SINGAPORE — Helix PR has appointed Valerie Lim Jun Mei (pictured) as GM. Mei joined Helix in 2011 as a consultant and was then promoted to senior accountant. Mei is responsible for overseeing the management of the agency's public relations and maritime crisis accounts as well as assisting the directors in corporate development, financial planning and the delivery of the bottom line profit. She will continue to be involved in the services of the firm's key accounts. Mei was trained in accounting and worked for KPMG.

BANGALORE — The PRactice has appointed Jayanthi Sethuraman president of its national technology practice. The move aims to strengthen the firm's domain leadership in the rapidly transforming technology environment. Sethuraman has nearly two decades experience in the technology domain. She was worked with tech companies such as IBM, HP, Fujitsu and Tally Solutions. 

HONG KONG — Media intelligence company iSentia has restructured under a new single brand, and invests in machine learning technologies to offer clients more relevant and actionable insights from media sources. The investments include the launch of Stories, an additional capability within its MediaPortal platform. Stories summarizes news trends and provides timely analytics to clients while providing them with close to real-time intelligence that is valuable in strategy planning and risk management. 

SYDNEY — Ogilvy PR has released its Futures #3 report which identifies key emerging trends, including consumer relations to the overuse of technology and the impact of AI and use of data, that will impact Australian business and brands. The report provides a detailed analysis of data and information gathered from global technology and creative industry conferences, including Cannes and SXSW along with insights into trends that will impact business and brands in the future. Particularly, Future #3 explored the Seven Forces of the Future which include cultivators, communities, creators, constitutors, corporates, cyborgs and clones.