Sandpiper, a renowned public affairs and strategic communications consultancy, has recently announced Saskia Kendall’s appointment as the Head of Public Affairs for the APAC region. This strategic move, designed to strengthen Sandpiper’s position and drive expansion in the APAC market, underscores Kendall’s impressive career trajectory and unique expertise.
Saskia Kendall first joined the ranks of Sandpiper in 2019. She stepped into the role of Director of Healthcare, making significant contributions to enhancing the firm’s healthcare and public offerings. Kendall’s leadership helped propel the company’s global client roster expansion.
Kendall brings two decades of extensive experience in public affairs, public policy, and communications to her new role. Her professional journey spans multiple continents, including Europe, the UK, and the APAC region. Kendall’s career set sail in the UK Parliament, where she worked briefly for Nick Clegg before joining The King’s Fund, a highly influential healthcare think tank. She led their press office and public affairs efforts before relocating to Singapore in 2018. Before her latest promotion, Kendall held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Speyside.
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In her new role at Sandpiper, Kendall will lead a team of senior public affairs practitioners spread across the APAC region. Her responsibilities will span diverse sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, and technology.
Kendall has acknowledged the significant growth of Sandpiper’s public affairs work in recent years. She notes that clients are increasingly seeking a comprehensive, integrated approach to managing their issues and opportunities. “Our unique combination of sector knowledge, public affairs expertise, and research capabilities makes us an ideal partner to support them,” Kendall commented.
The excitement is palpable as Kendall anticipates working with the Sandpiper team to augment its offerings. Emma Smith, CEO of Sandpiper, recognizes Kendall’s expertise as highly pertinent in today’s complex and highly regulated business environment.
Smith elaborates on Kendall’s advisory approach, which merges global experience with intimate knowledge of Asia Pacific markets. This blend will enhance the firm’s ability to help clients engage effectively with policy makers, experts, and other industry stakeholders.
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Furthermore, Sandpiper’s unique integration of communications and public affairs services is hailed by Smith as a distinctive offering in the region. The consultancy aims to navigate the risks and challenges businesses face successfully.
In addition to Kendall’s appointment, Sandpiper bolstered its leadership earlier this year with new hires, particularly in the tech sector. The reshuffled leadership comprises of Mark Johnson leading Asia Pacific, Hetty Musfirah overseeing Southeast Asia, and Rong Li heading Greater China. Each leader brings a wealth of experience in strategic communications and public affairs in the technology sector, along with profound market insights. Sandpiper’s strategic shifts signal an era of strengthening ties and expanding influence in the APAC region, with Saskia Kendall at the helm of this transition.
This article is based on a report from Marketing Interactive.
