Preamble
McGallen & Bolden Group is a leading strategy, marketing, crisis communication, and PR agency in Singapore, serving the Asia Pacific and worldwide. Founded in 1991, the group has served clients in computing, cybersecurity, AI, robotics and automation, industrial safety and engineering, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, hospitality, non-profits, and governments.
History
McGallen & Bolden Group is one of the most established B2B public relations (PR) agencies in Asia Pacific, specializing in business strategy, digital marketing, marketing communications, public relations, video for YouTube, media and crisis communications coaching, and leadership and sales coaching. Get key links on Linktree.
“Our singular goal is to help you COMMUNICATE your brand effectively to all your stakeholders, through our tactical approaches and service offerings.”
Founded in Singapore in 1991 (initially as a design and total quality management consultancy), McGallen & Bolden Group is today one of the most established independent full-service strategy, marketing, and B2B PR agencies focused on Asia Pacific (ASEAN, Australasia, India, North Asia, including China PRC, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea).
Because our core team is hands-on, fast, lean, kaizen-focused, and has built a deep pool of intellectual capital, we have endured the tests of many economic challenges and communications evolutions for more than 30 years.
Our consultants operate globally through the power of technology-centric collaboration, and our Singapore office works closely with various associates around the world, including China PRC, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, etc., often appointed by our esteemed clients as their lead agency.
We received awards and accolades including: Most Innovative PR Agency (Bronze 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, Silver 2016), PR Agency of the Year (Bronze 2019, 2018, Silver 2017), Digital Firm of the Year (Honorable Mention 2017, 2016), Best Singapore PR Agency List (Manifest, Simibest, PRagencynetwork, Best in SG, Sortlist), and Top Training Firms in Singapore (2021).
现今四十三亿人口的亚太地区，已经是一个高于三十五兆美元的黄金市场。在激烈竞争的市场和不稳定的大环境下，您需要有效地成功打响您的品牌知名度。这无疑就是靠公共关系和数字媒体双管齐下以实际和完整的战略实践达到您的盈利和品牌推广。
屹立了30多年的麦金伦顾问公司是个多次获奖的高科技战略，数字营销，公共关系和培訓公司。我们的领导各持30年以上的市场管理，新兴企业，新闻，媒体，人力培训，行销，公共关系经验，且精通英语和国语。
随著网路和数字媒体的启动，我们一贯齐步跟进，开发，研究及使用此等科技于客户活动及培训用途。如果您的商业计划设定在亚太地区市场，我们全亚洲资深伙伴都有把握和乐意协助您大展鸿图。我们的敏捷价值观以合作，结果，和速应为本，以达到您最理想的要求。我们从不喧哗取众，而是以真实的知识和专长取胜。
您可把我们当成您有效且具备实战经验的副机长，助您导航，助舵。用行动证明一切，陪伴您信心满满地开阔市场和品牌，拥护您成为您领域的赢家。我们欢迎您随时于我们联系商讨如何启动您的品牌策略和计划。
From Maxwell to International
We operated first out of a shared space with a retail business in Singapore’s shopping district for a while. Then we took on a full-time office space at one of Singapore’s most cultural districts, Maxwell Road’s Maxwell House, and stayed there for the next 20 years. Maxwell House’s demolition and transformation into a residential building forced us to vacate. We found a nice cosy office space nearby, at International Plaza, Anson Road, which is convenient with direct access to the MRT (mass rapid transit, or “subway” in Singapore), plenty of food and beverage options, hospitality, and conference facilities.
Our Evolution (chronological)
1991: Graphic design and digital publishing (DTP), as ab initio
1991: Aviation customer service training program customization
1994: Public Relations (PR) and marketing communication
1996: Internet consulting (web design, web/email hosting)
1996: Book publishing (customer service leadership)
1997: Training (customer service, TQM, ISO9000)
1998: Java development
1999: Internet & computer services (Cobalt, Tenon, etc)
1999: First online newsroom
2000: Video post-production (AVID NLE for TVC/Cinema)
2001: Coaching (sales and leadership)
2002: Coaching (media training and crisis communication)
2002: Consulting on Knowledge Management and CMS
2003: Perl development
2003: NetJanus™ Email Security Appliance (BSD) development
2003: Book publishing (book on business and tech leadership)
2004: Coaching (media training for non-profits)
2004: Online newsroom v2.0 (microwire.info)
2008: Editorial and research consulting
2008: Business & Market Strategy Consulting
2010: App development (social media, Web and mobile)
2011: CMS, Web 2.0 and e-Commerce
2012: Rekindled video, filmmaking & VNR services
2014: Branding (audit, strategy, naming, visual identity)
2015: Co-developed “Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet.”
2015: Inbound Marketing
2016: Refined sales training program – IntrinSelling™ Primer
2016: FlightLeaders division established
2016: Developed BRM™ and Leadership Training for Aviation
2016: Rekindled Interactive Training Development (Video, App, Web)
2017: Market Entry Consulting
2017: Red Teaming
2018: Business Strategy Consulting (consolidated)
2019: Refined Aviation-themed Leadership & Communication Programs
2019: Aurea Terras™ APAC PR Collective
2020: Refined programs for COVID-19 (media coaching and crisis communication)
2022: Refined programs for Conflicts (media coaching and crisis communication)
2022: AI/ML/automation (e.g. GPT, AI TTS, etc)
2023: Podcast and YouTube channels
2023: Separate Crisis Communication coaching program
2023: Internal Communications program (employer branding)
2024: AI development for RAG chatbot and knowledge systems
2024: Refined programs (media coaching and crisis communication)
2024: Crisis Communication framework (wiki/online version)
2024: CriSergius™ Crisis Management framework app
Our Evolution (by expertise areas)
v1.0 Design
1991: Graphic design and digital publishing (DTP), as ab initio
v2.0 Public Relations (PR) & Communication
1994: Public Relations (PR) and marketing communication
1999: First online newsroom
2000: Video post-production (AVID NLE for TVC/Cinema)
2003: Book publishing (book on business and tech leadership)
2004: Online newsroom v2.0 (microwire.info)
2008: Editorial and research consulting
2012: Rekindled video, filmmaking & VNR services
2014: Branding (audit, strategy, naming, visual identity)
2019: Aurea Terras™ APAC PR Collective
2019: Refined Aviation-Theme Leadership & Communication Programs
2020: Refined program for COVID-19 (media coaching and crisis communication)
2023: Podcast and YouTube channels
2023: Separate Crisis Communication coaching program
2023: Internal Communications program (employer branding)
2024: Refined programs (media coaching and crisis communication)
2024: Crisis Communication framework (wiki/online version)
2024: CriSergius™ Crisis Management framework app
v3.0 Technology
1996: Internet consulting (web design, web/email hosting)
1998: Java development
1999: details, and Internet & computer services (Cobalt, Tenon, etc)
2003: Perl development
2003: NetJanus™ Email Security Appliance (BSD) development
2010: App development (social media, web and mobile)
2011: CMS, Web 2.0 and e-Commerce
2015: Inbound Marketing
2022: AI/ML/automation (e.g. ChatGPT, AI TTS, etc)
2024: AI development for RAG chatbot and knowledge systems
2024: Crisis Communication framework (wiki/online version)
2024: CriSergius™ Crisis Management framework app
v4.0 Human Capital
1991: Aviation customer service training program customization
1997: Training (customer service, TQM, ISO9000)
2001: Training (sales and leadership)
2002: Consulting on Knowledge Management and CMS
2002: Coaching (media training and crisis communication)
2004: Coaching (media training for non-profits)
2008: Business & Market Strategy Consulting
2015: Co-developed “Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet.”
2016: Refined sales coaching program – IntrinSelling™ Primer
2016: FlightLeaders division established
2016: Developed BRM™ and Leadership Training for Aviation
2016: Rekindled Interactive Training Development (Video, App, Web)
2017: Market Entry Consulting
2017: Red Teaming
2018: Business Strategy Consulting (consolidated)
2019: Refined Aviation-themed Leadership & Communication Programs
2020: Refined programs for COVID-19 (media coaching and crisis communication)
2022: Refined programs for Conflicts (media coaching and crisis communication)
2024: Refined programs (media coaching and crisis communication)
Visual Identity
Our trademarked logo has been with us since the beginning. The logo represents why we exist, what we do, and how we get results for our clients. The logo just works, and we still stand by what we do.
The stylized CUBE represents technology (internet/web, social media, digital video) as an enabler. The stylized SPHERE represents public relations (the full spectrum of publicity, marketing communications, and events). The stylized CONE represents Training and Development (similar to Maslow’s hierarchy). The red arrow in orbit represents the seamless integration of all our components.
Both the US and the EU have trademarked the identity (TM#0180360611, dated 20191127).
We are experimenting with our visual identity, and this is the current 2023 version. This is a closer and more current rendition of our long-standing logo, with more stylized and pronounced strokes. You can see the same cube, sphere, and cone, with the red circling arrow now reduced to just the arrow itself. With the trend toward monochrome logos by mainstream companies (think Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and more), our logo is moving in the same direction, which is better for rendering at smaller scales and not monochromatic minimalist designs.
This represents the current version of the 2020 design. The stylized lowercase M and B bear a resemblance to a coiled spring. This spring symbolizes latent kinetic energy, signifying the process of unlocking the latent potential in entities, whether they are companies or individuals, to achieve enormous things. It also refers to coiled cables, referring to the internetworking technologies that power the Internet, social media, and broadcasting today.
Global Reach: Partners in Asia Pacific and the World
We have built a network of allied partner agencies around the world, called the Aurea Terras PR Collective, including Asia Pacific, from China PRC, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia/NZ, EU, and the Americas. If you are a B2B or B2C agency looking for an experienced and friendly lead agency, talk to us. If you are an agency reaching out to Asia Pacific, Europe, or the Americas and can find synergy with us on a non-compete basis, we would love to meet you as well.
Clients served around the world
We have provided services to clients from Asia Pacific, EMEA, and the Americas.
Incorporation
At various stages of our development, we have incorporated in countries such as Estonia, Ireland, Cyprus, the Americas, and the U.K. Today, we focus on serving our global clients in our home office in Singapore, with our trusted partners throughout Asia Pacific, EMEA, LATAM, and BRICS.
Investors
Our company is friendly and cooperative toward equity partnerships with a synergistic larger group or investors should a real opportunity arise. Contact us if you are interested in a small, highly skilled, and experienced agency like ours expanding into Greater Asia and beyond.
Terms of Engagement
Working with our firm is effortless. We are nimble, fast, productive, and effective. We love committed, enlightened, and mature clients.
- Retainer. Unless your brand or product is the latest iPhone or Tesla, a typical B2B business demands a committed PR retained program. Even a “one-off” project is really a short retainer because PR and digital marketing programs need maturation, unlike very expensive advertising blitzes (intensive multi-platform campaigns).
- Quotation and pitch. It is the 21st century and the age of speed. If you have a brief or some basic requirements, we will be delighted to get on a Zoom call to discuss. We will send you a simple purchase order (PO, or quotation) after a phone or Zoom call. After you sign the PO, we will automatically issue an invoice and email it to you.
- Fees. We keep fees reasonable, despite our principals having nearly 70 years of collective experience. So let’s not “bargain.”.
- Third-party fees. All third-party out-of-pocket (OOP) costs will be billed directly to the client (e.g., hotels and MICE facilities, food and beverage, utilities and furnishings rentals, etc.) prior to the event or program. If you prefer to streamline your costs through one single party, we can combine all these costs and our fees into a single invoice, which is payable prior to starting work. For project clients involving our international partner agencies, payment may be required PRIOR to work, or 50% of payments must be made, depending on the terms of the projects.
- Payment schedule and credit terms. Professional fees are not refundable and, once rendered, cannot be recovered, unlike real estate or physical assets. So there are no credit terms for retainers, projects, or out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. We issue invoices on the 15th of the previous month, and the full payment is due on the 1st of the working month. For example, for fees in February, we will issue an invoice on January 15th, and full payment is due on February 1st.
- Media Contacts Database. We share the media name (i.e., name of publication, TV, radio, or online media) with our clients. Our clients respect that our database is ours (i.e., names, contact details, preferences of journalists). Just as when you subscribe to a news distribution service (e.g., Cision/PRNewswire), they will not cede their database to you; you are merely paying for their service to distribute your news.
- No “pay for performance.” We do not do “pay by published articles” or “profit sharing” schemes. We are on a strictly “professional fee” basis. Some mainstream media scorn “pay for performance” (do a search on Google or refer to this Techcrunch piece), and we concur. You pay for our strategic counsel, our consulting approaches, project management, and so on. For PAID pieces, we are pleased to work with you and the media for advertorials (which are editorial-style pieces paid to the media).
Things we don’t do
As a strategic agency serving the C-suite, our primary interest and role is to provide advice and ideas to clients who want to get their marketing and communications campaigns and programs off the ground. These are some of the tasks we do not do:
- Cold calling for you (i.e. acting as your salespeople);
- Admin services (e.g. photocopying in bulk);
- Consumer purchases, butler and courier services (e.g. buying gifts and items for client’s personal use);
- Trade purchases (e.g. buying factory or IT equipment for you, which has legal and tax ramifications);
- Festivity or gift purchases.
- We also do not participate in or take on projects or advocacy that would violate our beliefs, venture into particular politics or stances, the peace of the community at large, or products that will not gain regional traction due to media preferences.
Little “dog” trivia
I found this nostalgic photograph, which showed just a small part of our total collection of hundreds of these dog figurines, courtesy of Smalldogs.com, which gave us a little token every time we bought some Mac computer or peripheral back then. They were a truly remarkable group of people.