SHANGHAI--Edelman has made three moves to “regionalize” its China business. Sanjay Nair, Asia Pacific technology practice director, will relocate from Singapore to Shanghai. He will report to David Brain, president and CEO, Asia Pacific on regional matters and Thomas Mattia, chairman, Edelman China, on matters related to China. Onie Chu has been named Asia-Pacific consumer practice director and will be responsible for overseeing and expanding Edelman’s consumer practice in the region. She will be based in Shanghai and also report to Brain for regional matters and Mattia for local matters. Tony Tao will take on management of Edelman’s Guangzhou office from Chu in an expanded role as managing director for both the Shanghai and Guangzhou offices.

MANILA—Weber Shandwick has appointed Diana Lesaca (pictured) as president and chief operating officer of its Philippines operations. Based in Manila, she will oversee both strategy and operations across all practice areas of the firm, with a particular focus on digital client communications. Lesaca brings with her over two decades of experience managing client accounts spanning the food and beverage, consumer goods and telecommunications industries. Prior to her new appointment, she spent 11 years at Weber Shandwick’s sister agency DraftFCB as senior vice president and new business division head, and previously worked at J. Walter Thompson and Lintas Manila.

KUALA LUMPUR—Hill+Knowlton Strategies relocated Jamie Morse, general manager of its Qatar operations, to assume the role of deputy managing director of its Malaysia office. Reporting to managing director Julia Ahmad, Morse will support the overall operations in Malaysia and be responsible for driving new business. Morse began his PR career in 2000 in Melbourne, where he was a media officer for Victoria University. He has worked for Haystac Public Affairs and CPR Communications & Public Relations in Australia and News Communications in South Korea.

?SYDNEY—Sefiani Communications Group has appointed former stockbroker Harold Shapiro to the firm’s panel of senior advisors. With more than 40 years of stockbroking experience in Australia, South Africa and the United States, and as founder and former managing director of Shaw Stockbroking, Shapiro has a wealth of expertise in capital markets. He was voted Stockbroker of the Year and a member of the Australian Stockbrokers’ Hall of Fame by the Australian Stockbroking Foundation in 2009.?

SYDNEY—Weber Shandwick’s healthcare practice in Australia has added business accounts from MSD and not-for-profit organisation, White Ribbon. MSD, a global leader in healthcare and consumer products, appointed Weber Shandwick to develop and deliver an external corporate communication program throughout 2012. The firm has also been selected to lead PR activity for White Ribbon, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to stopping violence against women, in the lead up to White Ribbon Day 2012 on November 25.

SYDNEY—SAS has announced appointed Amar Vohra, as director, corporate communications, SAS Australia and New Zealand. Vohra’s appointment is a newly created position within SAS. He was previously the company’s head of marketing communications, having joined SAS in 2003. He reports to SAS Australia and New Zealand managing director David Bowie and will drive a communications framework to build a stronger SAS brand and voice with customers, media, partners, analysts and staff.

SYDNEY--Bohemia Group has announced the launch of a new in-house public relations function off the back of winning strategy, media, digital and PR work for two new clients. Bohemia has appointed Ross Purdy to the newly created role of PR manager. Purdy joins from in-house PR roles with Take 2
Interactive Label, 2K and Namco Bandai Partners. The launch of Bohemia’s PR function accompanies two new business wins: Namco Bandai Partners, and GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens.

SINGAPORE—Text100 Singapore has appointed Preeti Gupta as deputy managing consultant, to work with Phillip Raskin, managing consultant, in overseeing business operations, new business and talent development. In addition to her new role, Gupta will continue to hold her position as senior account director focusing on consultancy work for her clients.