Professional Public Relations WA is embarking on a national expansion of its investor relations business, with plans to establish a presence in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Professional Public Relations WA is embarking on a national expansion of its investor relations business, with plans to establish a presence in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Professional Public Relations Australia already operates offices on the east coast but PPR WA, owned by Paul Niardone, has struck an agreement with PPR Australia to expand its investor relations business to the east coast.
PPR WA recently appointed former WA Business News journalist and Resources Stocks editor James Moses to lead its expansion into Sydney.
PPR WA will make a Brisbane-based appointment within a fortnight and plans to make a Melbourne-based appointment in the next two to three months. Staff will be employed by PPR WA and revenue will come back to PPR WA.
PPR WA managing director Peter Harris said it had experienced demand from companies with east-coast exposure that were keen to employ PPR WA’s investor relations expertise.
Gryphon Management Australia Pty Ltd is also tapping into demand from the east and has established an office in Melbourne.
Growth in investor relations has been fuelled by the booming stock market with more than 2,075 companies now listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. 700 of those are Perth-based listed companies.
Porter Novelli director John McGlue said his company was experiencing strong demand for IR services.
“There are so many public companies out there and not all of them will have a relationship with a corporate advisor who will manage the process for them and introduce them to investors and communicate their story,” Mr McGlue said.
Mr McGlue anticipates growth to come from increased activity in defending or winning takeovers.
Porter Novelli continues to expand, allowing it to take on new work including Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, which had been using Sydney-based agency Edelman for the bulk of its communications work up until last week.
Fresh figures from WA Business News 2007 Book of Lists reveal the broader public relations industry has enjoyed a strong 12 months, with staff increases of as much as 20 per cent for some WA firms.
PPR remains WA’s largest PR company amid strong growth from its competitors.
Mills Wilson Communication Consultants has increased the number of consultants it employs from nine to 11, with total staff numbers growing from 12 to 15.
WA’s thriving resources sector lured big east coast agency Rowland to establish an office in Perth late last year, and now employs a total of nine people.
