Cases

ENERGYNEST is een Noors energiebedrijf dat inzet op industriële warmteopslag om de verduurzaming van energie-intensieve sectoren te versnellen. Met zijn technologie maakt ENERGYNEST het mogelijk om restwarmte en duurzame energie efficiënt op te slaan en later opnieuw te gebruiken.

Om ook in de Benelux voet aan de grond te krijgen, deed ENERGYNEST een beroep op Castro. Castro ondersteunt ENERGYNEST bij het vergroten van de naamsbekendheid en het uitbouwen van een relevant netwerk. Daarbij ligt de focus op strategische positionering, stakeholdermapping en het leggen van verbindingen met industrie, overheden en andere spelers binnen de energietransitie. Zo helpt Castro ENERGYNEST om zijn technologie en visie zichtbaar te maken op de juiste plaatsen en bij de juiste gesprekspartners.

Johnson & Johnson, together with Amgen and MSD, called on Castro to develop the content and organize the EU election debate in 2024. In the run-up to the European Parliament elections, we brought four MEP candidates together at the Brussels Square Convention Center for a professionally organized and substantive debate on topics such as innovation, healthcare, sustainability, and Europe's competitiveness.

With Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66/Renew Europe), Dirk Gotink (NSC/EPP), Jessika van Leeuwen (BBB/EPP), and Lennart Salemink (VVD/Renew Europe) as speakers, a balanced debate ensued, skillfully moderated by Frits Wester and Frits Huffnagel. The debate not only reached the audience in the room, but was also broadcast via livestream, ensuring wide visibility both inside and outside the Brussels bubble. In the weeks that followed, the debate was rebroadcast in its entirety on public television.

The result was a substantive debate at a crucial moment in the campaign, with clear focus on the clients' themes and a strategic point of contact with the next generation of decision-makers in the European Parliament.

Castro also organized the 100-day event for Johnson & Johnson, a gathering in Brussels focusing on the first hundred days of the (then) newly elected Members of the European Parliament. This evening program focused on the first few months in Brussels. In a panel discussion, Anouk van Brug (VVD/Renew Europe), Brigitte van den Berg (D66/Renew Europe), and Jessika van Leeuwen (BBB/EPP) shared their experiences of starting out in Brussels. During this 100-day event, Castro brought together politics, policy, and practice, with room for reflection and exchange about the first steps in Brussels.

"I experienced the cooperation with Castro and New Balls Please as incredibly pleasant. It was a conscious choice because they combine an excellent network in politics and media with a lot of experience in organizing events and all the technology involved. Castro and New Balls Please do not settle for a six, they go for a top result and, as far as I am concerned, they succeeded."

Koen Venekamp | Lead Government Affairs & Policy at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Smart Delta Resources is a cross-border collaboration between companies, ports, knowledge institutions, network operators, and governments in the Scheldt Delta region. Partners from this region are working together toward the ambition of evolving into a competitive, climate-neutral, and circular industry by 2050. This ambition also presented a clear communication challenge: how do you make a shared mission and vision clear and recognizable, both for the broad network of members and for policymakers?

To bring structure and direction to this, Smart Delta Resources called on Castro. By working on clear positioning, a coherent storyline, and a clear communication strategy, Castro helped to make the joint ambitions understandable for different target groups and contexts. Today, this positioning forms the basis for all communication by Smart Delta Resources.

Castro then supported Smart Delta Resources in the further rollout, with a coherent communication approach, targeted communication tools, and a focused media approach.

"Castro Communications' expertise and hands-on approach enabled us to translate our message into a clear and compelling strategy. Many people are impressed with how well our vision is now articulated and further implemented. It really felt like Castro was part of our team."

- Onno Sinke | Communications Manager Smart Delta Resources

Uber is a technology company best known for its ride-sharing app, which connects passengers with drivers of private vehicles through a mobile app. In addition to passenger transportation, Uber also offers delivery services such as Uber Eats, which allows people to order meals from local restaurants and have them delivered. Uber's EMEA headquarters is located in the Netherlands.

We developed and implemented targeted lobbying and communication campaigns aimed at the Commission, Council, and European Parliament on important European legislation, including the Platform Workers Directive. In doing so, we combined policy strategy, positioning, and visibility in an international context.

Castro has been working with Uber since 2021. The collaboration started with strategic communications advice and grew into a broad role in corporate communications. We advise on important announcements and social issues, handle media requests, and maintain contacts with the press. This has led to extensive interviews with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in several major newspapers and magazines.

"I have come to know Castro as a very hands-on agency in that they are always accessible and quick to respond. It is nice to spar with Castro on strategy and they have an excellent network."

Rick Janse Kok | Uber, Head of Communications Northern Europe