Ruder Finn Asia Strengthens Hong Kong Operations, Appoints Anne Geronimi as General Manager for Hong Kong, Opens Third RF Thunder Office

Hong Kong— Ruder Finn Asia today announced the further strengthening of the firm’s Asia-Pacific capabilities with the appointment of Anne Geronimi as General Manager for Hong Kong and the establishment in Hong Kong of a third office for Ruder Finn sister company, RF Thunder, with Emily Situ heading operations as General Manager.

Relocating from Ruder Finn Shanghai, Anne in her new role will also be tasked to drive business growth, team development and expand Ruder Finn’s luxury portfolio across Asia-Pacific. Since joining Ruder Finn in 2006, Anne has been working from within China to create opportunities for brands through local and international programsand counseling clients on strategy directives that best reflect their integration and growth in the Asian market.

Emily, a PR veteran with 14 years of experience, is also General Manager of RF Thunder in Guangzhou. With the expansion of Ruder Finn Asia’s expertise to specialized offerings in luxury, healthcare, auto and financial communications in Greater China, RF Thunder will provide innovative, strategic communications within different market segmentations, including beauty, fashion and consumer goods. RF Thunder will work closely with Ruder Finn Innovation Studios (RFI), the award winning digital agency, to blend traditional, CRM and digital PR offerings.

The announcement is part of a game-changing strategy for Ruder Finn in Hong Kong and China. It represents Ruder Finn’s broader corporate commitment to the Hong Kong market, which recently also saw the acquisition of reputation management consultancy SharpeLankester and the addition of Charles Lankester as SVP, Reputation Management to the Ruder Finn Asia leadership group. With a Greater China team of close to 300 people, Ruder Finn Asia is one of the top three PR consultancies in China with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and partnerships covering Chengdu, Chongqing and Kunming. Representing more than 100 corporations regionally, Ruder Finn’s key clients include Cartier, Volkswagen Group, Sanofi, Cotton Inc. and Michelin.

“Anne’s 15-year experience and expertise in both corporate and premium consumer communications is a perfect fit for the Hong Kong and Greater China market. We can now deliver a consulting capability that precisely matches the Hong Kong market requirements, offering brand, corporate and digital communications counsel,” said Jean-Michel Dumont, Chairman, Ruder Finn Asia.

“She is relocating from our Shanghai office where she doubled revenues and grew our China Consumer and Lifestyle Practice to more than 40 people since 2010. Her insights into this complex and fast-moving business will be of great value to our Hong Kong client portfolio as well as our China and Asia-Pacific business.”

“The establishment of RF Thunder in Hong Kong is an equally important development as it provides greater depth and flexibility to our overall client offerings. We have seenfee growth of 100% between 2013 and 2014 along with a 65% growth in profit. With more global clients wanting to enter mainland China, RF Thunder Hong Kong will offer a strategic bridge for entryand help existing China clients expand internationally. Emily has a proven track record in building clients, revenues and teams and she is a perfect choice to lead our new office in Hong Kong. I am confident that under Emily’s leadership we will experience the same growth as we have witnessed across other RF Thunder offices.”

Anne Geronimi said today, “I am delighted to join our fast-growing Hong Kong office and willbe focused on broadening our business here. Ever-increasing scrutiny and demands from customers, governments, NGOs and the media mean companies face much greater reputational and business challenges. Ruder Finn has the people, insights and network to help our clients build and protect their businesses, brands and reputations.”

Emily Situ said, “Today is an exciting day for RF Thunder as we are now officially open for business in the vibrant Hong Kong market, connecting clients with business and communications opportunities across our existing offices in Guangzhou and Shanghai, as well as Asia and globally.”