Burson-Marsteller has announced a new executive leadership team for its Asia-Pacific region to drive growth and integration. Patrick Ford will become chairman of the region and will lead a newly created Senior Executive Leadership Team that includes Australia CEO and Market Leader Christine Jones, Korea Market Leader Margaret Key, Genesis Burson-Marsteller Principal and Founder Prema Sagar, and Hong Kong Market Leader Matt Stafford. This new leadership team will work with Ford on setting strategy for growth in the region and business priorities in specific areas, including investments in business development, client development, talent recruitment and acquisitions. The team's members will continue to be responsible for their own markets, but will also take on shared responsibility and authority for the region as a whole. Stafford will move from Hong Kong Market Leader to CEO of Greater China. He has served as lead counsel to several Chinese-headquartered clients as they position their brands and enhance their corporate communications around the world. Daisy King will become the interim Beijing Market Leader, in addition to her current role as the head of Burson-Marsteller's US-China Specialty Group. Vincent Li is promoted to permanent Market Leader for Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen. They will join Regional Managing Directors Angelina Ong, the firm's Shanghai Market Leader and regional Brand Marketing Practice Chair; Ian McCabe, the regional Public Affairs Practice Chair; and Jackie Price, who leads Burson-Marsteller teams on two key regional client relationships, on the Greater China leadership team. Stafford re-joined Burson-Marsteller in Hong Kong in 2008 following five years as the Australian Government's senior policy adviser on communications reporting to several Cabinet Ministers. The firm will integrate its Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Hong Kong offices into a new Greater China region under Matt Stafford's leadership to align its international and domestic communications programmes more effectively for clients and strengthen integration.

Burson-Marsteller, LLC appointed Steve Lombardo as Chair of the U.S. Public Affairs & Crisis Practice. Lombardo brings a perspective to public affairs and issues management that comes from a background in electoral politics. Lombardo will be based in the firm's Washington, DC office and will take the lead on driving Burson-Marsteller's growth strategy in the public affairs, issues management and crisis space. He will report to U.S. CEO Dave DenHerder. Most recently, Lombardo served as the Global CEO of StrategyOne.

Burson-Marsteller named Robert Bobo as a director in the Dallas office.