GHCasia expands Singapore operations; names GM and account director

The agency has promoted Dana Urmonas as general manager, and Chisato Nishiyori (pictured) to fill Urmonas’ previous role of account director. The agency has doubled its staff in Singapore in the last 18 months in response to increasing business, according to CEO Paul Hicks.

GHCasia's client portfolio includes Hotel Fort Canning, Luxperience, Morton’s, Marriot Singapore, TransAsia Airways, Orient-Express, Silversea Cruises and Fairline Boats.

With more than 15 years of marketing and public-relations experience with agencies and restaurant groups in Asia, Urmonas also worked at multinational companies such as Nestlé in Australia and Flextech Television in London.

She is tasked with the day-to-day agency operations and new business development, besides overseeing all client relations.

“Our portfolio of clients at GHCasia Singapore has a spectacular range of travel and tourism clients," Urmonas said. "I am looking forward to expand our client range and ensure we continue to deliver impactful and dynamic public relations campaigns."

Nishiyori, meanwhile, most recently oversaw PR and marketing communications for the launch of Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa in Singapore.

Her experience in PR, marketing and events management extends from the UK to Japan and Singapore, including Michelin-starred Chef Atul Kochhar’s Benares Restaurant in London and Conrad Tokyo.

GHCasia was established by Lynn Grebstad and Paul Hicks in 1997 to provide communications advice, strategy and services regionally, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing and Bangkok.