Undertow Media
A PR agency based in Auckland, New Zealand

An ‘undertow’ is a strong pull in a different direction. To create it you must first know the way the flow runs, then forge a surprising new route.

This is the way Undertow Media conducts its day-to-day business.

While this is true and makes sense of our name, we know even one-man bands with no clients can say clever things.  You’re here because you want to know we’re credible.

While somewhat ironically we don’t like tooting our own horn, as a quick summary agency founder Greer Bland started the New Zealand business in 2013 after running the consumer division of a large Australian agency comprising 40 staff. 

Before she left to bring all she learnt back home, she had already signed up a number of clients who needed NZ support and knew her style. From there, she convinced businesses that had never had an on-the-ground agency to come on board. We’ve expanded our services to be the leader in influencer relations, copy that sings on social, smart news plays that get the 6pm slot, content that converts and events that are talked about for weeks.

And we’ve built an almost faultless team of professionals that have helped rally a gold standard in communications across every possible service we provide. Every day our crew enters our Grey Lynn studio and showroom to tell stories and make hay for clients.

Creative and accurate.

Here are the humans who get things done around here.

 
Greer BlandManaging Director

Greer Bland

Managing Director

Greer is the ultimate eyes and ears of Undertow Media, personally overseeing every account team to ensure that all work meets her exacting standards.

After working in Australia for four years Greer returned to New Zealand in 2013 and set out to fill the void in providing efficient, accurate PR solutions here.  She has deep, well-cared for media friendships she has honed by offering up win-win content opportunities and working around the clock to get things done.

Greer inspires her staff to constantly push boundaries in the pursuit of outstanding results and relationships for every client.

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Gina Williams-Folau

Head of Communications

Gina has a background in PR and corporate affairs, with attention to detail and strategic implementation in her blood. 

For Gina, it’s all about news, she is the master of drafting the perfect statement to grab journalists’ attention and secure headlines.  More recently, she has turned her eye to social media content and backend analytics, perfecting the journey from inspiration to ‘the sale’.

As a mum of four Gina is the perfect person to keep the UM team in-check, and she also acts as the cultural conscience of the agency ensuring all campaigns appeal to a diverse Kiwi audience and keeping our te reo Māori pronunciation on point. 

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Jess Mayhew

General Manager - Head of Consumer

After 8 years in the UK, 5 working in PR and 3 as full-time mum, Jess returned home to NZ in search of a new adventure. Her magnetic personality, practical mind and always up for a laugh attitude meant she quickly became an integral part of the Undertow crew.

A master of the written word who can also regale a room, Jess knows a thing or two about getting the best out of her team while keeping many balls in the air and is an absolute efficiency trailblazer on every project she’s part of.

Making the most of every opportunity, Jess is our go-to for executing integrated campaigns that get all the eyeballs.

Victoria Cooper-Smith

Senior Account Director

Victoria is an astute and thoughtful leader who brought her serious fashion bona fides to the Undertow team after three years working client side.

Her passion for organisation and marketing blossomed at fashion school where, instead of creating a final collection, she produced, stage managed and promoted the final show.

She has now extended this expertise into everything from large scale events, influencer management and layered PR strategies.  Victoria is a master at anticipating client needs and she enthusiastically develops an encyclopedic knowledge for every brand under her care, tailoring all her communications until they are a perfect fit.  

Your name here

Are you talented, driven and fun to be around? We’re always on the lookout for fresh talent so get in touch with us today.

 
 

Our values

  • We take the dark out of the ‘dark arts’. We think that our clients, the media and public we are talking to as well as our team members must be able to always trust what we say, that we know what we are doing and that we will always keep our word.

  • Boring people can’t tell or sell stories. Our team gets in and around all the angles and what ifs, so we have an unfaltering belief that what we are doing is the best route and we have explored all avenues.

  • This is the most important PR trait. The squeaky wheel gets the grease is our absolute mantra. In the simplest terms it means you get what you paid for and more.

  • We want people who want to keep learning. Each of our team has a personal desire to succeed and a mutual drive to support – raising the bar with each execution for themselves and their clients.

  • We aren’t bedded down in global mandates or overheads. This means we can be flexible to client and business needs.

  • Things move rapidly in media and social. We get things done (and right) the first time for maximum efficiency.