Sophie Spooner has joined Allianz Australia as Senior Manager Corporate Communications. She has wrapped up her recent contract at Ogilvy PR, where she was Head of Travel & Lifestyle. Prior to that, Sophie was Executive Director - Consumer at HerdMSL. 

Pfizer has elevated Michelle Yuan Xiao to Director, China Communications. Based in Beijing, she oversees external and internal communications, including corporate, brand and digital functions.

Michelle has been with the biopharmaceutical company for over a decade and was most recently Associate Director of External Communications. Before moving in-house, she served as Beijing Healthcare team lead at Weber Shandwick.

Albert Shu has been appointed Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at SJ Group, a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consultancy. Based in Singapore, he will lead the Group’s communications and marketing functions across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America, Europe and Africa.

Albert brings three decades of international experience, including more than two decades with Weber Shandwick. He was previously President of the firm's Singapore and Hong Kong operations, where he oversaw their integration as a regional hub and advised clients on message development, corporate positioning, issues and crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.

Albert also served as Regional Head of Marketing and Communications for Deloitte Consulting in Asia Pacific and Africa, where he developed the firm’s marketing infrastructure and programmes across Australia, Greater China, South Korea, Southeast Asia and South Africa.