Voice experience (VX) agency VERSA has merged with digital experience and design company Deepend Melbourne as a new entity simply named VERSA.

The merger came out of a need for VERSA to consolidate a stake in Australia’s burgeoning VX market and leverage it with digital design services of the kind offered by Deepend. Recent VERSA studies revealed that VX’s importance was being strengthened by smart speakers, given a forecast of 30 per cent of all internet browsing could be possible with no electronic screens by 2020, with AI assistance.

At the same time, VERSA is already on an expansion push, with new offices in Singapore and the US being set up to complement the agency’s Melbourne headquarters. The agency also implemented a four-day workweek.

“This is an extremely exciting new venture and one that establishes VERSA as an expanded yet truly independent agency sitting at the forefront of where marketing and technology meet. We are experts in building robu

Surry Hills creative/PR agency The Bravery has collaborated with travel supplies store Kathmandu, and creative outfit Republic of Everyone, on a new campaign for sustainable travel habits, called Helpful or Harmful?.  

Designed as part of Kathmandu’s World Ready global campaign, Helpful or Harmful? explores the issues of sustainable tourism in various parts of the world, even more so how tourist behaviour and attitudes may affect the communities they visit. The object is to guide tourists on how to change their ways to better immerse themselves in the destinations they would visit in the future, and to be more mindful of the long-term impact of their visit on the local community.

Documentary filmmakers Doss Flamingoss and The Feed host Jan Fran (pictured) joined the campaign by producing a three-part documentary series where she toured places such as Bali, Indonesia, and Nepal, and interacted with the locals. The locals, in turn, shared with Fran their problems dealing wit

Melbourne agency Dani Lombard Public Relations (DLPR) has rebranded as part of the Soda Communications family, B and T reported.

The change in business name was carried out as a result of both DLPR and Soda working together on a series of campaigns in the past year.

The move will have DLPR’s offices in Sydney set up as Soda Communications’ local branch, with DLPR founder Dani Lombard as the managing director; Chris Mannix stays on as Melbourne MD. All existing staff and their account responsibilities will remain the same.

“It’s been 12 years since I founded DLPR, and I’m excited for the next chapter in our story,” said Lombard.

“Bringing our two companies under one banner allows us to combine our strengths and broaden our offering to clients, while continuing to do what we do best: deliver unbeatable results and return on investment to our clients.”

The Sefiani Communications Group’s senior advisory team has enlisted the services of brand identity expert Sandy Belford.

He will now be tasked with mentoring Sefiani staff and tuning into client calls for input as necessary.

Belford is a seasoned hand in the market branding and identity development industry. He had been a branding consultant at British agency The Partners before running Principals as director from 2002 onwards and also co-director at The Song Company for five years. His expertise is in client advisory work for sectors such as non-profit, university, and the government.

Although Belford is working at Sefiani, he still maintains ties with Principals.  

“Our Sefiani Senior Advisory Panel comprises people who excel in their profession and bring knowledge and wisdom to their interactions with us and our clients. Sandy and I have worked together on assignments for over ten years and I’m delighted he is joining our panel of expert advisers as he is

Bold Media is ending this week with a new look and brand name, plus a fresh client to boot.

The agency announced that it will run media relations and content duties for advertising data provider Quantcast across the APAC region. The company has offices in Sydney and Singapore.

The client win comes as the agency tweaked its market presence as Bold instead of Bold Media. The changes include a full website refresh and a new logo (pictured) in red lowercase letters.

At the same time, the agency also hired former Misfits Media editorial director Richie Kenzie as media strategist, while Dede Steward is a new senior account executive freshly graduated from UTS.

“At Bold, our mantra for some time has been ‘PR is dead’. Whilst this is certainly a tongue in cheek statement, I do believe the future of our industry lies in what we call creative communications. Bold stands at the intersection of media relations, inspiring content and an aesthetic that allows ambitious brands t

Melbourne agency Karla Dawes Press Office (KDPO) has won a raft of clients in the hospitality and food and beverage industries, as reported on Mumbrella.

In the hospitality practice, the Signature Hospitality Group tasked KDPO to run PR for the new Foresters Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, which is slated for opening later this year. Based in South Melbourne, Signature is best known for running the Sporting Globe sports bar chain and as the Australia franchisee of US grill chain TGI Friday’s.

KDPO will also handle the promotion of Lucas Restaurants outlets Chin Chin, Baby, Hawker Hall, and Kong.

On the F&B front, KDPO landed the representation for cheese expert Anthony “The Cheesemonger” Femia, who is already preparing to upgrade his Prahran Market cheese cart into a storefront.

Asahi Premium Beverages, a subsidiary of Japanese drinks giant Asahi, contracted KDPO as PR provider for the Peroni beer company’s Nastro Azzurro lager. The n