BEIJING--Edelman has promoted Sanjay Nair to the role of chief operating officer in China.

In the newly created role, Nair will report to Steven Cao, chief executive officer of DJE China Group. A nine-year veteran of the firm, Nair most recently headed Edelman's technology practice in Asia-Pacific.

He will remain based in Shanghai, and is charged with strengthening operations and overseeing all of Edelman China's practices, including consumer, corporate, healthcare and technology.

Nair's elevation comes after Edelman reshuffled its China leadership last year following the departure of CEO Mark Hass to run the firm's US operations. Tom Mattia arrived as chairman of the DJE holding group in China, before Cao was named CEO.

“Sanjay’s new role is a strategic enhancement of Daniel J. Edelman China Group’s offering to clients and our group’s sustainable growth plan, and will help meet the rapidly increasing demand for integrated communications solutions in the China market,” said Cao.

“Our clients will no doubt benefit from Sanjay’s multi-geography experience and wealth of cross-cultural leadership as well as his passion for quality business impacts and operational discipline."

Prior to nine years with Edelman, Sanjay served as senior director at Text 100 India.