Jackie Xu Rui to join Edelman Shanghai as managing director reporting to Jeffrey Yu

Edelman has announced that its China business has hired Jackie Xu Rui as managing director, Edelman Shanghai effective of June 1st. China Chief Operations Officer & Managing Director of Beijing, Sanjay Nair is moving to a new role as head of the U.S. Tech sector, based out of Edelman’s San Francisco office.

Xu Rui, (pictured left) the former MullenLowe Profero China Managing Director, is charged with strategically leading the digital transformation of the entire Edelman agency, including corporate, healthcare and consumer. Based in Shanghai, Xu Rui will report to Jeffrey Yu, President of Edelman, China.

“We have been extremely selective with finding a leader for our Shanghai team,” said Yu. “Jackie is a best-in-class leader who has the digital portfolio as well as the business proficiency to bring our multi-faceted corporate and consumer PR talents together as we continue our journey into the new world of communications marketing.”

Xu Rui is recognized and respected as one of China’s most revered agency leaders with a Profero career that spanned nearly 15 years in numerous senior management roles. She has led and won pitches from the likes of Unilever, Diageo, Unionpay, Fiat, PwC, TongRenTang, Haribo, The Peninsula Hotels and more.

“The communications marketing industry faces new challenges with rapid technological change, and social and cultural changes in China compound it,” said Xu Rui. “However, the need for strategic thinking and creativity is never going to change and will probably be greater in today’s world. I am very excited to join the passionate and talented Edelman team on a journey of developing innovative new ways of adding value to clients and consumers.”

With a strong track record in achieving revenue, profit and business growth objectives within start-up, turnaround and highly competitive environments across the APAC region – Xu Rui brings to Edelman her natural drive and ambition to build strong teams, attract the best talent and win new business.

After 5 years with Edelman China, COO and MD of Beijing, Sanjay Nair will join Edelman U.S. as their new head of the U.S. Tech Sector.

During Nair’s 12 years with Edelman, he has held the position of chief operating officer for Edelman China since 2012 and managing director for Edelman Beijing since 2014 where he has led the overall business transformation and capabilities inspired by communications marketing.

Prior to this, Nair was employed as head, Technology practice for Edelman Singapore and Edelman APAC and Regional Client Relationship Lead (RCRM) from November 2004 to June 2012. He built Singapore’s No 1 Technology practice for Edelman from scratch, starting with a team of two and one client, to over 22 people and a multi-million dollar client portfolio in less than five years.

With over 200 staff across 13 markets in the U.S. region and a client portfolio including Adobe, Microsoft, Samsung, eBay, and PayPal, among many others – Nair brings a troika of practice, client and geography experience with the local/regional technology sector that will help U.S. companies grow internationally as well as support Asian companies keen to invest and grow their footprint in the U.S. – further strengthening Edelman’s U.S. Tech sector portfolio.