Cases

ENERGYNEST is a Norwegian energy company that focuses on industrial heat storage to accelerate the sustainability of energy-intensive sectors. With its technology, ENERGYNEST makes it possible to efficiently store residual heat and renewable energy for later reuse.

ENERGYNEST called on Castro to help it gain a foothold in the Benelux region. Castro supports ENERGYNEST in increasing brand awareness and building a relevant network. The focus is on strategic positioning, stakeholder mapping, and establishing connections with industry, governments, and other players in the energy transition. In this way, Castro helps ENERGYNEST to make its technology and vision visible in the right places and to the right discussion partners.

ENERGYNEST accelerates the energy transition of industry with thermal storage and sustainable heat. They do this with extensive knowledge of the energy sector and a strong network in the media and government. Thank you!

Mareike Schumm | Head of Marketing & Communications ENERGYNEST

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 broad 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 found working with Castro and New Balls Please to be an extremely pleasant experience. It was a conscious choice, because they combine an excellent network in politics and media with extensive experience in organizing events and all the technology that goes with it. Castro and New Balls Please are not satisfied with a C grade; they strive for top results and, in my opinion, they have succeeded in doing so.”

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 Communication’s expertise and hands-on approach enabled us to translate our message into a clear and compelling strategy. Many people are impressed by how well our vision is now articulated and 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 via a mobile app. In addition to passenger transport, Uber also offers delivery services such as Uber Eats, which allows users to order meals from local restaurants and have them delivered. Uber's EMEA headquarters are 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, because they are always available and respond quickly. It's great to brainstorm with Castro about strategy, and they have a very good network.”

Rick Janse Kok | Uber, Head of Communications Northern Europe