New Year's celebrations at Hong Kong race track

Weber Shandwick Hong Kong kicked off the Year of the Rat with an exclusive staff-client event at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for almost 70 guests, including clients, partners, media and special guests, with perfect weather, the excitement of horse racing and free-flowing conversations.

This year's gathering was the largest so far and enjoyed the presence of numerous guests including Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific Chairman Tim Sutton. Key clients also attended the event, including Coca-Cola, GE Money, INVESCO, Microsoft, Nortel, Ocean Park, Pfizer, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Wynn Macau. In addition, media friends from Bloomberg, CNBC, Marketing, Media, Medical Tribune, Reuters, South China Morning Post, Telecom Asia and The Standard participated in the festivities.

Guests and team members alike enjoyed the opportunity to deepen existing client relationships and celebrate the success of the firm.

	Weber Shandwick Singapore's Bangkok getaway

Weber Shandwick Singapore enjoyed a sumptuous Thai dinner on a boat sailing down Bangkok's Chao Praya River After a year of hard work, a weekend getaway for the Weber Shandwick Singapore office was just what the team needed. Venturing further from the office than last year's retreat in Kuala Lumpur, the Singapore team jetted off to the city voted one of the world's best leisure destinations, Bangkok. During a three-day, two-night stay right at the heart of Bangkok's main shopping area, 50 members of the Singapore office enjoyed a full-blast weekend of shopping at the bazaars, sampling delectable Thai delicacies, enjoying the vibrant nightlife and getting pampered with the famous Thai massage. The rapid growth of the Singapore office has put everyone on the fast lane throughout the past year. An office holiday like this was a perfect opportunity for everyone to relax and bond in a laid-back atmosphere. Managing Director Baxter Jolly kicked off the exciting getaway with a sumptuous Thai dinner on a boat sailing on Bangkok's Chao Praya River, where he personally thanked and recognised the people responsible for the successes of 2007. The team came back rejuvenated, ready for another stellar year. They are already off to a positive start—just ten days after the retreat, the Singapore office was named runner-up Agency of the Year at the Asia Pacific PR Awards 2008 in Hong Kong.

	Albert Shu featured in Marketing magazine

Albert Shu, managing director of Weber Shandwick in Hong Kong, was interviewed by Marketing magazine and featured in the Career Path section of the Hong Kong issue in January 2008. (Click here to read more on marketing-interactive.com).

Here's what he shared:

First job ever?
I was a staff photographer at Canada's Wonderland whose job was to stop and photograph as many visitors as possible in the hope that they would buy the pictures later—I ended up stopping about a thousand people a day!

First job in PR?
Guest relations officer, also at Canada's Wonderland. It was also my first taste of issues management.

Best job you've had?
Media training more than 130 executives over the last two years. It's been a great way to meet and bond with some very interesting people, making a difference in many lives along the way.

Worst job you've had?
Going back to the same employer and job as a summer camp counsellor. It's never as good the second time around like everything else in life.

Perks of your current job?
I get to learn from and consult one of the best client portfolios in town. On top of that, we have a complimentary foot reflexology service in the office every other Friday.

Professionals you admire?
CEOs with no background in marketing or sales who understand the value of good PR and its relationship to driving business results.

Best career advice?
"That which does not kill you makes you stronger." Or in corporate speak, take your punches and always the high road—it's good for character building!

Why a career in PR?
It's the best job for the eclectic, the pioneer and the curious mind.

If you weren't in PR where would you be?
Probably the design sector, another developing industry in Asia whose value to business has not been fully recognised yet.

How do you relax?
I take my wife and kids to Ocean Park for a stroll.

	Breaking out the bling in Beijing

Early this year, Weber Shandwick in Beijing donned some blindingly stylin' gear for the office's annual party, which was themed Bling Bling and held at ultra-chic venue, 6 Days Later.

Floor-length sequined dresses, diamond-studded watches and even some creatively worn tin foil made for a sparkling crowd. Everyone had a few seconds of fame on the red carpet at the entrance of the restaurant, where each person posed for a professional photo that was presented as a framed gift at the close of the evening.

While dinner was served, team members Sandy Yang and Corbin Hsieh emceed a bilingual evening of fun on stage, during which exciting prizes—including an iPhone and a Nintendo Wii—and superlative awards for Best Hero/Heroine, Best Villain, Best Kisser (Up) and even Best Foreign Slave were presented. Also, some brave staff members ascended the stage throughout the night to give a variety of performances that were judged by colleagues.

The night was full of surprises, entertainment and most of all—bling.

The Beijing office enjoyed a night of fun at the annual party

	Shanghai and Guangzhou teams celebrate at their casino-themed annual party

Red carpet and a giant roulette greeted the shining stars of Shanghai and Guangzhou team at the casino-themed annual party held at Castle Ocktober, a German restaurant and bar in the heart of the French Concession in Shanghai.

Great German food aside, the highlight of the party was a spoof of the Oscars and Golden Globes, which included awards for "Best dressed," "Most likely to get married next year" and "Work hard and play hard." Costumed in true-blue casino style with a postmodern twist, an Egyptian queen, Japanese geishas, Arabian businessman, military soldiers, men in black, and ball-gowned women peopled the glittery event hosted by Darryl Chien, a consultant with the lifestyle practice.

Another highlight was putting Darren Burns, managing director, in the "hot seat," where he was interrogated on his pleasures in life outside of work. The night ended with an after-party at Sasha's, where the team celebrated the past year's growth and toasted to future successes.

	iADVOCATE

Corbin Hsieh

Corbin Hsieh, a senior consultant in Beijing, shares his insights and humour as this edition's featured advocate.

How did you get into PR?
I got into PR right after I finished my military service. It attracted me because it would give me the chance to enjoy two of the things I love: being creative and working with interesting people. First, I worked at Weber Shandwick in Taiwan for one-and-half years. And I've worked for two years with the team in Beijing.

Please explain what you do at Weber Shandwick.
I'm a senior consultant in the consumer practice servicing Pantene, Makor Home Furnishings and the world's No. 1 sports brand, Nike. My main responsibilities are client liaison, event planning and management and new business pitching.

What is your greatest achievement (personal or professional)?
I lost 45kg in two years when I was a university student (I now weigh 75kg by the way).

What person (alive or dead, industry or non-industry) would you most like to work with?
The cartoon character Sponge Bob Square Pants^TM. He is funny, innocent and dares to challenge anything—no matter how ridiculous it may be.

What has been the most memorable moment in your career?
Last November, I was in charge of a massive event for Pantene. The aim was to launch their new product and build a fashionable brand image. But in addition to being the largest event responsibility of my entire career, the first I had managed in Shanghai and my first "fashion" function, I was left with only 20 days lead time! Impossible as it seemed, the whole team worked together and pulled it off successfully.

What's the best book you've read recently and why?
Facebook. I like the characters.

Who is your favorite band/singer?
Jolin Tsai, Taiwan's most popular female singer.

Tell us something that your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you.
I'm a quiet person in private.

What location would you most like to visit next on a holiday and why?
New York. I think everyone should visit New York once in his or her life. I want to go there because it's so cosmopolitan, full of fashion, good music and good-looking people!

How are you an advocate?
I advocate for the highest level of creativity and excellence through the work I do because I believe it's an essential part of PR. I am also an advocate for communications in general.

What is your motto/what words do you live by?
"If you can sit down, don't stand; if you can lie down, don't just sit there."

	Weber Shandwick strengthens China technology team

James Cook, vice president, technology practice, Beijing

Weber Shandwick in China has further strengthened its management team with the appointment of James Cook as vice president of the technology practice in Beijing, with additional responsibility for new business development.

With more than 12 years of public relations experience in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, Cook will enhance the firm's senior strategic counsel capabilities. In addition, he will manage business development for the firm, which is witnessing rapid expansion in the China market.

"In the changing PR landscape of China, clients are increasingly asking for senior advice and international expertise. James' relocation to the Beijing office will expand our capability to offer high-end services to our key multinational clients in China, as well as support a growing number of Chinese clients on their global PR campaigns," said David Liu, managing director of Weber Shandwick in China.

Before relocating to China, Cook led the firm's technology practice in Toronto, Canada, where he built client and service portfolios and provided senior level counsel to clients including Nortel, BEA Systems, Corbis and Honeywell. Prior to joining the Toronto office, James worked in Weber Shandwick UK's technology practice on clients Microsoft, Agilent Technologies, PTC, Singtel and Seagate.

He has also worked with other UK public relations agencies, servicing clients such as MTV, Creative, Lucent Technologies, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony, Nintendo, Pentax, Texas Instruments and Acer.

	Just can't get enough of Weber Shandwick

Rocky Wang, account manager in Guangzhou	Nicholas Chew, account manager in Shanghai

Weber Shandwick teams Guangzhou and Shanghai have welcomed aboard new members who are no strangers to the firm.

Rocky Wang, recently appointed account manager in the Guangzhou office for client services and business development in South China, began his career at Weber Shandwick in Beijing in 2002. From then until 2005, he served a broad portfolio of clients including Agilent Technologies, Crest, SK-II, International Flower Bulb Center, Changan Ford and Ericsson. Before rejoining the company this year, Rocky worked at P&G China as SK-II China PR Manager, where he was in charge of overall PR strategy planning and implementation for SK-II.

The Shanghai team has brought on Nicholas Chew, a seasoned communications practitioner with experience playing multiple roles in both in-house and agency environments—including Weber Shandwick. In the past eight years, his work has focused pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer health industries.

Before first joining Weber Shandwick in 2005, Nicholas spent the five years sharpening his skills as a marketer at AstraZeneca Plc. and Novartis Corp. in both Malaysia and Singapore markets. Over the past three years, he has provided strategic counsel to Baxter Healthcare (Dialysis), Boston Scientific (Stent), Monsanto (GM Food), Merck, Sharp & Dohme (Vaccine), Roche (Accu-chek and Respiratory), Pfizer (AIDS / HIV) and Schering Plough (Cardiovascular) in Greater China and Asia Pacific.

Now, Nicholas is an account manager at Weber Shandwick in Shanghai. Weber Shandwick is thrilled to welcome both of these PR practitioners back to the firm.