PPR recruits new Perth head

Experienced public relations executive Fiona McRobert is returning to Perth to lead the local office of PPR, as the one-time market leader seeks to rebuild its WA practice after a long period of downsizing.

Ms McRobert will take up the role of Western Australian market lead and will return to Perth after serving in a senior leadership role at PR agency 42West in the United States.

She will fill the role made vacant when Carla Shearman resigned earlier this year.

Ms Shearman had spent a short time in the role, filling the shoes of Peter Harris who left PPR last year.

PPR chief executive Katrina Brangwin said the appointment of the Perth-born UWA graduate was a major hire for the public relations firm, as it sought to reinvigorate its presence in WA.

“Perth has always been a vital part of our national network, and bringing Fiona home to work within its thriving market is part of this renewed focus,” she said.

“We’re thrilled that she has opted to join the PPR family, and bring to Perth a combination of big network experience teamed with local know-how.”

Ms McRobert will begin in her new role from mid-August.

Her appointment follows a recent restructuring at PPR, which included several members of its investor relations team having left the business.

Long-serving national director of investor relations, David Tasker, is leaving PPR at the end of this month.

PPR has dropped to sixth place on the BNiQ Search Engine list of public and investor relations firms in WA, with 12 consultants employed.

The top spot on the BNiQ list is now occupied by Cannings Purple, which employs 31 staff in WA, 21 of those consultants.

Ms McRobert joins PPR Perth direct from the US, where she held a senior position in the Strategic Communications Division of PR agency 42West, working across brands such as PepsiCo, Piper-Heidsieck, and Hugo Boss.

Prior to joining 42West, she was the head of global communications for media agency Universal McCann, where she worked with clients including  BMW, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and media partners including Facebook, Yahoo! and Time Inc. 

She began her career at Edelman New York in the Corporate Affairs division.