Pulse CEO Bob Chua joins Go Communications as chairman

Chua, founder of global digital research agency Pulse Group, brings technology experience and digital know-how to the table, he told Campaign in a phone interview. "Also vision, what I've done with market research—adapting it to today's digital environment— I hope to bring to Go. The communications industry has changed considerably and Go needs to be ahead of that."

Go Communications CEO and industry veteran Michael de Kretser commented that Chua's appointment to the board of directors was "pivotal to the company’s growth plans and Asia-Pacific geographic expansion”.

Chua said, “My key role as chairman will be to implement a blueprint strategy for a regional network." He added that plans and discussions were already in place for joint-venture and wholly-owned Go offices in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. "These offices should be fully operational by end 2012."

This tactic mirrors Chua's other ventures, he said. "I go on the landgrab very quickly and chart a swift growth plan. The idea here is to tackle these high-growth markets in which we've already made a good start," said Chua.  

Go was founded six years ago by de Kretser and his son, Peter de Kretser, COO of Go Communications. Before Go, Michael de Kretser founded and ran WPP-acquired MDK Consultants. The agency was absorbed into Batey PR which in turn was folded into Hill + Knowlton. 

"As a relatively young agency with a (mostly) young staff, it has the ability to evolve, change and embrace technology. Already, digital comprises 25 to 30 per cent of Go's revenue. We're in the process of beefing up its digital capabilities and expect digital to form an even larger chunk of our business," said Chua. 

Over the years, Chua's group Pulse and Go have worked together on numerous projects. This will continue, said Chua. "Although the partnership isn't strategic, we have already started integrating Pulse's capabilities into Go's comms strategy," he said. "The agency in six months time will be very different from the agency it was six months ago."

Said de Kretser, "The synergies of the two companies are complementary, and will provide clients a range of increased resources."

Adding to its capabilities, Go has also appointed two sportsmen, golfer Stewart Ginn and professional footballer Abbas Saad, as sports brand directors. 

"Sports and events marketing is becoming a big part of our client communications strategy. Ginn and Abbas will support sporting events for clients," said de Kretser. 

Go Communications' clients include Berjaya Roasters, Fischer-Price, Sunway Lagoon, Tourism Victoria and Celebrity Fitness. Last year, the agency won over 20 new accounts across a broad industry range.