Ogilvy PR Beijing hires new Senior Vice President

Ogilvy Public Relations/Beijing has appointed Simon Webb in the role of Senior Vice President. Effective immediately, Webb’s new role will span a number of Ogilvy PR’s specialty disciplines including bolstering PR team strategies, broadening their capabilities in issues and crisis work, and growing OgilvyEarth, Ogilvy’s sustainability communications practice.

With a strong background in political and communications research, Webb will also direct the implementation of public relations effectiveness measurement to demonstrate the value of campaigns to clients’ businesses – a regional priority for Ogilvy PR.

Webb (left) partnered with Ogilvy PR during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo working for the Australian government and collaborating closely with Ogilvy PR China’s senior management team.

Transferring from Ogilvy PR/Australia, Webb’s most recent position was as Director of Parker & Partners, Ogilvy PR’s public affairs consultancy in Australia, where for the last four years his clients included Emirates Airline, Telstra, National Australia Bank, St. George Bank, various Australian government departments, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Origin Energy, Siemens, HP and AstraZeneca. Webb was also Business Director at strategic and creative agency Shannon’s Way (2007-2008) and Political Director of the Morgan Poll at Roy Morgan Research (2004-2006). He has worked as an adviser in the Australian federal parliament, Australian government and in an international foreign policy think tank.

“There is an art and science to effective communications and this begins with a deep understanding of the audience group you are communicating with,” said Scott Kronick, President of Ogilvy PR North Asia. “Simon has a diverse background in strategy and communications and his skills are ripe for where China is now. China needs a strong research-based communicator and Simon’s role is to assist clients and staff with how research and measurement are used as an accelerator for effectiveness.”