KUALA LUMPUR: Public relations consulting company Lumos Hill+Knowlton (SEA) Sdn Bhd sees increasing opportunities in Malaysia as Chinese companies moving their investments into the country.
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Korea president and chief executive officer HS Chung said tapping on this migration would be positive in securing new clientele, as these companies are positioning Malaysia to be the gateway in stretching out their businesses into Asean.
Further, as part of its strategic growth has led the company towards the integration of its Malaysia office with Lumos PR Sdn Bhd recently.
"Before anything else, globally, we are servicing number of Asian clients including Chinese clients going global.
"So, while this is not a new area for us as Hill+Knowlton, it is more on recognising Malaysia being the hub and Asean becoming more important where we will prioritise and focus a little bit more in this location to look at supporting Chinese clients going more Asean.
"Malaysia is like a hidden gem not just the friendly people and fantastic landscape, but more on business perspective it is a country that we feel has huge potential to grow going forward, particularly in the changing landscape where many of the Chinese companies basing their Asia hub in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia,” she told The New Straits Times in an interview recently.
Chung is also Hill+Knowlton Asia Cluster lead.
Lumos Hill+Knowlton managing director Justin Then said the integration serves a unique propositions for corporate clients as there are only a few public relations (PR) agencies that can provide their services in three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.
"I think this is the area that we have identified and we are doing very well in. That is why we are getting all these Chinese companies working with us.
"Led by our 30 over staff, I am confident that joining forces with H+K will also accelerate our growth trajectory within Malaysia, bolstering our integrated communications solutions and helping our clients venture into burgeoning markets across the region,” he said.
The integrated Hill+Knowlton Lumos is led by Then, the founder and managing director of Lumos PR. He was previously the managing director of Hill+Knowlton Malaysia (2013 to 2017).
On the ongoing US-China trade war, Chung said the agency sees this as an opportunity to the PR industry as corporations find it more crucial to address reputation building, protection and recovery.
"If we look at various discipline, PR is one area where regardless of any economic situation, there is always going to be a role for us, particularly in the area of reputation and in some cases, crisis management.
"That is a very strong area that most of the corporations, regardless of their nationality, feel is super important during very uncertain economic times.
"I feel it will only strengthen us as it is an area that we feel we need to step in and support our clients. In fact, we see that as an opportunity,” she said.