Sue Vercoe and Angus Trigg take the reins at SEC Newgate

The local branch of strategic communications consultancy SEC Newgate has transitioned its senior leadership following a global restructure, with Brian Tyson handing over to partners Sue Vercoe and Angus Trigg.

SEC Newgate has appointed Sue Vercoe and Angus Trigg as joint managing partners of its Australian business, which boasts a team of around 120 professionals spread across six mainland capital cities.

The dual appointment comes as founding managing partner Brian Tyson moves into an expanded role as head of the Asia Pacific region after overseeing the local business for the past decade.

Established locally in 2013, SEC Newgate describes itself as the country’s largest full-service strategic communications agency for complex issues. The firm serves clients across a variety of industries in areas such as financial and corporate communications, public affairs, stakeholder and community engagement, and social and market research. The global group recently sold a majority stake to Middle East asset manager Investcorp.

Following the transaction, SEC Newgate has rejigged its organisational structure to support its international growth ambitions, which have a particular focus on the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. As part of that shuffle, Tyson, who also serves as joint deputy CEO at the global level, steps up as head of APAC to help drive organic growth and explore new markets in the region, while also becoming chairman of the Australian business.

Replacing Tyson in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the local branch are new national joint managing partners Sue Vercoe and Angus Trigg, who are both based out of Sydney. Together, the pair bring around six decades worth of combined corporate advisory experience to their new leadership roles, described as having been trusted to advise on some of the most consequential projects in Australia during the course of their careers.

Sue Vercoe, who will continue in her role as managing director of SEC Newgate Research, has been a partner with the firm since its foundation, crossing alongside Tyson from the partnership of predecessor Kreab Gavin Anderson, where she also established a research arm and served as its CEO. Vercoe’s association with Gavin Anderson dates back thirty years, when she originally joined the firm in Sydney before later spending time in its Tokyo office.

“While I did leave for a few years, I was drawn back by the great people and culture and the opportunity to help build the business into Australia’s premier strategic communications advisory firm,” Vercoe stated. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Angus to lead SEC Newgate into its second decade. We've got a fantastic team and are all firmly focused on supporting our clients to navigate a rapidly changing environment.”

A one-time adviser with the Australian government, Angus Trigg likewise spent time as a partner at Gavin Anderson, although departed in 2009 for a corporate affairs role with IAG before then serving for the best part of a decade as a director at GrainCorp. In 2020 he was appointed as head of Australia communications & public policy for payments fintech Klarna, jumping ship a year later to take up a post with SEC Newgate.