30 January | PremierNational’s New Partnership Structure
With the immediate ambition of turning PremierNational into Australia’s largest ‘best in class and bipartisan’ privately owned government relations firm, Chairman Michael Photios announced a major expansion plan with immediate effect.
The centrepiece is a major restructure of its shareholding to expand the ownership to cover all three major parties of both Government and Opposition – Labor, Liberal & National. An all-in-one firm and accounting for seasonal political change, where and when it happens. As sure as night follows day in Australia, the two majors form the government – State and Federal.
The next big and exciting phase for PremierNational is all about one thing – real, effective and connected bipartisanship.
A new partnership structure with a major renovation of the current shareholding will focus on three new Partners joining Liberal powerbroker and Chairman Michael Photios in the bipartisan expansion. Current CEO and Nationals identity Lachlan Crombie steps up as a Partner in the soon to be expanded and refurbished Sydney Office.
He is joined by prominent Labor figure Tom Kenny, who for seven years was firstly right-hand man to Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, and then to Labor Leader Anthony Albanese.
With a wealth of private sector and GR experience in the heart of Labor circles in Canberra, and opening the new Canberra Office, will be senior industry player Kathryn Conroy who joins the new ownership team as Partner. Kathryn has worked in the nation’s capital for two GR operations and has been Senior Press Secretary and a Senior Policy Advisor to Labor Ministers. Kathryn is one of Australia’s most respected government relations and communications strategists having worked for some of the nation’s largest companies and peak bodies.
A new Brisbane Office has been established with LNP Queensland’s Nelson Savanh joining the PremierNational team as Director – Queensland. Nelson has worked in the office of three former LNP Leaders; the current Lord Mayor of Brisbane; the current Leader and now Premier; was a candidate in the recent State Election and has experience working directly in GR across Queensland.
Outstanding current Managing Director Ian Hancock, who has given great leadership as a founding shareholder, will continue to bring the weight of his experience to the group as Senior Counsel. He will serve alongside fellow Senior Counsel Greg Daniel AM. Of course, lawyer and former senior government bureaucrat Ilana Waldman continues as Director – Property, Planning & Infrastructure, alongside former Liberal staffer Georgia de Mestre as Head of Policy & Political Strategy, and continuing to run the ship is longstanding Chief Operating Officer Christine Kirk.
The Labor team at PremierNational in its greatly expanded form, will draw on the immense presence of Labor icon and powerbroker, former Minister Graham Richardson (Richo), who continues as Senior Counsel, alongside his commentary on air with Sky News.
Bringing Michael Photios and Graham Richardson together with this crack team of new Partners, in new offices, will make for the best in the game.
For exclusive insights, check out this article from the Australian Financial Review:
