What you must know about EASTWEST Public Relations

Now that they're on their 18th year.

According to a release, EASTWEST Public Relations, an independent PR firm, celebrates 18 years of helping brands get noticed in the region this June.

Commenting on the anniversary, Jim James, company founder and chairman said: “EASTWEST PR celebrates 18 years with wonderful clients, without whom the life of the Agency will be short lived. In the PR industry, integrity in relationships is what survives.” In his latest blog, James recounted the highlights of EASTWEST PR’s 18-year journey.

To mark the milestone, EASTWEST PR announced it has established presence in the United Kingdom with the appointment of Christian Dougoud as Director. Previously general manager in China, Dougoud currently based in London, oversees liaison with UK and European partners providing them and their clients’ insights on how to best reach the Asian audience. He continues to lead the Agency’s digital marketing. Dougoud lived and worked in Beijing for five years before relocating to London.

EASTWEST PR has strategic offices in Singapore since 1995, and in China from 2006. The Agency is B2B-focused and has served more than 500 clients in the ICT-Telecoms-Media, Healthcare and Life Science, Education, Energy and Industrial sectors. With a talented and multicultural team, and solid partners across the Asia Pacific region, and in the US and Europe, EASTWEST PR has been delivering successful pan-Asia PR programs.

“I took a leap of faith that Asia would be the future. I left and sold my home in Manchester, UK to set up the Agency in Singapore in 1995. The offering to clients was 'Access to Asia,' and solving the issue of the remoteness of the region to those manufacturers trying to build their brands in the Far East. After a decade of operating in Singapore, we started EASTWEST PR in China, now the world’s second largest economy. Our liaison office in the UK is aimed at strengthening our international network. With extensive connections and ability to deliver great work, EASTWEST stays true to our mission of adding exceptional value to our clients,” said James.

Commenting on Dougoud’s appointment, James added: “Communication in Asia is our main offering. With Christian based out of London, we are hopefully making it easier for our partners and their clients to navigate their way into Asia. Christian lived in China for five years and shuttled back and forth Singapore and Southeast Asia. I am confident, through Christian, we are showing clients their way to success in this very promising region.”

Dougoud commented about his role: “As a new member of associations like the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in London, and the British Chamber of Commerce in China, EASTWEST is in the best position to provide professional advice to European businesses that are eyeing Asian markets. Being based in London also enables me to work closely with our European and American clients and partners. Issues that are tackled with volumes of emails can now be solved quickly with a simple phone call or meeting over lunch, which is not possible when there are 15 hours-difference in between.”

Dougoud added: “At the core of EASTWEST’s digital PR work is social media synchronization between the East and the West. China's notorious Great Firewall is known for blocking some high profile sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The Internet is extremely influential in China but things have to be done on local social media like Youku, Sina Weibo, Baidu Baike. I think EASTWEST has been able to seriously reduce some of our clients’ stress level by being able to guarantee 24/7 access to any platform and consistent communication across the globe.”

In Singapore, EASTWEST PR is a member of the Institute of Public Relations in Singapore (IPRS) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME).