Bastion strengthens experience leadership with new appointment

Global advisory and advocacy firm, APCO, has expanded its Global China offering, appointing Bruce Fu as Executive Director, Global China, to lead the team.

According to APCO, the expansion responds to changing geopolitical and commercial conditions, including shifts in global supply chains and market access.

Previously APCO's Managing Director for Beijing, Bruce will continue to be based in the city. The expanded team also includes Sherry Shi, based in Dubai, who has been appointed Deputy Lead, Global China; Yadan Ouyang and Trudy Wang as Senior Directors in Shanghai; and Kate Zhao as a Senior Director in New York.

Yadan brings experience from Washington, D.C. and Beijing. Trudy will serve as Head of Capital Markets and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) for Asia, while Kate will lead Global China in North America.

The practice is further backed by a bench of senior advisors from across APCO's global network, who bring decades of experience in government, business, and international affairs.

"Our clients' questions increasingly run in both directions: Chinese companies figuring out how to operate abroad, and multinationals figuring out how to operate in and with China," said Chris Torrens, APCO's Managing Director for Greater China and Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.

"This team understands how decisions get made at head offices and how to read the politics of the markets on the other side of that relationship, working as one group across Asia and the rest of the world."

"Our job is to be the bridge: helping Chinese companies build trust with stakeholders in every market they enter, and helping global companies navigate China with the same confidence," said Bruce.

"That only works if the team operates as one, with people who understand both the thinking at head office and the realities on the ground, wherever our clients are."

Manon Dalla-Costa has been elevated to MarComms & Public Relations Director at Utopia Corporation.

Based in Thailand, she oversees the real estate developer’s strategic communications, branding, reputation management and social media activities.

Manon first joined the organisation as a Manager in the same department, and she has accumulated more than six years of international communications experience across Thailand, Myanmar and France.

Sally Taylor has stepped up at Dairy Australia as Head of Strategic Communications and Media. She initially joined the team as Stakeholder and Issues Manager.

Sally previously worked agency-side at Bastion Reputation and in-house at the Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW.