Swaine will head up strategy, client retention and new business development.

She is an active member of the media and communications community and is a PR practitioner and regularly published journalist, with 20 years of communications experience behind her.

As a writer and industry commentator, Swaine writes thought leadership articles for Marklives, news stories for The Times and lifestyle articles for Longevity LIVE.

She holds a diploma in journalism from the University of East London, United Kingdom, and will continue to publish in her new role.

Prior to joining Scout PR & Social Media, Swaine obtained over five years of experience in digital content at a management level for brands such as M-Net and Telkom.

She headed up the digital and social content strategy and client service for digital content marketing agency Brand In Motion, prior to which she served as a senior digital content strategist for Johannesburg-based agency Don’t Look Down Entertainment.

Swaine also founded and ran her own PR agency, PR Collective, from 2009 to 2014 before deciding to move into digital.

PR Collective serviced local brands such as KOO, Tiger Brands, Telesure (Virgin Money, 1Lifedirect, Budget, 1st For Women, ibuyeco, Dial Direct, AA Insurance, Auto & General and Hippo), Sotheby’s Lew Geffen International, Nampak (Twinsaver and Tanqueray Gin) as well as the Primedia launch of Danny K’s and Kabelo Mabalane’s initiative SHOUT, amongst other brands.

Before she had her own business, she was the media director at Hello World, where she ran the entire Samsung South Africa portfolio.

Swaine returned to South Africa from the United Kingdom and took up the opportunity at Hello World. In London, she worked for two years as a PR consultant for The Impact Agency, specialising in the food and drink sector, with a focus on luxury food brands supplied to London’s Michelin-starred restaurants – including those run by Gordon Ramsey, Michel Roux and Joël Robuchon.

This was preceded by her seven-year position at Harper Marketing Services, where Swaine served as a brand account consultant, providing marketing and PR solutions to the United Kingdom’s independent financial compliance consultancies and financial service providers.

At Scout PR & Social Media, Swaine will lead client advisory strategies on holistic marketing approaches, creative direction (visual and copy) and best brand communication practice. She will also aim to provide leadership to the Scout team.

Scout PR & Social Media director Lauren Shantall says, "We heartily welcome such an accomplished and experienced person to the team. We are confident that Swaine's acumen, industry knowledge and leadership skills will propel Scout PR & Social Media forward."

"Her broad-based experience in specific interest areas is mapped to the current client profile and the growth that Scout PR & Social Media is happily experiencing," adds Shantall.


For more information, visit www.scoutpr.co.za. You can also follow Scout PR & Social Media on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.