2023 Best PR Agencies to Work For, Asia-Pacific

About/FAQ | North America | EMEA

Best Agency to Work For is possibly the only predictive award that PRovoke Media gives out. By this, we mean there’s a direct correlation between the agencies on this list and those that take home our biggest honor (often times at some point in the future) — Agency of the Year recognition. That’s because firms that take culture seriously attract and retain smart and creative talent who, in turn, produce stellar work. It’s a simple formula but one that’s easily overlooked amid the breathless pace and tremendous pressures that are a seemingly inevitable reality of agency life. But this pace is exactly why agencies shouldn’t underestimate the power its culture has on the work its employees produce, factors that have only increased in prominence amid the turbulence of the past few years.

The firms recognized on the rankings include a few holding company firms, but mostly independents. Some have generous benefits, others prioritize mental health, professional development or interesting work that keeps talent engaged. All of them have built cultures that are resilient, inclusive and, more often than not, fun.

The top ranked agency in each category will be recognised at the 2023 Asia-Pacific SABRE Awards, taking place on September 27 in Singapore. Tickets for the evening ceremony are available here, as part of the PRovoke Asia-Pacific Summit on the same day.

BEST ASIA-PACIFIC AGENCY TO WORK FOR, LARGE (90+)

#1 Golin (Interpublic Group)

For the first time in its history, Golin is named a Best Agency to Work For in Asia-Pacific, reflecting the transparent, inclusive culture that has been built at the 130-strong agency in this region. The firm scored particularly highly for its collaborative, collegial approach, which also encourages employees to take their own initiative. Golin's employee responses also reflect the excellent job the firm does on DEI, across gender, ethnicity and anti-discrimation, alongside strong scores for ethics and integrity.

Golin's employee offering includes a regional focus on employee assistance, professional development and DEI, alongside local market programmes that empower employees at a grassroots level. Employees lauded the firm for being "willing to create change that matters, inclusive, brave ", while also praising "company culture, colleague relationships, and transparent communication."

#2 Allison+Partners (Stagwell Group)

#3 DeVries Global (Interpublic Group)

#4 The Hoffman Agency (Independent)

BEST ASIA-PACIFIC AGENCY TO WORK FOR, MIDSIZE (40-89)

#1 Mutant Communications (Singapore/Independent)

Amid steady growth, Mutant has always scored well in our Best Agencies to Work For research, taking top honours in 2019. Now employing 45 people, the firm owes much to the strong values set by its leadership team, resulting in high scores across DEI, safety from abusive and toxic clients, and a friendly, respectful workplace. One representative employee comment describes the culture as "flexible, inclusive and empowering", while another lauds the respect and transparency with which staff are treated. "It's the first place I've been in where I feel valued and my opinions matter. We're empowered to counsel clients and push back on briefs to drive real results — which then brings us very happy clients who treat us as partners."

Mutant's policies reflect this culture, including considerable investment in training and mentorship, along with support for mental health, flexible working, and DEI. "Mutant provides an empowering work environment - no matter how junior we are, everyone listens and includes us in brainstorms and asks for our opinions," says one staffer. "The culture is really inclusive and we enjoy working and playing hard together."

#2 Sling & Stone (Regional/Independent)

#3 SenateSHJ (Australasia/Independent)

#4 AKA Asia (Singapore/Independent)

#5 Finn Partners Singapore (Independent)

BEST ASIA-PACIFIC AGENCY TO WORK FOR, SMALL (15-39)

#1 PR Wire (Sri Lanka/Independent)

Sri Lankan market leader PR Wire wins Best Agency to Work For honours for the second consecutive year, thanks to a work culture that prioritises a culture of belonging, respect and innovation. The agency's staff score their employer particularly highly for DEI, collaboration, empowerment, ethics and integrity, with one respondent noting "the camaraderie and dedication of my coworkers in striving for success are what I cherish the most."

In terms of specific policies, PR Wire's work from anywhere policy and female empowerment stand out, while there are also initiatives that invest in professional development and DEI. "I believe our company culture prioritizes personal growth and provides exceptional support to employees," says one respondent, while others praise the "freedom and flexibility."

#2 Sefiani (Australia/Independent)

#3 Veritas Reputation PR (India/Independent)

#4 Honner (Australia/Independent)

BEST ASIA-PACIFIC AGENCY TO WORK FOR, MICRO (1-14)

#1 Alexander PR (New Zealand/Independent)

Alexander PR wins Best Agency Work For honours for the third consecutive year in this category, underpinned by an empathetic staff culture that is reflected not only in the long tenures of its 11 staffers, but in the many opportunities it provides for their growth. There were uniformly high scores across the board, including such metrics as leadership values, confidence in senior management, an authentic culture, empathetic leadership and ethics policies.

"Open, supportive and creative" is how one employee describes the culture, while others note the team is "positive, powerful and inclusive". Alexander PR's focus on culture includes investing in staffers' personal passions, parental and long leave, and retention initiatives that foster an environment where every staffer feels responsible for HR. Employees even appear to enjoy the personalised birthday song that the two company owners "elaborately" sing for them over the phone to start their special day off.

#2 Blue Totem Communications (Singapore/Independent)

#3 Bud Comms (Singapore/Independent)