Ruder Finn bets on local depth with ERA acquisition
Long reliant on China, Ruder Finn’s Southeast Asia deal challenges ‘helicopter’ PR models — favouring local expertise in often-overlooked markets.
Ruder Finn has acquired ERA Communications, Earned First can reveal, deepening the independent firm's commitment to Southeast Asian markets including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Founded a decade ago as Echo Myanmar by Anthony Larmon, ERA was born from a subsequent merger with RevoTech in 2019. The firm, best known for a string of highly creative award winning campaigns, now stands at 90 people — with bigger operations in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos supplemented by Vietnam and Thailand.
Larmon will remain in place in charge of Ruder Finn ERA, reporting to Ruder Finn Asia-Pacific MD and global chief growth officer Elan Shou. The addition of ERA significantly expands Ruder Finn's footprint in Southeast Asia, which had hitherto consisted of relatively small operations in Singapore and Malaysia.
For Ruder Finn, the deal provides a compelling opportunity to finally diversify a regional offering that remains dominated by its China presence. Having grown to become the biggest international PR firm in China, around 85% of Ruder Finn's $60m in Asia-Pacific revenue comes from its Greater China offices, thanks to considerable strength across integrated marketing, luxury, beauty, travel/retail, automotive and technology.
