Weber Shandwick appoints regional EVP of public affairs

In his new role, Nicholas will be responsible for Weber Shandwick's reputation management and public affairs business in China and the firm's regional public affairs practice across the region.

He will be based in Beijing, his home for the past 10 years, and report to China managing director David Liu with a dotted line reporting relationship with vice-chairman of Asia-Pacific Baxter Jolly, who is responsible for the firm's specialist regional practice areas.

He joins from independent consulting firm AC Capital Strategic Consulting, which he founded in 2003. Prior to moving to China, he was Australia's trade commissioner to the World Bank and the United Nations, based at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.

“Alistair is one of a still rare breed of quite exceptional strategic reputation and public affairs consultants in Asia-Pacific," said Tim Sutton, chairman of Weber Shandwick Asia-Pacific. "With the growing pluralism of nearly all Asian countries, irrespective of their systems of government, we expect this marketplace to continue growing very rapidly indeed and Alistair has the perfect credentials to lead our firm in this key area,” he added.

Nicholas also serves as a member of the advisory board of the China Global Risk Council, the organising committee of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Beijing, the business committee of the Beijing Capital Club and as honorary media counsel for the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce in Beijing.