Singapore – Global public relations and marketing consultancy firm Edelman has announced several strategic leadership appointments in health across APAC, which include the appointment of Will Collie as vice chair of Health in APAC, Brian Wang as head of Health for China, and Jenny Jackson as head of Health in Hong Kong. These senior appointments serve to further Edelman’s growth in APAC, with Health as a strategic priority.

As vice chair of Health in APAC, Collie will be overseeing Edelman’s Health teams in India, China, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand, as well as Taiwan, and Australia. Collie, who now resides in Australia, was previously based in the United States in both Los Angeles and Chicago, where he was head of Edelman’s Southern California business and prior to that Chicago Health business. He also served as Edelman’s Health lead in Sydney, where he joined the firm in 2012. Before joining Edelman, Collie served as senior manager of external affairs for the global pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

Meanwhile, Wang will be overseeing the Health teams in Beijing and Shanghai. Prior to Edelman, his career spans almost 20 years across the health, wellness and retail sectors in Taipei, Beijing, and Shanghai. This includes 12 years at GSK Consumer Healthcare, where he led brand teams across integrated marketing, channel planning, in-market portfolio positioning and communications across the Greater China Area.

And lastly, Jackson will be bringing more than 12 years of health communications expertise. She has led multi-channel communications and market research campaigns for global pharmaceutical and medical device companies across APAC, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Jackson brings to Edelman a strong understanding of multiple healthcare, regulatory, and compliance environments across a wide range of disease areas.

Commenting on the appointment, Collie said they’re building teams with no boundaries, bringing the best minds to their clients regardless of where they’re based. 

“Our integrated approach, coupling data, insights and health expertise to deliver high-impact creative engagement, sets us apart. The addition of these deep-rooted Health experts, with their knowledge of the region and insights at the local level, strengthens our capabilities both across APAC as a region as well as in local markets where clients are operating on the ground,” Collie added.

Meanwhile, Kirsty Graham, global president of practice and sectors at Edelman, said health remains a key driver of business for Edelman globally, and the opportunity to partner with clients in this industry across APAC is enormous.

“These senior appointments strengthen our specialised approach – we have the expertise, the depth of knowledge and the nuanced insights to drive truly impactful client programs. Under Will Collie’s leadership in APAC, we continue to expand our specialisation of Edelman Health’s teams and offers,” said Graham.

Just recently, Edelman Indonesia appointed Melvin Goo as its new chief operating officer. Through the new appointment, Goo will drive the next chapter of the firm’s growth in Indonesia, and realise Edelman’s ambitions of delivering integrated marketing communications solutions for local, regional and global clients serving the market.