BEIJING—Burson-Marsteller China has appointed Jane Zhang as director of its government relations and public policy consulting group. Zhang joins the firm from Pfizer China, where she led the company’s strategic policy and business excellence functions. She will be based in Beijing and will report to Burson-Marsteller China CEO and market leader Chris Deri.

Zhang will lead and grow Burson-Marsteller’s team of government relations and public policy specialists who work with clients to understand public policy trends and to execute integrated communications campaigns. The team is comprised of former government officials, communications experts and consultants with backgrounds in various industries.

Zhang began her diplomatic career as the principal aide to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. In 1997, she played a role in the historic ceremony marking Hong Kong’s return to China, and served as the press official of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner’s Office in Hong Kong. In 2003, she co-founded and led Tiger International Group, which specialized in providing China market entry and business development consulting services to US companies and organizations.

Zhang joined Pfizer China in 2008 and has held several leadership roles within the company, and most recently led the team to analyze China’s healthcare reform and develop Pfizer’s position on reimbursement, pricing, intellectual property rights and international trade.