FTI selects Martin Reidy to head Strategic Communications in Beijing

Ray Bashford, Asia chairman for Strategic Communications, told Campaign Asia-Pacific that the move is part of a broader push into China at a time when some competitors in the financial communications space have been scaling back due to the mainland's slowing economic growth. 

"We're definitely not doing that," Bashford said. "We see this as a very good opportunity to build the business in China."

The company also hired a new head for its Shanghai office, Pui Shan Lee, in April. 

Reidy has been based in China for a decade and speaks Mandarin fluently, according to an internal announcement obtained by Campaign Asia-Pacific. At Brunswick, he specialised in cross-border financial communications, crisis management and government affairs programmes. He also designed investor relations and media campaigns for international acquisitions and IPOs by Chinese companies and advised multinationals on issues like communications and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to Brunswick, Reidy was employed by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and spent two years with Ogilvy Public Relations before that, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The announcement said Lee has made an impact on the business in Shanghai through her involvement in the US$1.8 billion acquisition of UK company Weetabix by Bright Food and through her work in signing up new and retained clients.

Despite the decline in economic activity in China, Strategic Communications' offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong have "boosted revenues and strengthened opportunities for long-term growth in their respective markets", the announcement said.