Hamilton PR agency grows digital & marcomms

HAMILTON, January 1: Waikato-based PR agency HMC has announced the promotion of Rosie Miller to senior account manager – marketing communications lead, and welcomed Jamie Batters into the newly created position of digital pr content creator.

Since joining HMC in 2019, Miller has spent three years working on a diverse range of clients across many industries including professional services, education, retail, FMCG and property.

Originally from Auckland, Miller’s previous background in the marketing and communications industry gives her a broad, multi-disciplinary range of knowledge that she’s tapped into over the past three years at HMC. 

Last month, Miller gained her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through the PR Institute (PRINZ), earning an internationally recognised certification as a practitioner’s mastery of strategic communications practice and a commitment to lifelong learning and ethical standards. 

“Studying for my APR accreditation gave me wide exposure to PR disciplines that I hadn’t yet worked in, and the process included working closely with experienced industry mentors which I found to be incredibly beneficial,” Miller says.

“It was a great opportunity to reflect and improve my own practice, to the benefit of HMC clients.”

Additionally, HMC has hired a new team member, Jamie Batters, in the niche position of digital PR content creator.

Batters is a Hamilton native, having recently completed her studies at Wintec gaining a Bachelor of Communication – majoring in digital marketing.

“HMC has invested significantly in upskilling our entire team in the area of digital public relations, which is distinct from digital marketing.”

Throughout her studies and freelance work, Batters gained a wealth of experience in copywriting, digital content creation, digital marketing, and social media management.

“I’m excited to join the HMC team to foster my continued growth and development, while bringing to the table a fresh perspective on the digital space to assist clients looking to explore this area deeper,” says Batters.

“The diversity this role provides is one of the many perks of working with HMC, and I am already enjoying the breadth of clients and industries that HMC services.”

HMC founder and managing director, Heather Claycomb, says Miller’s promotion and Batters’ hire are a clear demonstration of how lines are blurring between public relations and marketing disciplines.

“The past few years we’ve seen huge changes in the public relations industry. As an agency, we’ve needed to take the blinders off a bit and broaden the scope of advice we provide clients.

“So much audience communication happens in digital channels, many of which require you to pay to play, and the result of this shift is that the PR industry often steps over the line a bit into the marketing space.

“HMC has invested significantly in upskilling our entire team in the area of digital public relations, which is distinct from digital marketing.

“Keeping our digital PR skills sharp allows our team at HMC to offer a modern PR approach that gets our clients in front of the right people, at the right time, on the right channels and with the right image.  This requires a strategy that blends both on- and off-line tactics.

“The public relations industry is incredibly dynamic at the moment. Having experienced, highly skilled team members working in the marcomms and digital space is one way HMC is staying ahead of the curve.”

About HMC
HMC was established in 2004 and is a two-time winner of the PRINZ PR Agency of the Year Award in 2018 and 2021.

• weareHMC.co.nz