Auckland-based PR consultancy Wright Communications has had a big start to the year winning B Corporation certification, clients Concrete New Zealand and Dry July and making three key appointments.

Wright Communications managing director Nikki Wright is delighted to have received the B Corporation certification which means the company has been verified by B Lab as having high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our business so receiving B Corp certification is very significant for us. Our score of 102.1 is higher than several New Zealand brands that are recognised by their sustainability credentials.”

Concrete New Zealand, the national body representing the concrete industry, has engaged Wright Communications to tell the “story of concrete” including its sustainability and resilience as a construction material for buildings, roads, and bridges.

“Our sustainability storytelling credentials were a key factor in Concrete New Zealand’s decision to use our services,” says Wright. “Concrete is going to play an important role in building back better the country’s infrastructure that has been destroyed by climate change-related extreme weather events.”

In a competitive pitch, Wright Communications has also retained Dry July, the annual one-month fundraiser that challenges people to go alcohol-free and raise funds for New Zealanders affected by cancer.

“Retaining Dry July is an endorsement of the work we have done to publicise their fundraising efforts over the last five years – but it was our fresh ideas and passion to promote Dry July this year that gave us the edge.

“Along with our new business we have appointed two new senior account directors Ellie Martel and Rob Fitzgerald and digital marketer Juliette Desborough-Mitcalfe.

“Ellie has extensive experience in journalism and public relations across New Zealand, Australia and the UK including working as a political editor and press secretary. She has been a PR consultant for companies in the business, finance, health and construction sectors.

“With more than 10 years’ corporate communications experience, including with major multinationals in the energy and transport sectors, Rob has played a key role in some of New Zealand’s highest profile media and public policy issues in recent years.

“A BA graduate with a double major in communications and film, television and media, Juliette supports and complements Wright Communications’ corporate and consumer PR teams by creating digital content, optimising web copy and producing beautifully designed collateral.

“Natural catastrophes have given New Zealanders a very rough start to 2023. The effects of climate change are not in the future – they are now.

“This just confirms our long-held commitment to sustainability and to helping our clients to accelerate their efforts to de-carbonise and care for the environment, not to mention their people and communities.

“Our B Corp certification confirms we are the real deal in these departments – and our team including our new appointments Ellie, Rob and Juliette – is ideally placed to help companies do the right thing by people and the planet and to tell their sustainability stories.”