BCW’s deputy APAC president departs after 16 years

Global communications agency BCW’s Polka Yu (pictured) is stepping down from her role as deputy APAC president after 16 years.

Yu expressed her gratitude to her team in her LinkedIn post, “It’s been a privilege to have worked with the phenomenal BCW APAC team led by Stafford.”

In her time at the agency, Yu and her team revamped the old Burson-Marsteller from a traditional PR firm into a creative powerhouse, according to her LinkedIn post. The team also established a strong China-focused global practice and solidified Hong Kong as the agency's regional hub.

According to her LinkedIn, Yu directly managed the Hong Kong office and several teams across mainland China. In addition, she established and continue to lead the APAC integrated communications practice. Meanwhile, Yu also oversaw regional new business development.

A key focus of Yu's work had been supporting helping Chinese companies go global with their brand marketing and communications campaigns, including Huawei, Honor, Alibaba, Tencent, TCL, Midea, and Skyworth.

“I will take these fond memories with me as I enter my next chapter,” Yu said in the post.

Prior to her most recent position, she had served as the APAC managing director for integrated communications at BCW for more than two years.

Yu’s departure comes shortly after the exit of BCW's APAC president Matt Stafford.

Don’t miss: Burson appoints Adrian Warr as CEO for South APAC

Back in January, WPP announced that it would be merging two of its largest communications agencies, Hill & Knowlton and BCW, to form Burson, effective 1 July 2024. It will be a firm that will deliver modern communications leadership at scale to clients across the world, it said in a statement. 

Burson will also have more than 6,000 employees in 43 markets worldwide with its name honoring the late Harold Burson, a pioneer and founding figure of modern public relations and strategic communications.

Furthermore, Burson has appointed Adrian Warr as CEO for South Asia-Pacific, effective from 16 September 2024. He will cover Burson's business in India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. He will be reporting to Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW, who will hold the same title as Burson upon completion of the merger.

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Burson appoints Adrian Warr as CEO for South APAC