Baby bump in NZ PR launch team

AUCKLAND, Today: The Ogilvy Network NZ has this morning 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.

Ogilvy Network NZ ceo Kelly-Ann Maxwell (aka Kam) said: “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 10 years now, across Sydney and NZ.”

KAM said: “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.”

“Laura is expecting her second baby at the end of the year.”

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

She said: “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 with WPP earlier this year. Prior to this, she was managing the PR and Activations team at FCB NZ, working across a range of clients including Lego and Audi.

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

“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.”

• More here: www.ogilvy.co.nz