Rob van Alphen, former Head of Strategy & Innovation at Sandpiper, has launched Polaris ('North Star'), a digital strategy and innovation consultancy to help communications teams successfully navigate the coming Age of AI.

The firm's services include AI awakening sessions, hands-on workshops and strategy support to help ensure long-term AI adoption. 
 
Rob said: "Despite the latest headlines, effective use of (generative) AI among communications professionals is still extremely low. Sustained adoption isn't about technology - 70 per cent of the work lies in people and processes. This is where we can help. AI isn't going anywhere, it's only getting better and with the rise of AI agents in 2025 our roles are about to look very different."

Rob previously helped launch the first global research on the perception and adoption of generative AI amongst PR and communications professionals and led the development of Asia’s first AI Guidance in partnership with IPRS.