Bud Communications builds on Australian business after fresh wins

Independent PR and content agency Bud Communications is expanding its Australian operation after picking up a string of new business wins, including Daikin and WEX.

The Singapore-headquartered agency has added manufacturing giant Daikin to its local roster, while global payments and fleet management business WEX has appointed Bud to lead PR across the APAC region.

The wins add to an Australian client portfolio spanning enterprise technology, ecommerce, corporate and consumer brands, while Bud also works with clients across the broader Asia Pacific region including AC Mobility and electric vehicle manufacturer BYD.

Bud Communications launched in Australia in 2024 and has since grown its local operation from one person to a team of four, with the agency now operating across Sydney and Melbourne.

“Australia has been one of our best growth stories these past two years,” Bud Communications CEO and founder Oliver Budgen said.

“Going from a one-person outpost to a fast-growing team, and picking up accounts like Daikin and WEX, largely through word of mouth, comes down to how we work: focusing on building client believability, adopting and applying new technology, and nurturing a culture that lets us attract people who’d rather challenge how comms is done rather than repeat it.”

The agency's growth locally is also being replicated across the region, with Bud recently announcing its expansion to Hong Kong, hiring respected comms leader Cynthia Chan as Hong Kong and North Asia lead.

The agency said its proprietary Believability Framework has become part of its new business proposition, using a structured diagnostic to assess areas including brand trust, credibility and authenticity and identify opportunities for communications strategy.

Bud has also expanded its Australian content team with the appointment of former AdNews deputy editor Ashley Regan as senior content executive.

Regan has spent six years working across journalism and content, including coverage of Australia's media and marketing sectors, and her appointment expands Bud's Australian presence into Melbourne.

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Ash’s journalistic calibre join Bud’s Australia team. Not only does she expand our presence to Melbourne, she also brings a wealth of experience across industries where the majority of our clients do business,” Bud Australia lead Richie Kenzie said.

“Alongside the slate of new client wins we’ve had in the first half of the year, it’s been an extremely positive period overall for the business and we’re excited to continue our upward momentum.”

Bud is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Sydney and Manila and operations across Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Hong Kong.