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Sydney publicist Roxy Jacenko and her husband Oliver Curtis have quietly ended their business relationship, four years after launching PR company 18 Communications together.
The company, which aimed to promote Australian brands in the Chinese market, officially closed this month, with Ms Jacenko confirming the news exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
‘I opened the business four years ago when Oli was released [from prison] to help him get back on his feet, given his extensive knowledge of China from his work over the years,’ said Ms Jacenko, referring to Mr Curtis’ stint in prison for insider trading.
It’s over! Publicist Roxy Jacenko (left) and her husband Oliver Curtis (right) have quietly ended their business relationship after closing the doors to their PR business 18 Communications
The 41-year-old entrepreneur explained that 18 Communications enjoyed plenty of success, and that the only reason why it closed was because neither she nor Curtis had the time to run it.
After ‘four incredible years together in the business’, Jacenko said Curtis’ attention has now shifted to his new role as chief operating officer at Sydney data company Firmus Grid.
‘[Firmus Grid] takes up all his time and the growth has been incredible in a very short time, as such, we needed to make a decision on 18Communications and its future, and that was to close it,’ she explained.
‘We needed to make a decision’: The company, which aimed to promote Australian brands in the Chinese market, officially closed this month, with Jacenko confirming the news exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Monday
Jacenko explained that she’s also been focussing on her other business ventures, including her digital influencer agency Ministry of Talent, PR company Sweaty Betty PR and her daughter Pixie’s retail brand.
She is also busy working on building her new candle business XRJ Celebraitons.
‘It was very sad for me to advise clients that I would be closing [18 Communications] at the end of the month, but the reality is there is only so far I can stretch myself and for now,’ she said.
Busy schedule: Jacenko explained that she’s also been focussing on her other business ventures, including her digital influencer agency Ministry of Talent, PR company Sweaty Betty PR and her daughter Pixie’s retail brans
Joking: Never afraid to poke fun at an unfortunate situation, Jacenko joked that she and Curtis ended their business deal due to ‘unreconcilable differences’ – a term usually reserved for couples going through divorce
Never afraid to poke fun at an unfortunate situation, Jacenko joked that she and Curtis ended their business deal due to ‘unreconcilable differences’ – a term usually reserved for couples going through divorce.
18 Communications was set up to help Australian businesses build a presence within the notoriously hard-to-crack Chinese market.
The business retained a slew of high-end clients including, YSL, Vera Wang, Harrolds, PE Nation, Melanie Grant Skin, Samsung, Disney, and Musson Jewellers.
Big undertaking: 18 Communications was set up to help Australian businesses build a presence within the notoriously hard-to-crack Chinese market
Jacenko went into business with Curtis in 2017 when he was released from Cooma Correctional Centre after serving time for insider trading.
Due to Curtis’ conviction, he was disqualified from managing corporations until June 2022.
As a result, Curtis took on the role of 18 Communications’ chief operating officer, a role that didn’t breach the court-ordered restrictions.
Post-jail venture: Jacenko went into business with Curtis in 2017 when he was released from Cooma Correctional Centre after serving time for insider trading. Pictured: Jacenko and Curtis arriving at court during Curtis’ trial in June 2016
‘I haven’t been banned to work. It’s just simply being a director,’ Curtis explained to The Daily Telegraph at the time.
‘It’s taken some adjusting for both of us, but there is no doubt we are a deadly duo with his back-end and strategic ability mixed with my my creative comms ability,’ Jacenko told the publication.
‘And I am very excited to see the business evolve even further,’ she added.
‘There is no doubt we are a deadly duo’: The business retained a slew of high-end clients including, YSL, Vera Wang, Harrolds, PE Nation, Melanie Grant Skin, Samsung, Disney, and Musson Jewellers
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