SHANGHAI—Ketchum has been appointed as mainland China communications partner to support the marketing communications efforts of Emirates Airline. Ketchum will support both traditional and digital public relations for Emirates in the China market. The account will be led out of Ketchum Shanghai, but will include team members from the firm’s Beijing and Guangzhou offices.

SYDNEY—Sefiani Communications Group has launched a new consumer and challenger brand communications agency, Kite Communications. Kite will operate separately from its corporate and financial communications sister agency Sefiani and will be led by general manager Heather Mollins, who joined Sefiani from Ogilvy Public Relations last October. The new firm launches with a team of six professionals.

HONG KONG—Kevin Chen will be rejoining The Hoffman Agency to lead its China operation as general manager. Chen who started his career with The Hoffman Agency returns to the firm after spending a number of years with Bite and Weber Shandwick. In his recent role with Bite, Chen was head of Shanghai office and general manager, China marketing services group, working with clients such as Parker Hannifin, CommScope, Cisco WebEx Solutions, and Wolters Kluwer Financial Services.

HONG KONG—Edelman has appointed Grace Fu as regional talent recruitment director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, responsible for overseeing senior leadership recruitment. Prior to this appointment, Fu served as chief talent officer of Daniel J. Edelman China Group. She has relocated to Hong Kong and reports to David Brain, president and CEO of Edelman APACMEA.

YANGON—The Blink Agency, a new PR agency with a digital focus on the digital environment, has opened its doors in Yangon, Myanmar. The firm is led by Stephen Kyaw, a presenter on Myanmar International TV and SKYNET with a background in property and IT marketing, and Erik Oo, whose background is in the digital arena. One of Blink’s first projects involves a digital outreach campaign for Huawei, the Chinese networking and telecommunications multinational. Blink is also the PR partner for the new Yangon chapter of Mobile Monday. Anthem Asia, an independent investment and advisory group focused on Myanmar, has invested in the new firm.

MELBOURNE—Edelman Melbourne has been appointed as the national public relations firm for three major ranges within the Bosch Group Work Tools stable: Bosch Professional Trade (Blue), Bosch DIY (encompassing DIY power tools, garden tools and measuring tools) and Dremel. This marks the first time Bosch has ever awarded all of its businesses to a single firm. Edelman Melbourne has managed public relations for the Bosch Green DIY tools range over the last three years and will now partner with Bosch on a variety of consumer public relations, brand marketing and social media initiatives for other products.

SYDNEY—Hamilton Island Enterprises, owned and operated by the Oatley family, has appointed Sophie Baker to corporate communications director across the Balmoral stable of brands. She will be responsible for reputational management and strategic promotion of Hamilton Island’s property portfolio; as well as leading the ambassador and influencer program for the group. She was formerly a senior director with Hamilton Island and before that worked at ModelCo and Australian Consolidated Press.