P4 Group and Ruby Communications merge to become a ‘one-stop-shop’ for clients
Queensland agencies P4 Group and Ruby Communications have merged, with the latter’s founder and managing director, Naomi Spies, becoming P4’s MD.
P4 Group said the move would make the agency a ‘one-stop-shop’ for clients across all industry sectors, reinforcing its public relations, digital, creative and marketing service offering.
Ruby Communications’ consumer PR services will complement P4’s expertise in corporate communications.
In 2017, the P4 Group partnered with another Queensland-based PR agency, Evoke Communications, also announcing it as a bid to make it a ‘one-stop-shop’ for communications solutions.
In response to questions from Mumbrella about the current state of the partnership, P4 founder and CEO, Adrian Basile, said: “Evoke ceased the day its directors Nina Ellingsen and Melody Nalatu joined forces with P4. This was on 17 January 2017. Both Nina and Melody are still going strong with P4 today.”
Naomi Spies and Adrian Basile
Basile said the merger with Ruby Communications would strengthen the expertise and talent across the group.
“Naomi and her team are incredibly talented communications professionals that have built a reputation for achieving exceptional outcomes for their clients and I am excited to see what we can achieve together,” he said.
Ruby Communications’ Gold Coast office will retain its name, with the addition of ‘part of the P4 Group’ to its title. The decision was made based on its long history and strong market presence in the area. Meanwhile, the Brisbane office will merge with P4 Group’s.
Spies said P4 offered the resources Ruby Communications needed to maintain its growth.
“Ruby Communications has gone from strength to strength since we started on the Gold Coast in 2010, experiencing tremendous growth and an ever-expanding client base,” Spies said.
“We had reached a critical point as a business, and to continue on this trajectory we needed a larger team with an integrated service offering. P4 Group was perfect as they are strongly aligned to our values and culture, with in-house specialised services across corporate communications, marketing, digital, photography and videography to complement our media relations and consumer communications expertise.”
The deal was advised by Fleur Madden, who previously instigated the merger between Cole Lawson and Ruby 6. Her agency, The Red Republic, being sold to McCann in 2016.
“The industry knowledge, passion and diversity P4 Group and Ruby Communications boast independently will prove their expertise and offering to be unparalleled in the sector,” Madden said.
“This is a merger that will have a huge impact on the integrated communications sector in Queensland and beyond.”
