New internal PR team at Plascon

Plascon South Africa’s new in house PR and communications team: Lauren Shantall, Maciek Dubla, Catherine Bowen, Galen Schultz and Nicole Sochen

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PR needs to allow for cross-functional collaboration in which it works across a number of communication platforms, communicating multiple messages while keeping to the core brand ethos. Taking the department in-house allows for greater control, transparency and quicker turnaround times. This is the first time the company has done so in 130 years of marketing.

"In order for us to remain abreast with the required internal change, we need to take some control of the process. The internal PR, communications and social media team give us just that," explains marketing director, Gerard Metzer. "I am delighted that to date the impact has been good."

The team, based in Cape Town, is as follows:

Lauren Shantall (PR, communications and social media manager) is the founder and organiser of Trend Talk: Future Forward. She sits on the advisory committee for the proposed Museum of Design, Innovation, Leadership and Art (MODILA). She previously held the position as the head of the Freeworld Design Centre. She is one of the directors of the design-led charity Rock Girl SA.

Maciek Dubla (PR and media manager) is an honours graduate from UCT in media, theory and practice. Having discovered public relations, media management and communications half way through university while working for Judy Bryant Communications, he went on to become the media and marketing manager for Design Indaba. Maciek's background is primarily in media production and journalism.

Nicole Sochen (senior communications strategist) is the managing director of aldente pr, a small consultancy specialising in strategic communications, PR and media relations. Previously having worked for Atmosphere, she has more than eight years PR experience spanning corporate and brand communications. Her primary role within the Plascon PR team is the conceptualization and planning of an innovative and integrated communications strategy.

Galen Schultz (SEO manager and blog contributor) is a webmaster, blogger and SEO specialist. He has a university degree in New Media and has worked as a journalist, technology columnist, design sub-editor and video producer for the Natal Witness newspaper in Pietermaritzburg.

Catherine Bowen (blog manager and event coordinator) founded Dress Sense (www.dress-sense.co.za); she has background in psychology and experience in the fashion world.

The new team will be responsible for activating the Plascon brand along with all its sub-brands across social media platforms and the new Plascon Trends blog (www.plascontrends.co.za). They will also serve as media liaisons and the communication channel between Plascon and the public at large.

Plascon will be launching their newly revamped website (www.plascon.co.za) in the upcoming month.