SINGAPORE — The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has announced the launch of PRCA Southeast Asia. PRCA Southeast Asia will be the new professional membership association representing PR and communications consultancies, in-house communications teams, and individuals throughout the region. PRCA Southeast Asia will be chaired by Singapore-based industry leader Lee Nugent MPRCA, regional director APAC, Text 100; and run by Tara Munis, who is relocating permanently from London to Singapore. Founding members include leading Southeast Asian consultancies Affluence PR, Blue Totem Communications, Golin, Grayling, H+K Strategies, Lewis PR, MHP Communications, Omnicom PR Group, Rice Communications, Text 100, The Hoffman Agency, and WE Worldwide.

SINGAPORE — Cognito has named Prisita Menon the agency’s executive director, Asia-Pacific and head of Singapore. Menon (pictured) has been with the firm for almost four years and has secured a growing list of Fortune 500 companies as clients. She will assume day-to-day management responsibilities for the Singapore business and will work with the global management team to ensure the continued growth of the business with a particular focus on service offerings, talent acquisition and marketing efforts.

SINGAPORE —  PropertyGuru Group, the online property company serving Asia, has appointed Text100 as its agency of record, following a competitive pitch. Text100 will partner with PropertyGuru to amplify the story of online property group, and articulate its ongoing transformation from a real estate company into a high-growth technology company. PropertyGuru helps more 25 million property seekers monthly find homes.

HONG KONG —Fitch has strengthened its Hong Kong operation with appointment of Emilia Mason and Matthew Robinson to its team. Mason, who has a background in architecture, comes on board as design director specializing in 3D design. Robinson joins as design director. He has spent 10 years at Fitch’s London office.

HONG KONG — Text100 Hong Kong has been appointed by architects, master planners and heritage consultants Purcell to manage their public relations in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Text100 will provide a comprehensive spectrum of services designed to distinguish Purcell from its competitors.

MUMBAI — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has signed on Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting to handle its communications initiatives in India. Pitchfork Partners will be in charge of communication strategies across India. The consultancy will support FCA with strategic direction and analytics to aid its growth.

MUMBAI — Industry vet Sahir Khan has launched a sports communications consultancy, called Farm Communications, with the goal of boosting global interest in Indian sports. Sahir has spent the majority of his 18-year career heading Perfect Relations’ sports practice, working with closely with sports brands, sports personalities and corporations involved in promoting sports.

MUMBAI AND DELHI — FTI Consulting has appointed Prasanto K Roy as a senior director, Malini Thadani as a senior advisor and Nandan Sharalaya as a senior consultant in the firm’s strategic communications group in India. Roy will be based in Delhi, and Thadani and Sharalaya will be based in Mumbai. Roy will advise technology, media and telecommunications clients, as well as all clients seeking to navigate the evolving digital economy. Thadani will work across the Asia-Pacific region advising boards and corporate clients on managing environmental, social and governance and sustainability risk. Sharalaya will extend FTI Consulting’s state-level public affairs capabilities for clients in the Southern and Western Indian states.

SYDNEY —  SuperFriend, which focuses on promoting employees’ mental health, has named Danielle Clarke to the newly-created role of head of marketing and communications. Clarke joins SuperFriend from NAB Super managing member communications. She previously spent six years at UniSuper managing member communications and was communications consultant at Mercer.

SYDNEY — The Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation has engaged Sefiani Communications Group on a low-bono basis to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer in Australia and motivate fundraising for more medical research into the disease. Aretha Franklin’s August death from the disease, which has a five-year survival rate of just 8%, sped up the launch of the effort which will include an ongoing communications campaign.

SYDNEY — After competitive pitches, Pulse Communications has been appointed as the brand marketing agency of record for newly launched Halo Top, the US low-calorie frozen dessert brand and the kitchen appliance brand KitchenAid.  Pulse’s Melbourne team has also been appointed by RACV (Roadside Assist, Car Loans, Insurance and Travel), to manage communications across its Home Division.

MELBOURNE —The city of Melbourne has tapped opr to handle the public relations for Melbourne Fashion Week. The agency is charged with creating stories that drive awareness of the event and deliver business results for the annual event.