HONG KONG — The Hoffman Agency has hired Esther Kuang Mei to spearhead its Shanghai operations as general manager, reporting to Cassandra Cheong managing director of the region. 

Mei will be responsible for strategic initiatives such as driving business growth, client services, operational management and staff development. Prior to joining Hoffman, Kuang worked at several global PR firms, including Edelman, Golin and Text100. 
 
Kuang also held a position with the Harvard Center Shanghai – a hub for representing Harvard community and implementing various initiatives in China – as its interim general manager, where she led and oversaw the startup China operation and took responsibility for overall management of the Center and the WOFE. She started her career as a staff reporter with Reuters in China, and has spent seven years with investment firms before she joined the communications industry.
   
The Hoffman Agency operates nine offices across Asia, the US and Europe.