According to Batey Consulting managing director Sally Chew, the assignments mark a determination by GM to focus more on public relations, after handling duties in-house since its Singapore launch in 2003.
"The strategy in 2003 was to focus on marketing and sales and in 2005, we were recognised as one of the top 10 automobile brands in Singapore by number of sales," said General Motors Overseas Distribution MD Harold Koh.
"Now, GM is focusing on brand building and we see PR as the element to build the Chevrolet brand. And we see that Batey Consulting has what it takes to help us achieve this objective."
The agency has also scooped new business from high-end jeweller Roger Dubuis, to go with an account roster that already includes former MDK retainers such as FedEx, Apple and Sun Microsystems.
Chew confirmed that "90 per cent" of the MDK Singapore staff had moved over to Batey Consulting after the former agency was ended by parent company WPP.
In addition Batey Consulting has hired Chan Yen Ting as client service director from Asia PR Werkz.
"I see many exciting opportunities under the Batey banner," said Chew, who counts several years of both client-side and agency experience on her resume. "I can be more nimble."
