Blast Burson

Mauritius

Nestled in the Indian Ocean, some 2,000 kilometers off the southeastern coast of Africa, known for its sandy beaches and coral reefs, Mauritius may seem like an unlikely place to find a world-class public relations agency. But the nation has a strong financial sector, a vibrant tourism industry, and a growing manufacturing sector—and Blast, a locally grown firm that for the past 20 years has partnered with Burson (and its various predecessor firms) to establish itself as a formidable African presence.

Founded by Aisha Allee in Mauritius in 2004, a time when advertising giants dominated the market and PR was mostly advertorials and free publicity for ad campaigns, Blast began to take on its modern form in 2006, when Lekha Seebaluck joined the leadership team. Since then, Blast has evolved into the Indian Ocean region's premier communications agency, known for its deep understanding of Mauritius' political and social landscape, providing strategic counsel, public relations, crisis communication, digital marketing, creative design, AV production, event support and media intelligence. The firm has expanded from Mauritius to La Réunion, with services now extending into Seychelles, Comores, Mayotte and Madagascar. Today, a team of 60 professionals generates an annual revenue exceeding $1.6 million.

The firm’s clients range from listed companies and financial institutions to healthcare providers, educational institutions, biotechnology and agricultural businesses. In the past five years, Blast has seen revenue increase by better than 75% and its team grow 6 almost 50%. The result is work that has both cultural relevance and business impact: Blast has a track record that includes 10 SABRE awards—with another this year recognizing the firm’s crisis communications assistance during an oil spill for Marine Biotechnology Products.

Culture is another critical differentiator. During the pandemic, with clients cutting marketing budgets, Blast’s leadership made a conscious choice to stand by its people, and while others downsized, Blast protected jobs and even invested in creating a modern, attractive workspace.  And while others are just beginning to embrace DEI initiatives, Blast has long embraced different ideas, ages, and personalities.—Paul Holmes