"Be a true partner to your clients. Be understanding and acknowledge the fact that the world has changed, and we need to change with it.”

This week Telum Talks to Emma Smith, CEO of Sandpiper Communications as the agency celebrates the first anniversary of its management buy-out of MHP in Asia Pacific. Despite COVID-19 Sandpiper has added a new office in Shanghai to its existing presence in Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong, has grown revenue and is growing its team.

Emma has over 25 years’ experience in communications in the region as APAC lead for Weber Shandwick; communications advisor for Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa; founder of her own agency, The Consultancy, and serving on the boards of the IABC and PRHK.

She talks about her own career in PR, what it takes to make a successful communications leader and where she thinks the industry is going.