Ruder Finn Asia Strengthens Leadership with Key Hire — Kok Wing THAM joins as Senior Vice President, Engagement and Integration

Asia. Ruder Finn Asia has appointed Kok Wing THAM as Senior Vice President, Engagement and Integration, to service its network across Asia Pacific. He will bring added focus and drive to guide clients, as well as internal teams, in crafting communication solutions through insights, real-time dynamic analysis and digital influence. Kok Wing will also be closely involved in the development of new capabilities and practice skills in line with the need to integrate digital and non-digital platforms to sharpen engagement relevance and foster influence through earned affiliation.

Ruder Finn Asia has seen increasing demand from clients, year-on-year and across the region, for such a need to plug gaps in engagement and connecting the dots in a dynamic environment, where rapid growth of digital developments and social media have put even more pressure on companies when it comes to public scrutiny, and their response. In July 2015, Ruder Finn launched SONAR, a proprietary multi-language, multi-market, multi-channel social media crisis simulation platform. SONAR allows client teams to experience the dynamic environment of a fast-developing social media issue or crisis in real-time. Building on this existing platform, Kok Wing will develop similar tools, practice skills, customised training and strategic processes that will help clients navigate challenges and multi-faceted issues through purposeful engagement.

“The past year has seen incredible growth and expansion for Ruder Finn Asia, venturing into new and innovative communication offerings for the ever changing needs of the industry” Ruder Finn Asia Chairman, Jean-Michel Dumont, said. “Kok Wing brings with him a combination of depth and proficiency, not just in the craft of communication but also a strong grasp of digital practice.”

Kok Wing said: “Ruder Finn has been successfully reinventing itself and undergoing tremendous transformation, which is evident from the new capabilities, partnerships, cutting edge assignments and awards it has achieved.”

Kok Wing has close to 30 years experience in public relations, media, marketing and strategic communications. His background spans a range of industries including aviation, consumer, energy, finance, government, hospitality, professional services and technology. He has spearheaded strategic communication initiatives with teams across Asia-Pacific and maintains an acute and accurate understanding of Southeast Asian affairs and local politics. He remains a confidant/strategic advisor to a number of C-suite clients and senior executives in the private and public sector. Kok Wing has worked in a variety of sectors with a particular focus on proactive trust and reputation-building, stakeholder and influencer engagement, consumer and brand marketing, executive positioning, issues and risk management, employee communication and digital engagement. He is an established media, presentation skills and crisis preparedness trainer and has steered clients through numerous reputation and crisis issues and conducted table-top and full-blown crises simulations. Prior to joining Ruder Finn, Kok Wing was a partner at a social media agency. He has served in senior local and regional leadership roles with global PR firms and was a journalist before joining the PR industry.