Poem’s Katie Raleigh named Sydney managing director at Alt Shift

September 4, 2025 10:30

Just over a month since her departure from Poem, Katie Raleigh has announced she will join PR agency, Alt Shift as its Sydney managing director.

Raleigh is tasked with overseeing the client portfolio of Alt Shift’s Sydney office, while also working across the agency’s national offering.

She first joined Poem in June 2018 as a group account director, before rising through the ranks of head of studio and creative services, managing partner, and managing director. Altogether, Raleigh spent more than seven years at Poem.

Before that, she was a senior public relations manager at Samsung Electronics for a year. Raleigh also worked at creative communications agency, One Green Bean, in account manager and account director positions. Her clients have operated within the lifestyle, technology, entertainment and consumer industries.

“Katie’s reputation speaks for itself. She’s a brilliant operator with the vision, drive and creative smarts to lead our Sydney office into an exciting new chapter,” Elly Hewitt, Alt Shift’s national chief executive officer and co-founder, said in a release.

“Katie’s known for delivering modern, culture-led work that earns real impact. I’m delighted that we could attract talent of her calibre to help us further develop our integrated offering. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Katie as a Shifty.”

(L-R): Elly Hewitt, Katie Raleigh

In the same release, Raleigh shared her admiration for Alt Shift, and her excitement at being given the opportunity to help the agency grow.

“When I looked at what alt/shift/ has achieved in less than a decade — three offices nationwide, bold new services, and an exciting pipeline of work — it was clear this was where I wanted to be,” she said.

“I’ve long admired alt/shift/ for its fearless, behaviourally informed earned approach. Leading the Sydney team at such a pivotal moment was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

“I’m ready to dive in, champion fresh thinking, and build an agency that creates both cultural and commercial impact.”

Raleigh joins the team following the news that Alt Shift made several internal “practice head” promotions in July: Sophie Truter to head of integrated; Sofya Daroy as people, performance, and culture director; Damian Davitt as head of social and content; and Alycia Jack as head of PR.

Additionally, the agency announced that its former account manager, Conor Nastasi, returned as account director after spending one year as a public relations and communications specialist at Cancer Council NSW.

Alt Shift’s current clients include the Dylan Alcott Foundation, Ausbuild, Officeworks, Intrepid Travel, Boost, Therabody, 99 Bikes and Y Careers. It also helped the Victorian Transport Accident Commission deliver a campaign surrounding road trauma.