Singapore-based communications agency Ellerton & Co. has appointed technology journalist, investor and communications consultant Jon Russell as Executive Director, strengthening its capabilities across technology, venture capital, crypto and investor communications.Based in Bangkok, Russell will join the agency’s senior management team, with a remit covering venture capital, startups, crypto and technology.Russell brings more than a decade of experience reporting on Asia’s technology sector. He has worked with publications including TechCrunch, The Next Web and The Ken, covering areas such as startup funding, fintech, crypto, consumer internet, artificial intelligence and Southeast Asia’s digital economy. During his journalism career, he interviewed hundreds of founders and CEOs and published thousands of articles.He subsequently moved into venture capital, including a stint with Crypto.com Capital, before spending the past three years working independently as a marketing and content consultant. He also continues to publish Asia Tech Review, a newsletter focused on technology, startups and investment across the region.“Technology companies in Asia don't just need more press coverage. They need clearer stories,” Russell said.Ellerton & Co. said Russell’s appointment comes as the communications landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, with tighter funding conditions and a contracting traditional media environment. The agency said companies increasingly need narratives that work across earned media, owned content and investor communications.His experience across journalism, investment and consulting is expected to strengthen the agency’s work in investor relations, founder and executive positioning, owned content, narrative development and go-to-market communications, alongside traditional media relations.The appointment follows a year of expansion for Ellerton & Co. In April, founder Oliver Ellerton was elevated to Managing Partner, while Michael de Waal-Montgomery and Prayaank Gupta were appointed Partners.The agency has also launched Ellerton Creative Studio to expand its creative capabilities beyond traditional communications. It now has more than 30 consultants across nearly 10 markets, including Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Japan.Through its partnership with the GlobalCom PR Network, Ellerton & Co. also has access to a network spanning more than 100 countries.The agency said Russell’s appointment is part of its strategy of bringing senior consultants into the business to support its growing international client base.His remit will include communications around funding announcements and investor narratives, founder and executive positioning, crypto and Web3, and go-to-market launches across Asia.

Ellerton & Co., a Southeast Asia-focused PR and marketing agency, has named Prayaank Gupta as its new Executive Director. Gupta will spearhead the agency's overall growth strategy, leveraging his extensive experience in the region.In his new role, Gupta brings over 12 years of expertise from fast-growing PR agencies across Southeast Asia. His focus is twofold: driving revenue and headcount growth.This means hiring talented individuals to support new business, enhance client satisfaction, and fuel market expansion, Gupta explained. He added that the agency is already experiencing a surge in new clients across branding, social media, and PR services.Gupta plans to improve profitability by implementing best practices and fostering a work environment that attracts and retains top talent. "We want to create a space where employees can contribute meaningfully, enjoy a positive culture, and maintain a healthy work-life balance," he said.Prior to joining Ellerton & Co., Gupta served as Vice President, Growth and Innovation at PRecious Communications. He steadily climbed the ranks, starting as Head of Growth and Innovation in 2016. Previously, he held positions at Litmus PR (Manager, Senior Consultant Lead) and worked with agencies like Ruder Finn and Blue Communications."We're thrilled to welcome Prayaank during this exciting chapter," said Oliver Ellerton, Director at Ellerton & Co., to whom Gupta will report. "With offices in Singapore and Vietnam, we plan to expand further into Southeast Asia to meet client needs. Prayaank's expertise is crucial to this strategy, and we look forward to sharing our success stories in the coming months."Ellerton & Co. caters to a diverse range of clients in consumer goods, hospitality, corporate and sustainability, technology, startups, and financial services. Beyond traditional PR, they offer social media management, branding and design, and investor relations services."We're excited to collaborate with Prayaank to drive growth across Southeast Asia, venturing beyond Singapore and Vietnam," said Michael de Waal-Montgomery, Director at Ellerton & Co. "With Prayaank's support, we aim to expand our teams in the Philippines and Indonesia, while solidifying our presence in Vietnam during the latter half of 2024.""I'm honoured to join Ellerton & Co.'s talented team," said Gupta. "They've built a strong foundation of client trust, and I'm eager to help the agency evolve from a boutique firm to a mid-sized and eventually, a major regional player. My experience in growing agencies within the APAC region positions me well to support this transition."