PR News

Stagwell taps Connie Chan to drive APAC growth

Stagwell has named Connie Chan as Chief Growth Officer, Asia Pacific, effective July 2025. Based in Singapore, she will be responsible for leading the firm's growth strategy and operations across APAC markets, with a focus on accelerating transformation, scaling integrated capabilities and deepening relationships in local markets. Connie will report to Ryan Linder, EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer.

This appointment follows Stagwell's  acquisition of ADK GLOBAL, expanding their APAC presence to 2,500 employees across 34 offices.

Connie most recently served as CEO of OMD China, where she oversaw operations in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Before that, she held leadership roles at WPP, including as Executive Director of the Government & Public Sector Practice in Singapore and Chief Client Officer for APAC at MEC (now Wavemaker).

Ryan commented on the appointment, stating, "As the global marketing landscape continues to shift, Asia Pacific stands out as a region of extraordinary opportunity. Connie's leadership will be instrumental as we build a network that not only responds to the complexity of today, but sets the pace for what's next."

Randy Duax, Managing Director, Asia Pacific added, "We've spent the last three years building the kind of platform the holding companies said couldn't be done - media, creative, strategy and PR moving as one, built for speed, wired for scale. Connie isn't here to learn the playbook. She's here to call the next play."
Previous story

Emily Stojcevski steps up for a promotion

Next story

Moses Mok takes on country leadership role

You might also enjoy

Golin
Industry update

Golin launches 'First Answer' AI visibility platform

Golin has launched First Answer, an AI visibility platform designed to give brands insights on how ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and other AI systems describe them to users.
 
The platform addresses how up to 90 per cent of AI search results come from earned media citations and decreases the risk brands face of having their stories shaped by outdated information, competitor messaging, or AI-generated errors. 
 
“AI systems now determine which brands succeed by prioritising earned media as their most trusted source,” said Jack Barbour, EVP and AI Lead at Golin New York. “When ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity answers questions about your brand, up to 90% of their citations come from earned media sources—not your website. First Answer ensures AI platforms see optimised, accurate, and strategically positioned content, giving our clients clear advantages.”
 
First Answer provides AI optimisation by analysing brand presence across various AI platforms, providing visibility and sentiment evaluation and identification of media outlets, social sites, and owned pages that drive citations. It also looks to increase positive AI visibility through AI-optimised content.

 
 

Abu
Moves

Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre brings in new strategic comms manager

Hiba Al Haj has joined the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) as Strategic Communications Manager. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing ADREC’s communications strategy, strengthening its brand positioning, and leading media relations and stakeholder engagement efforts to support the Centre’s vision of transforming Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector into a world-class, transparent, and investable destination.

Hiba joined the government institution from Burson, where she served as Senior Manager, leading accounts in the UAE and the wider GCC. She has also held roles at Publicis Groupe, Performance Communications, MMEC, Hanover Communications, and Bell Pottinger.

"Happy to have you on board, Hiba. We’re lucky to count on your expertise, and I look forward to working closely together to amplify ADREC’s voice globally. Having worked with you over the last year and a half, I’ve seen firsthand your professionalism, creativity, and dedication. I’m confident you’ll add tremendous value in your new role," said Amer Albedwawi, Head of Real Estate Promotion Team at ADREC.

Event
Events

Event Wrap-up: Telum Talks to: CNA938

Telum Media hosted its latest Telum Talks in Singapore on Thursday, 2nd October 2025, featuring Eugene Wee, Chief Editor of CNA938, alongside presenters Daniel Martin and Andrea Heng. The discussion was moderated by John Chang, Business Development Lead, APAC Growth Markets at Telum Media.

Eugene walked attendees through CNA938’s recent revamp and programme lineup, highlighting that while the station covers global topics, it keeps content hyperlocal by tailoring stories to highlight their relevance and impact for Singapore listeners. Daniel and Andrea offered practical advice for PR and communications professionals, encouraging them to shape their ideas with the listener in mind before pitching. They also shared personal experiences on how they’ve built strong, long-term relationships with existing PR contacts and subject-matter experts, offering insights on trust, communication, and collaboration.

The CNA938 speakers also discussed radio’s enduring relevance in the current digital age, with its clear edge in live storytelling, interactive engagement, and the ability to extend its reach through digital platforms.

The session concluded with attendees having the opportunity to network and connect with peers across the industry, as well as interact directly with the panellists over light refreshments.

Stay tuned for more Telum events by subscribing to our News Alerts for the latest updates.