PRecious Communications, an award-winning multi-market integrated communications agency, announced the appointment of Joanna Ong as its first Regional Chief Operations Officer (COO). At the same time, Regional Vice President of Corporate and Brands, Sunita Kanapathy takes on the additional responsibility of overseeing PRecious’ Malaysia business.

These two senior appointments will strengthen PRecious’ regional leadership as it accelerates its growth in the Asia Pacific region.

Introducing Our First Regional COO: Joanna Ong

An industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, Joanna will be leading and managing teams across Asia Pacific, responsible for driving operational excellence, client service delivery and people development. As COO, she will play a pivotal role in enhancing the agency’s capabilities to deliver adaptive, business-aligned communications strategies for its diverse portfolio of clients. She will report directly to Lars Voedisch, Group CEO of PRecious Communications and will partner with Lars in achieving strategic business priorities and ensuring sustainable growth.

Throughout her career, Joanna has held several senior leadership positions creating impact for clients, teams and businesses. As a senior Public Relations practitioner, she has taken on roles such as Vice President of PR and Communications for Asia Pacific region with Hilton and Radisson and as a consultant in global agencies including Burson, Ogilvy and MSL.

She was also a founder of a successful regional PR agency. Most recently, she was the Managing Director of MSL Singapore, responsible for leading and transforming its business before taking on the role of overseeing PR and Communications for Publicis Groupe in Asia Pacific.

“I am incredibly excited to join PRecious as it embarks on its next stage of growth in the region. I look forward to working with the talented team across markets to further build on PRecious’ success to achieve its strategic vision in delivering the best business outcomes for clients and growth opportunities for the team,” said Joanna Ong.

Expanding Our Malaysia Leadership: Sunita Kanapathy

Sunita’s expanded remit comes six months after she joined the agency, reflecting her significant contributions to regional growth and client strategy. Reporting to Joanna Ong, Sunita will continue shaping PRecious’ regional vision while leading efforts to strengthen client relationships, develop talent, and drive business expansion to reinforce the agency’s integrated communications offering in the Malaysian market.

With over 25 years of industry experience including leadership roles at Ogilvy Malaysia, Sunita’s track record includes leading cross-functional teams to deliver integrated campaigns that combine strategic insight with data-driven content. Her experience with multinational and regional clients across the financial services, healthcare, and travel sectors, along with her deep understanding of Southeast Asian market dynamics, will play a pivotal role in advancing PRecious’ vision to be the strategic communications partner of choice.

“I’m honoured to be trusted with this expanded portfolio to help steer PRecious’ next phase of growth in Malaysia while continuing to advance our regional agenda,” said Sunita Kanapathy. “I’m looking forward to applying the regional experience I’ve gained to deepen our local impact. Malaysia is a key market with tremendous potential, and my focus will be on ensuring we continue delivering meaningful, results-driven work for our clients while building a strong, connected team.”

A Vision for Accelerated Growth

“PRecious is entering an exciting new phase of growth in the region and we’re accelerating this momentum by strengthening our regional leadership team,” said Lars Voedisch, Group CEO. “Joanna brings a proven track record of transforming organisations and building high-performing teams while Sunita has demonstrated exceptional leadership, driving impact across our Corporate and Brands businesses. Their strategic vision and deep regional experience will be invaluable as we continue to scale and solidify PRecious’ position as a leading communications powerhouse in Asia – and one day beyond.”

PRecious Communications: Southeast Asia’s Premier Agency for Impactful Brand Narratives

PRecious Communications is an award-winning multi-market integrated communications agency specialising in go-to-market strategies and data-driven storytelling for clients across Southeast Asia, with strategically located offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, complemented by an extensive network of partners throughout the broader Asia Pacific region.

With over a decade of industry expertise, the agency has consistently delivered impactful results for leading brands and fast-growing startups across key sectors including technology, finance, healthcare, and consumer goods. Since joining the GlobalCom PR Network in 2019 as its exclusive Southeast Asia representative, PRecious has significantly expanded its global reach through a formidable network of more than 80 independent agencies in over 100 countries.

PRecious Communications has consistently been acknowledged among the top consultancies in the region, receiving Gold for PR Team of the Year at the Marketing Interactive PR Awards 2022, Gold for Most Innovative PR Agency of the Year at the 2023 APAC Stevie Awards, and Medium-Sized Consultancy of the Year in Southeast Asia at the 2025 International Business Awards.

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