Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

Strategic communications isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore. In Malaysia, it has become a core business function i.e., shaping reputation, steering conversations, and helping organisations navigate a world where trust is currency. And here’s the reality: the brands that still treat PR as decoration will lose ground fast. The ones that view communications as capital will win. At Orchan, we’ve seen both sides of that equation -- startups that built credibility from day one and corporates that paid the price for silence when it mattered most. So, what’s next for strategic communications in Malaysia? Here’s what 2025 (and beyond) is bringing our way, and why it matters to your business. 1. Trust Will Be the Ultimate Differentiator Malaysians have always valued relationships but now trust sits at the heart of survival. Communities aren’t shy about holding brands accountable; one misstep can spiral across WhatsApp groups and TikTok in hours. The cost? Lost customers, shaken investor confi...

How Orchan Consulting Asia helps brands navigate change - from Peugeot’s reputation rebuild, to DFSK’s first electric van, to Kao’s trust-building with parents. Change isn’t a slogan – it’s messy, unpredictable, and often uncomfortable. But it’s also where growth lives. At Orchan, we’ve spent years helping brands navigate that tricky space between “what was” and “what’s next.” This series, Orchestrating Change: Stories from the Field , takes you behind the curtain. Real brands, real problems, and the strategies that turned the tide: from rebuilding Peugeot’s reputation before a major launch, to helping DFSK break ground with Malaysia’s first electric van, to showing Kao Malaysia how to win not just market share, but parent hearts. Each story shows one thing: change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you orchestrate it with purpose. When Reputation Hit the Brakes - Peugeot Malaysia and the 308 How Orchan Consulting Asia helped Peugeot Malaysia rebuild trust in the 308 throu...

Let’s be honest: in Malaysia, HIV / AIDS still sits in the shadows of public conversation. Too many dismiss it as “not my problem” or box it off as something that only affects marginalised communities. Wrong. HIV doesn’t discriminate - and the silence around it only fuels stigma and misinformation. At Orchan, we’ve always believed communication can (and should) drive change. Every year, our Directors pick a cause close to the heart to champion pro-bono. Back in 2010, that cause was AIDS Aware . Partnering with three organisations in support of PT Foundation, we set out to spark honest conversation, fight stigma, and educate people on how to protect themselves. What began as a simple fundraising calendar with a handful of local celebrities turned into a movement. Be The Message snowballed into 42 well-known personalities lending their voices through images, videos, interviews, and education opportunities - amplified further by a full-scale media and advertising campaign. The best ...

Heritage isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about identity. It’s about continuity. It’s about keeping stories alive in a world that’s moving (sometimes too fast) towards the new and shiny. That’s why conserving heritage buildings isn’t a luxury. It’s an absolute must. Beyond being landmarks, they fuel the economy, anchor tourism, and give communities a sense of pride. Melaka & George Town: Icons of the Straits Melaka and George Town stand as testaments to this. Both UNESCO-recognised heritage cities have carved out a place on the global stage - 12 years and counting. So when Orchan had the chance to work with Liu Men Hotel in Melaka, we knew we weren’t just promoting another boutique stay. We were helping amplify a story of heritage reborn. Liu Men: Where Past Meets Present Championed by Jason Pang, Liu Men sits on what used to be six shophouses along vibrant Jalan Tokong. The hotel’s design fuses colonial art deco flair with Peranakan touches, creating a space...

Every so often, a brand story comes along that captures not just attention, but imagination. For us at Orchan, one such story was that of Omorose Cosmetics . Founded in 2014 by Terry Liau , Omorose was born out of a deeply personal experience. The brand’s name - from the ancient Egyptian word for beautiful -  embodies its mission to create cruelty-free, naturally preserved cosmetics that celebrate beauty in its truest sense. But more than that, Omorose was built on inclusivity: from employing persons with disabilities, to designing make-up counters, shelves, and displays accessible to wheelchair users. Beauty, after all, should be something everyone can take part in. Omorose Hypnotic Eyes Not long after its launch, Omorose took an extraordinary leap. In 2015 and again in 2016, it became the only Malaysian brand selected to be part of the official gifting suite at the Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood. To be included alongside globally acclaimed names was no small feat, and it...

Humans of Orchan | Farrell Tan  | The Story Continues   It’s been a while since I last wrote about myself - probably because I’ve already shared the “origin story” of how I stumbled into this industry (if you missed it, you can catch it here:  Humans of Orchan | Farrell Tan ("The Other Boss") . That was just before my 40th birthday. Fast forward a few years, and I find myself looking ahead - asking the inevitable “what’s next?” Orchan will always be my first “baby.” But like any restless parent, I started toying with the idea of having another. I bounced ideas off the team, leaned on mentors, swapped notes with friends who are disrupting the status quo, and watched clients push boundaries with ridiculous creativity. Yet nothing clicked. The truth is, ideas can’t be forced. They arrive when you least expect them - sometimes from the unlikeliest places. I guess this is where I introduce our new “baby”: The Third Degree. The idea had been floating around for years; Craig...

September 2012 marked another milestone for Orchan Consulting Asia, as we clinched the Business-to-Business (B2B) Campaign of the Year award at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA), organised by the Public Relations Consultants’ Association of Malaysia (PRCA Malaysia). The winning entry: Chocolate Box PR . Launched by Orchan’s Managing Director, Craig J. Selby, Chocolate Box PR was designed to introduce start-ups and SMEs to the value of public relations. Many of these businesses had compelling stories to tell but lacked awareness of how PR could elevate their profile. Chocolate Box provided an accessible, cost-effective entry point - helping first-time users of PR services prepare, pitch, and gain exposure for their products and services. The package worked as a simple, three-step model: preparing and educating entrepreneurs, developing narratives, and creating media visibility. By doing so, it not only generated recognition for clients but also encouraged a shift in mindset...

Farrell Tan Founding Director "The Other Boss", but you better call him Farrell So apparently it’s my turn to share a bit about myself. Around the office, I’m often referred to as “the other boss.” And compared to the rest of the team, I’m definitely the more marcom person;  having cut my teeth in international agencies, mentored by some of the best in the business. Truth be told, I never pictured myself in this line of work. Never in a million years did I imagine co-owning an agency with a Kiwi (not the fruit, though some would argue otherwise!) - working with brands I admire and, in many cases, grew up with. Life’s funny that way. I grew up in a fairly utilitarian household in Melaka. My dad was a teacher, my mum a nurse, and like all good government servants, they preached the importance of education: tuition, extra-curriculars, the works. Luckily for us, there wasn’t much to distract us in small-town Melaka back then, other than tree-climbing, neighbourhoo...