’s what they’re there for.
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@ Observer,
Of course it would have been ‘you’ check with ‘your’ if Twitter allowed over 140 characters. This kind of abbreviation is not uncommon in the Twitterverse.
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Revenge? Now THAT’s pretty funny. But well played, I’ll give you that. If I was into revenge you’d have known about it sometime in the last 9 years, surely. I value honesty, ethics and good PR. And I sincerely wish you all the best for your future, Geoff. Regrow well.
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Recipe for epic Friday afternoon PR industry feud
Take one aggrieved former client, partner or staff member
Add agency fallen on hard times
Stir in a splash of bitterness
Simmer with unresolved angst for nine years
Flame situation with dimwitted Tweet
Stir vigorously on Mumbrella message board
Wait for unwanted industry trolls to rise to occasion
Serve dish cold to industry with an appetite for drama
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I’ve really enjoyed my time working here. Geoff, Grant and Lesley are three of the nicest and, more importantly, most honourable people I’ve ever worked with. We’ve also had some cracking general staff over the past couple of years. I’ll happily go into bat for the lot of them anytime, anywhere.
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I’m loving it – this is good e-entertainment on a Friday arvo. But, I’ll have to opt out of the controversy for now and tune in next week … for more opinion. To be continued ….. hope all have a great weekend.
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One can only hope “The Doctor” (as Anthony Lowe was called at Text 100) did not intentionally tweet this confidential knowledge. We’ll have to take his apology and admission of making a mistake at face value. And hopefully everyone will learn from this – do not use a broadcast medium to relay confidential information!
Would have thought it common sense… Maybe all these new media gurus should read up on old media common sense.
As for losing a competitor, I’m sure the vultures are circling… I never had the privilege to work with or against the guys from Network – but was always impressed with their reputation. Good luck and hopefully we’ll see you on the industry musical chairs – as soon as the music starts playing again!
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Its a sad day when one of us closes. And, I do think Grant and the team were on the case with social media far earlier than anyone else. At JMM Comms we certainly valued their expertise, goodwill and willingness to share their knowledge with other PRs such as ours. All the best to all!
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Kind of you to say, Julie. I must confess, I did have a chuckle when I saw an agency crowing about doing something in social media recently as if it was a world first. I’d done the exact same thing just over 40 times in the last couple of years. It made me realise, jeez, we really have been ahead of the game for some time. Future employers will be benefit massively from the knowledge walking out of here.
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I’m sorry, Gabriel, but I had a very different, extremely negative experience involving Network.
(The rest of this posting has been removed for legal reasons – Tim)
?? Must have missed this. Thats the first time I’ve ever seen you do that, Tim..
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Hi Tom,
Only rarely. I prefer not to…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella