Sarah Prigg and Duncan Killick join Special PR as account director and senior PR manager

Special Group has appointed Sarah Prigg as an account director and Duncan Killick as a senior PR manager in Special Group’s recently established PR service at its Auckland office.

Prigg has returned to New Zealand after two years working at London-based PR agency, Brands2Life, where she executed communications strategies for global technology and corporate companies such as Qlik, F5 and VMware. Killick joins from Pead, where he worked for several years as a senior creative and content manager with brands including BMW, PUMA and Nespresso.

Prigg is appointed as 2IC to Special PR’s head of PR and influence, Kelly Grindle, and tasked with growing grow the company’s PR offering. With a passion for implementing thought-provoking and disruptive PR programmes, the agency will tap into Prigg’s expertise to further develop Special PR’s roster and deliver results that drive real business impact for clients.

Since joining Special PR in September, Killick’s creative approach to PR has already made waves at the agency, delivering innovative strategies for brands including Silver Fern Farms, Jaguar Land Rover, and Contact Energy. Killick’s content production background enables him to lend a design eye to all aspects of his PR approach, ensuring creativity is at the heart of all work.

Special believes the launch of Special PR is unique to the market – it is able to service stand-alone PR clients with media relations, influence and activation services; but it can also plug into the wider agency resource to unlock world-class creatives and strategists.

Since its inception in March this year, Special PR has already delivered work for an all-star portfolio including the likes of luxury car manufactuer Jaguar Land Rover, energy provider Contact, stress-relief tool Brave Face, vodka brand Smirnoff, conservation charity Tusk, Education New Zealand and many more. Despite disruption from COVID-19 lockdowns, the agency has continued to expand its roster and team, with plans for further growth in 2021.

Says Grindle: “We’re excited to be expanding our team with new additions that will accelerate the growth of our PR offering. With international insights and experience with large tech companies, Sarah brings knowledge and skills that complement our consumer-led approach. Duncan’s creative outlook and innovative thinking builds on our objective to deliver stand-out campaigns that challenge the way consumers think about brands.”

Says Prigg: “I’m excited to join a team that puts creativity at the heart of every piece of work. Witnessing the impact of Special’s advertising work globally has been incredibly impressive and it’s inspiring to be part of a PR team that’s starting that same journey. I look forward to hitting the ground running.”

Says Killick: “Special Group are the most effective and creative agency in Australasia, having built a legacy around being the very best at what they do. I’m excited to join the team to create a similarly impressive PR offering that prioritises creativity to drive impact.”

If you want to know how Special can help with your PR or communication challenges, please contact kelly.grindle@specialgroup.co.nz