The Be 1 Communications (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd office, which actually started operations in April and employs 10 staff, is a joint venture between Be 1 Communications (Thailand), which owns a 49-per-cent stake, and the company's Malaysian partner, Tengku Dato' Seri Baderulzaman.

The latter is chief executive officer of the Malaysian office and owner of the remaining 51 per cent.

"We know our Malaysian partner through our Malaysian business client Petronas, which has an operation in Thailand. We also won the pitch for the annual contract to do PR and advertising activities for Petronas in Malaysia," said Jongkolnee Subruenruay, managing director of Be 1 Communications.

"Our partner also has good connections with the government and state offices in Malaysia, and that creates tremendous opportunities for us to open our PR agency there to serve the government and state accounts," she said.

Prachaya Chimvises, who was adviser to the managing director at Be 1 Communications, has been promoted to general manager of the Malaysian office.

Be 1 Communications Co Ltd is a joint venture between Chuo Senko (Thailand), which owns 51 per cent, and Chuo Senko (Thailand)'s former PR agency management and staff, who own a combined 49 per cent.

"We have grown up continuously after two years of separation from the public relations department of Chuo Senko (Thailand). Last year the company had total billings of Bt53 million. For this year, we expect growth to more than Bt150 million in billings," Jongkolnee said.

"Despite difficulties in both economics and politics, our clients in both the private and government sectors still rely on continuous PR activities. Clients in the government sector constitute 70 per cent of our billings," she added.

Be 1 Communications has gained many new clients this year, including Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (Thailand), The Red Bull Beverage Co, and Petronas, which is one of the company's major clients.

Petronas has entrusted Be 1 Communications Co Ltd with management of its advertising and marketing communications for the opening of its petrol stations in Thailand. Petronas operates around 117 stations across the Kingdom.

Jongkolnee said the agency had prepared for future growth by opening its Malaysian office at the end of April with registered capital of 500,000 Malaysian Ringgit (Bt5.1 million).

The investment is aimed at providing marketing communications services to clients in both the private and state sectors, including public relations, advertising, special events, marketing research, and media planning and buying.

"We expect our Malaysian subsidiary to earn Bt50 million in billings in its first year of operation. About 60 per cent of these will be generated by clients in the government sector," Jongkolnee said.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation