Batey Consulting chief moves on

Batey Consulting MD Sally Chew has left the company as of yesterday, Batey chief executive Alan Fairnington has confirmed, while Beth Kennedy has promoted to CEO of Batey's regional PR operations."I would like to thank Sally for her skill and tireless enthusiasm while managing the closure of MDK and creating Batey Consulting. I would also like to applaud her commitment to delivering professional service standards to our Singapore clients. She has kindly offered to provide advice and support for Beth as she takes over her new role," Fairnington said in an email."We [Chew and Fairnington] don't see eye to eye on the strategy for the agency going forward," Chew told Marketing.At press time, Chew has no concrete plans for a new job but she believes her past experience and contacts put her in good stead for a regional client or agency role. She says she already has a few job offers on the table.She joined MDK Consultants on 12 April 2006, from Hill & Knowlton, and on 14 September that same year, the agency closed down and all staff were offered jobs at Batey Consulting. The move to integrate MDK staff into Batey's PR arm at the time was championed by Fairnington who himself took the helm on 28 June 2006.Her departure also comes on the heels of Batey executive creative director Ng Tian It departing for Lowe China, as reported on 19 September 2007. Ng will be replaced by current ECD at BatesAsia, Robert Gaxiola.Meanwhile, ex-executive director for Batey Communications Kennedy will now have "direct responsibility for the Singapore operation, as well as continuing to oversee the Batey PR operations in Malaysia and Thailand, plus be responsible for the management our global affiliate network relationships," Fairnington said."This move will allow Batey to resource its businesses more effectively and to provide a stronger, consistent quality control over multi-market client relationships. As Batey has re-built its PR business over the past year, the need for a focused management structure has become more apparent. Beth has already had the experience of building a network for Batey in the past, so we are asking her to do the same again."At Batey Malaysia, Singaporean Vernon Vasu, who previously ran his own integrated communications company, has been appointed to head the business as well as assist Kennedy in the regional PR business."Batey's overall business is now robust with several new major clients and assignments. We are optimistic about the future, and plan to dramatically expand our PR, digital and design businesses," Fairnington added.Companies featured:Batey