Innovative approach from new entrant in PR

Friday 26 January 2007

Innovative approach from new entrant in PR recruitment

A new entrant into the PR recruitment field in New Zealand has introduced a novel approach to finding the right person for the job.

Communicators, a division of leading public relations company, Porter Novelli, launched today and announced its innovative "associates" network.

Recognised PR industry players have been invited to join Communicators as official "associates" where they will be financially remunerated for sharing their knowledge and introducing a company or a candidate, which then results in a successful placement. The philosophy of Communicators is cooperation with others in the industry and Communicators plans that their network of associates will include other enlightened recruiters and search companies.

With more than 17 years experience in the PR industry, Communicators general manager, Adrianne Cranshaw says the key to recruiting in this niche industry is contacts and understanding team dynamics.

"Over the many years I've spent in communications and marketing I've employed a significant number of top level PR practitioners. On request from recruitment organisations, I've also recommended candidates for positions in other organisations and obviously never been paid to do such a thing, and yet that sort of market knowledge is so valuable it really should be rewarded in some way," she says.

Already Communicators has enlisted several PR industry leaders to come on board as Associates.

"While they will continue to work in their own roles, they will be our eyes and ears in the industry to keep track of where great people are and what they are up to," says Ms Cranshaw. "This is a huge benefit to clients who want to be sure they are getting the candidate with the best fit and experience."

According to Porter Novelli Managing Director Jane Sweeney, Communicators was launched after she recognised a significant gap in the market.

"Over the last 12 months I've personally assisted a number of my clients to recruit people into a variety of communications roles and I could see there was an opportunity to create a unique platform to do this from. I originally offered a similar incentive to my own staff with great results," says Ms Sweeney.

"Public relations recruitment consultants need to know the PR profession intimately. They need to have worked within the industry and be able to assess the talent, skills and best fit of candidates," she says.

Deborah Pead of Pead PR became an Associate because she believed so strongly in the Communicators' way of doing business and the benefits to the PR industry in New Zealand.

"Our network benefits both clients and job hunters. We regularly talk to New Zealand's leading brand owners about their communications needs and know the types of people they want to employ. We also have strong networks of excellent PR professionals with a wide range of skills - it's a winning formula," she said.

Adrianne also said that Communicators wants to return something to the PR industry.

"Communicators is setting up a special scholarship fund. The scholarship is designed to help one young person each year attend their first year at AUT to study for a Bachelor of Communication Studies. We will be working with other organisations to administer the scholarship," she explained.

Adrianne has held communications and marketing senior management roles for several well-known New Zealand organisations, including the Auckland City Council. She believes that a state of the art database will facilitate the Communicators business in the Auckland and Wellington markets and throughout New Zealand.

Her offices will be located within Porter Novelli's new premises at Zone 23, 110/23 Edwin Street, Mt Eden, Auckland. Adrianne can be contacted on 09 632 0528 or 021 759919

ENDS

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