Weber Shandwick promotes Darren Burns, Lydia Lee

Weber Shandwick has promoted Darren Burns to vice chair, Asia Pacific, and Lydia Lee to president, China. 

Both will report to Baxter Jolly, APAC CEO. Burns, previously president, China, and chair for creativity and innovation, will be based in Singapore. Lee, who was previously executive vice president and chief strategist, will remain based in Shanghai and will work closely with Burns and David Liu, chairman of Weber Shandwick China, according to the agency.

Andy Polansky, the company's global CEO, visited China for the announcement, which coincides with the firm’s 25-year anniversary in the market.

“Weber Shandwick’s China business has seen staggering growth over the past decade due to the collective leadership of Darren, David and Lydia,” Polansky said. “The firm has expanded its footprint beyond Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong into Guangzhou and Shenzhen, in addition to expanding the agency’s offerings into new innovative areas." He cited efforts in content-to-commerce, influencer management, digital, data and analytics, and creative.

Polansky called Burns a "formidable leader" as well as a "visionary" and "entrepreneur", while he praised Lee as "the perfect successor to take on the leadership of our business in China".