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Weber Shandwick bolsters China team as Nicholas moves to Sydney

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Weber Shandwick has announced a series of changes in China following news that Alistair Nicholas, executive vice
president, corporate and public affairs, will be relocating to Sydney.

Charles Shen rejoins the firm as general manager, Beijing, and head of the corporate and public affairs practice in China.

Lydia
Lee, senior vice president, technology practice, is promoted to take on
country-wide responsibilities as chief strategist and will also head
the firm’s Emergent China practice. Both Shen and Lee will report to Darren Burns, managing director, China.

With over 20 years’ experience in communications, Shen rejoins the firm
after an absence of over five years with HP and Microsoft. In his new
role, Shen is tasked with overseeing the firm’s Beijing office while
also driving growth for the corporate and public affairs practices
throughout China.
 
Burns said: “We are thrilled to welcome
Charles back into the Weber Shandwick family. He has exceptional
leadership experience that will enable him to oversee our programmes
across China, while his particular expertise in building and protecting
the reputation of some of the world’s most influential brands –
including Fortune 500 and large Chinese enterprises – will be of immense
value to clients.”
 
Lee, who first joined Weber Shandwick from
sister agency GolinHarris in 2009, takes on two additional functions in
addition to her existing role as senior vice president, technology
practice. She will head the firm’s global China practice (Emergent
China), which advises China-based multinationals and their CEOs on
strategic expansion into global markets. She will also serve as chief
strategist for the firm’s operations in China.

Nicholas takes senior role

Meanwhile in Australia as senior adviser, Nicholas will provide counsel to public affairs clients across various industries and contribute to business growth opportunities for the firm. He reports into Jacquelynne Willcox, senior strategic counsel and head of the firm’s public affairs and crisis practice.

Willcox said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alistair to the Sydney office. After over a decade serving clients in China, Alistair’s expertise will prove invaluable to clients in Australia, as we face an increasing need to bridge the gap between our two countries. His knowledge of government service privitisation will also make him a criticaladvisor for state and private organisations seeking innovative ways of working together to better service their communities.”

Nicholas joined Weber Shandwick in early 2011 after forming his own consulting firm, AC Capital Strategic Consulting, in Beijing in 2003.

He previously served as Australia’s Trade Commissioner to the World Bank and the United Nations in Washington DC, and as communications advisor to several Australian government ministers.

Nicholas’s appointment follows that of Eliza Newton who joined Weber Shandwick’s Public Affairs team earlier this month as a Senior Account Manager.

Willcox said Newton has a strong track record in health public affairs and will be working across the Public Affairs client portfolio.

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