Baxter Jolly Promoted to Regional Role

Baxter Jolly, regional managing director, Southeast Asia

Baxter Jolly, managing director of Weber Shandwick’s Singapore office, has been promoted to managing director for Southeast Asia.

As well as continuing with his Singapore management duties, Jolly now oversees Weber Shandwick’s other Southeast Asian operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.  

The appointment follows the announcement earlier this year that Andrew Pirie, president, Asia Pacific, has relocated from Singapore to his native New Zealand, where he continues with the firm in a modified regional role.

In his new capacity, Jolly will provide senior leadership for the important and growing Southeast Asia region. He will also work closely with Pirie and Tim Sutton, chairman, Asia Pacific. Sutton has recently relocated to Hong Kong from the UK, where he oversaw the group’s operations as chairman for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

	Eric Thain Named to PR News’ “15 to Watch”

Eric Thain, account director, Beijing Eric Thain, an account director in Beijing, has been named one of PR News’ “15 to Watch”. The award, which recognises 15 budding industry leaders aged 30 and below, was announced during a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on 8 November 2007. Thain’s accomplishment was significant in that he was the only winner from outside the United States and the only PR professional from Asia—and one of the few since the award’s inception—to receive the honour. “This award represents more than my personal achievements at Weber Shandwick, namely a team effort and a conducive and exciting market here in China which has provided a thrilling journey,” he commented. Thain was also one of only four finalists from across the region for the Young PR Professional of the Year award at the Asia Pacific PR Awards in Hong Kong this November. The 29-year-old Malaysian native is an account director in Weber Shandwick Beijing’s venerable consumer practice, where he works with a wide range of high-profile and ultra-luxury brands.

	Liberty Lands Top Regional “Young PR Professional” Honour

Liberty Lee impressed the judges and everyone at Weber Shandwick in Australia by ascending through the ranks from intern to account supervisor in just three years’ time

Account supervisor in Sydney, Liberty Lee, recently claimed the Young PR Professional of the Year title at the Asia Pacific PR Awards in Hong Kong. 

At 23, Liberty is the youngest person to reach account supervisor in the firm's recent history. She joined the agency as an intern at the age of 19 and was promoted to consultant as soon as she completed her degree. Working for clients such as Singapore Airlines (and the recent launch of the A380 in Australia), George Weston Foods and Johnson & Johnson, Liberty's contribution to the consumer practice is significant.  

"I am extremely thrilled to have won this award and equally proud to have been there on behalf of Weber Shandwick,” she said. “It's been an incredible journey so far, and I look forward to further strengthening my experience alongside the dynamic Sydney team."

	Weber Shandwick Builds Beijing Leadership Team

Yang Weimin “Sonny”, vice president, Beijing

Scott Sykes, vice president and director, technology and interactive/social media practices

Weber Shandwick recently announced two additions to its Beijing team. Yang Weimin “Sonny” has joined the firm as vice president for the corporate practice. Scott Sykes, vice president and director of the firm’s technology and interactive/social media practices, has also relocated from Hong Kong to Beijing.

Yang brings more than a decade of agency and in-house experience in mainland China. As the previous general manager of local PR firm Beijing Broadcom, he has worked with both multinational and local large-scale corporations. His portfolio of past clients contains a list of technology leaders such as Cisco Systems, Nokia and Panasonic, plus a five-year client relationship with China Mobile Communication Corporation. He was also marketing director for distinguished Chinese Internet companies Elong.com and Hichina (www.net.cn).

“Yang Weimin’s appointment reinforces the strong corporate client base and expertise that we have established in Beijing,” said David Liu, managing director of Weber Shandwick China. “Both Yang’s and Scott Sykes’s deep experience further enhances our capability to support our clients, while supplementing our strategic growth in the region.”

In addition to serving as a council member for the Chinese International Public Relations Association, Yang is a senior consultant for International PR Magazine in China. He is one of the key founders of China Mobile’s VIP clients’ magazines GOTONE and M-ZONE. Yang earned an International EMBA from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Sykes moves to Beijing having spent the past 18 months leading the technology practice in Hong Kong and the technology and new media practices for the Asia Pacific region. In Beijing, Sykes continues his regional technology and new media practices duties and assumes leadership of the local Beijing technology practice. Sykes recently spearheaded the Asia Pacific roll out of Screengrab, Weber Shandwick's interactive, social and emerging media division. He has more than 13 years of technology and telecomunications industry communications experience gained in both agency and client roles. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Sykes was with IBM for seven years, leading public relations strategy and execution for the company's software, services, research and microelectronics business units. Prior to IBM, he led technology client work at three PR agencies.

	Popplewell Promoted to Vice President

Lisa Poplewell, vice president, corporate/technology, Sydney

Weber Shandwick Australia recently announced that Lisa Popplewell will take on the role of vice president, corporate/technology.

Popplewell, who has served as senior account director in the office’s corporate practice, originally signed with the Sydney office temporarily to cover for a coworker during maternity leave. Working with both corporate and technology clients, she has impressed clients and fellow team members, prompting the promotion.

	Singapore Consultant Speaks to Management Group

Senior consultant Rita Chia (front, second from right) at Singapore Management University

In late August this year, Rita Chia, a senior consultant with Weber Shandwick Singapore’s consumer and healthcare practice, spoke at a panel discussion organised by Singapore Management University’s Women’s Connection. 

The club regularly organises learning sessions where professionals from various industries share their experience with undergraduate students to inspire them to learn more about a particular profession.

During the interactive discussion, Chia shared about the factors that made her decide to embark on a career in PR, the perks and challenges of working in a PR consultancy and the importance of experiencing an internship to better understand PR in the real world. Students responded enthusiastically with numerous questions, and several students stayed behind after the discussion to ask follow-up questions.

	Australian Men Grow Moustaches in “Movember”

The men in Australia put down their razors during November to raise money for men’s health issues during a month-long charity event known as Movember.

At the start of Movember, the “Weber Shandwick Mo Bros” registered their cleanly shaven faces and then spent the next thirty days growing eye-catching facial hair all in the name of raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer and male depression. The “Mo Sistas” in the agency supported the boys through fundraising and some much needed grooming tips!

The Sydney office raised over AU$1,700 (US$1460) during the month, with the team kicking up their heels at the Movember Gala Party, held to celebrate the end of Movember, at Luna Park.

To find out more about Movember, visit http://www.movember.com.

“Mo Bros” proudly displaying their moustaches	“Mo Sistas” got into costume to support the cause

24 Hours with… Jenny Xia, Account Supervisor, Beijing (Current global exchange participant—originally from Dallas) 00:00-05:30   Deep sleeping and dreaming 05:30-06:00   Wake up and switch on Channel V—the “MTV” of China 06:00-06:30   Breakfast and coffee 06:30-07:15   Some days do some yoga; everyday take a shower 07:15-08:00   The whole fitting room frenzy: “What to wear?” 08:00-08:30   Hail a cab 08:30-09:00   Still hailing a cab (and remembering my speedy Mini back home) 09:00-09:30   Arrive at work, get another cup of coffee, boot up and log on 09:30-10:00   Hit all the headlines of the Wall Street Journal online 10:00-11:00   Time for a conference call and internal sync up 11:00-12:00   Feeling hungry (I’m an early bird) 12:00-12:30   Pressing ahead with client work 12:30-13:30   Take a break and do my own thing, including lunch 13:30-14:00   Back to work, racing against time to meet “COB” deadlines 14:00-15:00   Writing a proposal for a new business pitch 15:00-16:00   Feeling groggy—time for another cup of coffee 16:00-17:00   Pressing ahead on client work, now with the help of my iPod 17:00-18:00   Grab a muffin for the home stretch 18:00-18:30   Emergency with client, discuss with team 18:30-19:30   Order up some dinner, wrap up last-minute work 19:30-20:00   Go to the gym 20:00-21:00   De-stress on the treadmill while listening to techno music 21:00-21:30   Go home 21:30-23:30   Devote time to creative stuff: drawing, diary, blog, etc. 23:30-00:00   Finished reading “Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk”. Sleep.