Firm establishes first Hong Kong office, expands US corporate communications and corporate affairs offering

Hume Brophy, the global communications firm specialising in PR, public affairs, investor relations and corporate and financial communications, has expanded its global reach with the acquisition of Madaket+Co, a communications consultancy with operations in New York and Hong Kong.

Through the deal, Hume Brophy is establishing its first full-time base in Hong Kong. Madaket+Co’s team of six corporate and financial communications specialists in Hong Kong joins Hume Brophy’s existing 12-strong Asia team, headquartered in Singapore and led by Asia managing director, Martin Reidy. Day-to-day operations in Hong Kong will be led by Thomas Kwan, who assumes the role of director, Hong Kong.

The acquisition also significantly strengthens Hume Brophy’s capabilities in the United States. New York-based Josh Nova, founder of Madaket, becomes managing director of Hume Brophy US. Nova will lead a team of 5 consultants in New York – drawn from the corporate, consultancy and media spheres – and will be responsible for leading Hume Brophy’s growth strategy in North America. He will report to Hume Brophy CEO Conall McDevitt.

McDevitt says, “This acquisition is a strong statement of intent to continue building an international, independent communications and corporate affairs firm. Bringing Madaket into the Hume Brophy network strengthens our offering across the world’s three biggest capital markets – and gives us strong, deep and expert-led teams in every key global hub.

“The acquisition of Madaket ticks a number of boxes for Hume Brophy’s international growth plans. It gives us an experienced team in Hong Kong, a strategic leader to grow our business in the US, and a presence in, and full coverage of, the world’s three leading capital markets. Furthermore, it positions us perfectly to build on the surge of large and fast-growing companies in Asia working with Hume Brophy to increase their activity in the US and Europe, and to provide our clients globally with sophisticated, local communications counsel in one of Asia’s most important markets.”

Hume Brophy’s Asia business has grown rapidly since its launch in 2013. Madaket+Co’s client portfolio augments the range of high-profile, industry-leading corporate, financial, and technology clients that Hume Brophy represents in Asia. The firm provides corporate and financial communications counsel and government relations advice across the continent and is now active in Singapore, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and every major market in Southeast Asia. The Hong Kong office will bolster Hume Brophy’s strategic communications and public affairs offering to clients in the region, and provides a platform to extend the Asia practice’s already-strong reach in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

The acquisition also adds vital geographic reach to Hume Brophy’s global corporate affairs and financial communications practice, further strengthening the firm’s borderless approach that already covers the major financial centres of London, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Singapore and Dublin.

Nova says, “I speak for the whole Madaket team in sharing my excitement at joining Hume Brophy. Together we have built a strong and thriving business because of our client-centric philosophy. I have long felt that being part of a bigger and global offering is the best way for this team and our business to reach its potential, but it was crucial that we shared a philosophy of dedication to our clients, creative thinking and entrepreneurship in our people and strategic vision in our approach. We have found that in Hume Brophy. We look forward to being an important part of Hume Brophy’s continued growth and are excited about the benefits this will bring to all of our clients.”

Established in 2013 by  Nova, a former senior Ketchum executive in New York and Hong Hong, Madaket+Co has been trading for five years delivering corporate communications and corporate affairs advice to international clients in Asia and the United States. It has built a strong client base of leading global companies in the financial services and technology sectors and specialises in international corporate and financial communications. The team has deep experience of the Hong Kong, Mainland China and South East Asian corporate and communications markets, as well as an excellent track record in the United States.

Founded in 2005 by John Hume and Eoin Brophy, Hume Brophy is an international communications firm providing a full range of strategic communications and government relations counsel for companies across the financial services, energy and renewables, transport, healthcare, retail, TMT, gaming, agribusiness and international trade sectors.