HONG KONG — Marriott International has appointed CatchOn — A Finn Partners Company as the lead public relations and communications agency for its luxury portfolio in the Asia-Pacific (excluding mainland China) region. The portfolio to be managed by CatchOn comprises existing and soon-to-open properties under the Marriott International Luxury Brands across the region which include The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott, and The Luxury Collection.
MANILA — FleishmanHillard has promoted Chescka Diaz to general manager of its Philippine operations. Diaz (pictured) most recently heading client service across its client portfolio and leading award-winning campaigns. Before joining FleishmanHillard in 2019, Diaz provided communications counsel on behalf of international and local brands as well as communications firms, after beginning her career in broadcast news. She reports to Lynne Anne Davis, the Asia Pacific president and senior partner for FleishmanHillard and Omnicom PR Group.
NEW DELHI — Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) has joined with Mediation Mantras an initiative to support the PR Industry to help resolve professional and commercial disputes through the international best practice of mediation. Mediation First is being launched to create awareness around the art and science of mediation and to help the various stakeholders engaged in formal PR activities use mediation to resolve disputes amicably. The purpose of the Mediation First initiative is to encourage a mediation mindset, that helps individuals and organisations shift from an adversarial way of approaching business and human interactions to a win-win way of life for all.
BRISBANE —Icon Agency is expanding its national footprint appointing two new senior hires in its PR and digital divisions. Brisbane-based Kate Ward joins as director of Consumer PR and Ccmmunications and veteran digital and digital transformation specialist Shane Weddell joins as Icon’s head of growth, digital. Both have been appointed to the senior leadership team. Ward previously held senior roles with Dentsu Creative PR (formerly Haystac) and Edelman Health (UK). Prior to joining Icon, Weddell was managing director of SilverStripe Australia and prior to that was APAC regional business development manager at Platform.sh.
