Disruptive-tech PR agency, C8 Consulting, has expanded its team with the appointment of PR and communications expert, Andrew Darling, as the agency’s new director.

In his role, Andrew Darling will work closely with the management team, to help drive business growth with new commercial initiatives, and take on strategic responsibility across its portfolio of global clients, including Forter, BlueVoyant, Panasonic, Eseye Noname Security and iland.

Darling is a former tech journalist, turned communications professional, with a global perspective derived from over 20 years working with technology and data companies, VCs, media agencies, payment tech providers, non-profits, and broadcasters.

He has a successful track record in leading in-house PR, creative corporate communications, and marketing strategies, that have assisted four mobile digital businesses through significant transition from owner-management status to scalable, funded enterprise, and eventual sale.

From 2017 to 2021, Darling was the managing director of West Pier Ventures, a strategic communications agency based in Singapore, specialising in helping digital businesses with corporate marketing and communications, media relations, and thought-leadership content. The agency was focused on serving clients in Europe and Asia-Pacific, such as Mastercard AJP, Eyeota, Innovid, Profusion, Brave Bison, Weber Shandwick, and WundermanThompson. In the past year, Darling has been delivering crisis and strategic comms and media relations on COVID-19 issues for the UK Government working with No 10, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Paula Elliott, managing director of C8 Consulting, says, “We are delighted to kick-start 2022 by welcoming Andrew into the business. As a commercially minded PR director, Andrew cares passionately about supporting our clients, and mentoring our team, with his wealth of industry experience. At C8 Consulting, he will play a central role in driving new initiatives, drawing on his in-depth understanding and knowledge of all aspects of the business”.