Edelman Hong Kong bolsters leadership team

Edelman has appointed Adrian Warr as Hong Kong managing director and Carolyn Hammond as Hong Kong head of consumer marketing, effective July 1, 2016. Warr (pictured left) has served as acting managing director of Edelman Hong Kong since November 2015, in which he has demonstrated an acute ability to deliver on his vision toward evolving the office into the dominant multi-channel agency in Hong Kong. Hammond (right), who joins from FTI Consulting, will lead Edelman Hong Kong’s fast-growing consumer marketing team and deepen the firm’s integrated marketing capability. Hammond will report to Warr and Warr will report to Bob Grove, CEO of Edelman North Asia.

“Edelman Hong Kong has had a couple of standout years, growing its corporate practice by 40 percent under Adrian’s leadership and adding great clients to its consumer marketing practice like Kayak, Cathay Pacific and Comvita,” said Grove. “Adrian and Carolyn are both deep consultants and natural leaders of people who will help us to continue our strong growth, while drawing on our heavyweight and specialist creative, digital and research capabilities.”

Warr has served as senior director of Edelman Hong Kong’s corporate practice since 2013. He joined from Portland Communications in London, where he served as a partner and ran its corporate practice. Prior to this he worked at Freud Communications and at Hill+Knowlton for seven years. Warr has won a number of industry awards for his work and is an Oxford graduate in modern languages and literature.

On his appointment, Warr said, “I have no doubt that by challenging the normal siloes between communications and marketing we will re-shape client expectations in this market, and at times push them beyond their comfort zones. I relish that opportunity.”

Hammond brings 15 years’ experience transforming brand reputations and leading award-winning integrated campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands, including McDonald’s, Unilever, Aviva, GSK and Tesco. Prior to joining Edelman, Hammond built her career in the UK at Bell Pottinger and Blue Rubicon, where she worked her way up from consultant to board director. Most recently in Asia, she worked with McDonald’s Hong Kong and led corporate, brand and digital communications for FTI Consulting’s Asia-Pacific hub.

“I love working with big brands, great people and complex challenges, so joining the talented Edelman team at a time when they are investing in an array of new expertise is an irresistible and exciting opportunity,” said Hammond.  “As both Edelman and clients continue the journey towards truly integrated communications, this is going to be an energizing, stretching and fun adventure. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”