Ogilvy PR launches in New Zealand led by activations lead Laura Platts
The Ogilvy Network has launched Ogilvy PR in New Zealand which will be the agency’s fourth office in the region after Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
The new team in Auckland will be led by Laura Platts, working closely with Ogilvy PR in Australia as Ogilvy PR & copper activations lead. Platts started within the WPP fold earlier this year. Prior to this, she was managing the PR and activations team at FCB New Zealand working across a range of clients including LEGO and Audi.
Ogilvy PR, Ogilvy PR and activations lead, Laura Platts
Richard Brett, CEO of Ogilvy PR and Ogilvy health said: “We are very excited to be launching Ogilvy PR into New Zealand with our full capability and offer, further reinforcing our position as the region’s only truly integrated earned-first communications agency. The combination of our team of specialists and consultants in Australia, together with a team on the ground in New Zealand is a very compelling proposition for our clients.”
Earlier in the year, Special Group also launched a PR offering in New Zealand, Special PR, with Kelly Grindle appointed as head of PR and influence.
This news is the latest in a series of announcements from the WPP agency. Last month, Ogilvy PR announced a re-organisation around a consultancy structure and aligned its branding to the global Ogilvy PR brand.
In June 2021, WPP added a new Ogilvy Network NZ management line-up, with the appointment of Kelly-Ann Maxwell as its CEO of Ogilvy Network New Zealand. Since landing on New Zealand shores only three years ago from London, Maxwell has held the roles of Designworks CEO and then WPP NZ CEO: Creative Agencies.
Maxwell commented: “Our re-launch into the market as the Ogilvy Network has been so well received and it’s time we added a PR offering to our capabilities in New Zealand.
“We’ve been working with Laura for some time now and we’re thrilled to formalise her role with the newly created position. She brings strong experience into Ogilvy NZ having worked agency side in PR for nearly ten years now, across Sydney and NZ.”
Brett added: “As the marketing landscape continues to rapidly change in both Australia and New Zealand, the ability to offer earned first thinking that works seamlessly across audiences and channels, at the intersection of brand marketing and corporate reputation places us well in both markets”.
Platts said of her new role: “It feels like the opportunity is ripe to help expand the business into PR, and what better way to do this than as part of Ogilvy PR – Australia’s largest and most specialised PR agency. They have an extremely sophisticated model and I can’t wait to bring more of this to our local market.”
In May 2021, The Monkeys, launched by Accenture Interactive, also opened up a regional office in New Zealand with DDB Aotearoa New Zealand’s CEO Justin Mowday and chief creative officer Damon Stapleton at the helm.
