PUBLIC RELATIONS

Singapore - Herbalife, a global nutrition and direct-selling company, has appointed The Hoffman Agency to handle its public relations program in Southeast Asia on a project basis.

Malaysia - Essence Communications has extended its retainer contracts with Etihad Airways and Colgate-Palmolive.

Asia Pacific - "Press releases don't work for bloggers, we are not journalists," said an Irish blogger as part of findings from Text 100's global blogger survey.

Singapore - Integrated marketing communications agency Patroids Creative Works has won two PR accounts in form of Compuware and Times Publishing following a competitive pitch.

Malaysia- Grey Group Kuala Lumpur's public relations arm, GCI Worldwide has rebranded to Grey Two PR (G2PR) as part of the agency's goal to streamline its brands in Malaysia.

Singapore - Exercise lab Racers' Toolbox has selected Citrus PR to consult with its team on brand positioning and public relations activities.

Singapore - Upstream Singapore and Southeast Asia managing director Mike Liew is leaving the agency, and a hunt is on for his replacement.

Singapore - PR agency Rice Communications has officially launched in Singapore with a client list including mobile satellite services giant Inmarsat, the Mobile Marketing Association and BoxSentry.

What to consider before embarking on a pursuit of these car magazine editors.

At some point in a darkened room, a wise and learned soul sat down and created the original PR crisis communications course. Much like a cherished family heirloom, this course has been handed down through the generations and across the agencies, tweaked occasionally, but essentially saying the same things.

Asia Pacific - In what is being touted as the largest merger ever in the PR industry, Omnicom will merge Ketchum with sister communications agency Pleon.

Global - Tata Communications has hired Hill & Knowlton as its global corporate communications and marketing agency, and MPG as its media buying and planning partner.

PR professionals Mary Devereux and Anne Peirson-Smith have come together to produce a book on public relations, examining the rapid expansion of the PR industry across the Asia Pacific region.

Singapore - Red Dawn Communications has been appointed as the Singapore PR agency for Oriented Games, an online video game publisher that holds the exclusive publishing rights for Hello Kitty Online for Singapore and Malaysia.

Hong Kong- E-payment platform International Payment Solutions has appointed Upstream Asia as its PR agency to provide corporate communications, B2B and online strategies.

Singapore - Asia PR Werkz has bagged PR duties for Nestle Singapore and AXS InfoComm.

Singapore - In a further addition to its already bulging portfolio of sports accounts, Fulford PR has been awarded the account for the World Netball Championships 2011.

Malaysia - Bonia Corporation has appointed Strategic Public Relations (SPRG) as its public relations agency of record covering its core brands Bonia, Sembonia and Carlo Rino.

Singapore - The British Chamber of Commerce has appointed Sycamore Consulting to manage its external communications and raise its profile in the Singapore business landscape.

Singapore - Media Flair Communications has been appointed as the PR agency for the Mimolette restaurant and bar in Singapore.

Malaysia - Sony Ericsson has handed more of its public relations business in the region to Hill & Knowlton, shifting its Malaysia account away from Essence Communications in the process.

Singapore - PR Communications has landed the Thomas Sabo public relations account ahead of the Germany jewelery and watch brand's Autumn/Winter 2009 collection launch in Singapore.

Hong Kong - Ketchum Greater China has made a number of changes to its senior management, naming Chris Liu as chief business officer to oversee greater collaboration of all China offices for regional pitches.

Regional - Edelman has named former US Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin as chairman of its public affairs practice for Asia Pacific.

Thailand - Lalana Santos has been promoted to the position of managing director of Weber Shandwick Thailand.

Singapore - Motor Image Enterprises has appointed Strategic Public Relations Group as its public relations agency of record in the region.

Beijing - The Green Office Alliance is making its way to China to promote environmentally friendly work practices and has hired Illuminant Partners as its PR agency to assist in the launch.

Hong Kong - The finance market is picking up momentum with clients looking to hire specialist PR agencies to beef up activities and engage more with potential investors, said Richard Tsang chairman and managing director for SPRG.

Beijing - COFCO Wines & Spirits, the beverage unit of China's state-owned conglomerate, has appointed Weber Shandwick on a 12 month retainer following a five-way pitch to provide product PR services.

Singapore - Burger King Asia Pacific has appointed Word Of Mouth Communications to handle the PR for its new-concept restaurant in Singapore.