Singapore-headquartered independent communications agency Bud Communications has expanded into North Asia with the opening of a new office in Hong Kong and the appointment of communications veteran Cynthia Chan as its Hong Kong and North Asia lead.
The move gives Bud a presence in Hong Kong alongside its existing operations in Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The agency said the new hub will focus on supporting technology companies operating across the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia.
Chan brings more than two decades of experience across corporate positioning, reputation management and change communications. She joins Bud from FleishmanHillard Hong Kong, where she served as senior vice-president and partner and led the agency's corporate practice.
Her career has also included a senior communications role at materials company Covestro in Shanghai, where she was head of communications for Greater China. During her tenure, she led communications around the company's sustainability and circular economy positioning, as well as organisational restructuring and regional change.
Bud Communications founder and CEO Oliver Budgen said Hong Kong had been part of the agency's expansion plans since its early stages.
“Hong Kong has been part of Bud’s growth ambitions from day one,” Budgen said. “Given how significant this market is within the wider APAC picture, we always knew success would come down to two things: timing and talent.”
He said Chan's experience in reputation management and change leadership would be important in building Bud's North Asia operation.
Chan said the Greater Bay Area-to-APAC corridor was increasingly important for technology companies looking to build credibility and manage communications across complex, multi-market environments.
“I look forward to establishing Bud as the go-to strategic communications partner for tech innovators in Hong Kong and North Asia,” she said.
The Hong Kong expansion marks another step in Bud Communications' regional growth as independent agencies seek to strengthen their presence across Asia-Pacific. For Bud, the new office is intended to create a bridge between technology companies in North Asia and markets across Southeast Asia, while providing strategic communications support for businesses navigating regional expansion, reputation challenges and organisational change.
