SHANGHAI—Cohn & Wolfe has named Harriet Gaywood as the firm's new managing director for Mainland China.

Gaywood, who joins from ReuterPR, succeeds Lydia Shen, who is departing the firm after nine years. In a statement, Cohn & Wolfe said that Shen is departing the agency to "spend more time with her family."

Gaywood leaves ReuterPR, where she was a business director overseeing luxury brands, after just nine months. She previously spent three years as executive director at Grayling China, establishing the firm's Shanghai and Beijing offices, and has also worked at MSLGroup and Weber Shandwick.

Cohn & Wolfe's Greater China footprint has expanded significantly in recent years, thanks in part to its acquisition of Impact Asia in 2011.

"Our China offering has grown significantly under Lydia’s strong leadership," said Cohn & Wolfe global CEO Donna Imperato. "We want to continue driving success and have an aggressive expansion strategy in the APAC region and China. Harriet’s wealth of experience coupled with her considerable local market knowledge will be a significant asset to our business."