SAN FRANCISCO—Corporate and financial communications firm RLM Finsbury is opening a San Francisco office, under the leadership of Doug Michelman, former chief communications officer and global head of corporate relations of Visa, and most recently a senior advisor to RLM Finsbury. Michelman has been named a partner in the firm.

RLM Finsbury has experience advising companies on the financial communications, issues management and brand-building challenges that many San Francisco- and Silicon Valley-based firms are facing and has several clients in, or with significant interests in, the Bay Area. The San Francisco office follows on the heels of expansion in Beijing, Moscow and Paris.

While at Visa, Michelman led the global corporate relations function and oversaw all corporate relations activities, including its IPO. Prior to Visa, he served as regional president and senior partner at FleishmanHillard, where he managed its West Coast operations. He has also held staff positions in the press office for two presidential campaigns.