Ogilvy Network launches Ogilvy PR in New Zealand headed up by Laura Platts

The Ogilvy Network NZ has today announced the launch of Ogilvy PR in New Zealand.

The new team, based in the Auckland offices, will be led by Laura Platts, working closely with Ogilvy PR in Australia. The launch into New Zealand will be Ogilvy PR’s fourth office in the region after Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Says Kelly-Ann Maxwell (KAM), CEO of Ogilvy Network NZ: “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.”

Says Richard Brett, CEO of Ogilvy PR and Health: “We are very excited to be launching into our fourth city 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.”

This news is the latest in a series of announcements from the agency. Last month Ogilvy PR announced a re-organisation around a consultancy structure and aligned its branding to the global Ogilvy PR brand.

Ogilvy PR’s expansion into New Zealand reflects rising demand for the agency’s integrated earned first offer in creativity, social strategy, sales enablement and performance, influencer marketing and agile content alongside core media relations, corporate reputation, and advocacy.

Says Brett: “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.”

As well as setting up the PR agency, Platts’ role will also include managing the Copper activations team, which is part of the Ogilvy Network NZ.

Says Platts: “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. I’ve also always admired Copper’s incredible activation capabilities, so it’s an honour to come in and work with the team and managing partner, Megan Clark Cook.”

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.

She is expecting her second baby at the end of the year.

Says Platts: “I’ve always been in awe of all the working mums in marketing and that seems to stand out at Ogilvy. Take our CEO Kam as an example, who juggles running our network alongside having two small children. It’s inspiring to see so many changes across the industry with support for parents.”