Airwallex on third comms hire in two years
Airwallex is on another hunt for comms leadership in ANZ
Payments giant Airwallex is searching for its third ANZ communications leader in just two years, after the role sat vacant for nearly a year.
The Melbourne-founded company, which has raised around $1 billion in venture capital, is recruiting a manager or associate director with a strong focus on “media and industry influencers” in ANZ.
The recruitment follows coverage in the Australian Financial Review and Sydney Morning Herald detailing Airwallex’s use of paid influencers to promote chief executive Jack Zhang’s “thought leadership”, as well as reports that the company threatened Nine mastheads with legal action over several articles.
According to a job advertisement, the successful candidate will be responsible for devising and implementing a “holistic engagement program”, including providing senior media contacts with access to Airwallex leadership to help strengthen the company’s reputation.
Once appointed, the new hire will become Airwallex’s third ANZ communications lead since early 2024.
Former head of ANZ corporate affairs Nick Creevey exited the business two years ago, and was replaced shortly afterwards by former Finder global communications director Bessie Hassan, who departed after just over a year in the role.
Mumbrella understands Airwallex first began recruiting for a new ANZ communications manager in July, but the initial search was unsuccessful, and the company has since restarted the process.
The company has also recently overhauled its public relations agency roster, parting ways with Sydney-based Thrive PR late last year and appointing global network Sefiani.
Airwallex also briefly engaged now-disbanded corporate communications firm Cato & Clive for crisis support in December, following AFR reporting that employees in China had pushed for broader access to customer data.
Founded by Zhang and four others in Melbourne a decade ago, Airwallex specialises in cross-border payment technology and now has 26 global offices, including its headquarters in Singapore and San Francisco.
Airwallex did not respond to several questions from Mumbrella, but offered the following statement: “This is a replacement position that will support the global communications team and assist with media queries and external engagement in Australia.”
