Allison+Partners Launches New Global China Practice, Names David Wolf Managing Director

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allison+Partners announced today that David Wolf has been named as managing director of the agency’s Global China Practice. A highly skilled communications strategist, Wolf counsels American, Chinese and European clients across a range of industries. He specializes in managing complex communications challenges, including crisis, new market entry and corporate reorganization, helping clients consider elements beyond branding and messaging to rethink strategies, positioning and execution.

“We see considerable demand from existing and prospective clients to have an expanded presence in Asia, South America and Europe.”

"The most consistent challenge for foreign companies operating in China and Chinese companies expanding overseas is a failure to communicate effectively," said Wolf. "The Allison+Partners Global China Practice has been specifically designed to help turn trans-Pacific communications from a chasm into a lasting competitive advantage for these companies."

Routinely called upon by regional and global media as an analyst and commentator on business in China, Wolf is a regular contributor to The Holmes Report, EuroBiz, Media, AdAge magazine, and Warc. He is an editorial advisor for the China Economic Quarterly and serves on the advisory board of the Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business at Indiana University. Wolf is the author of several published reports, and his first book, “Making the Connection: The Peaceful Rise of China’s Telecommunications Giants” was released in April 2012.

“Launching in China marks an exciting time in our business. We continue to transform our offerings across international practice areas to meet changing client needs and add to our global footprint,” said Andy Hardie-Brown, co-founder and COO. “We see considerable demand from existing and prospective clients to have an expanded presence in Asia, South America and Europe.”

Prior to joining Allison+Partners, Wolf spent seven years as president and chief executive officer of Wolf Group Asia (WGA), a Beijing-based strategic corporate communications advisory firm. Serving a range of clients including Discovery Networks, Motorola Mobility, Google, Foxconn, Blizzard, AOL, About.com and Irdeto, WGA won both client and industry accolades and was named Asia-Pacific Boutique Consultancy of the Year for 2011 by SABRE/Holmes Report.

Before starting WGA, he led the Asia-Pacific Technology Practice for Burson-Marsteller, leading a team of nearly 50 professionals in offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. Wolf took the Asia-Pacific post after having founded Burson-Marsteller’s technology practice in China in 2000, growing it into China's largest technology, media and telecommunications public relations organization and winning a dozen industry awards for client work. Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Wolf was managing director and chief operating officer of Claydon Gescher Associates (CGA), a boutique strategy and public affairs consultancy based in Beijing with a focus on media, entertainment, and telecommunications. Clients served included Intel, HBO Asia, Reuters, DeBeers/Stockdale, PanAmSat, Turner International and Irdeto Access.

Wolf resides in Beijing and is fluent in Mandarin. He blogs at Silicon Hutong (www.siliconhutong.com) and The Peking Review (www.pekingreview.com).

About Allison+Partners

Allison+Partners, an MDC Partners company, is an international communications firm driven by a collaborative approach to innovation and creativity. The result is freshly imagined, customized approaches that provide concrete, measurable strategies to drive market and executive leadership. Expertise includes consumer PR and marketing, corporate communications, technology and digital media, brand innovation, social impact, public affairs and healthcare. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and Dallas. The company has a 50-state grassroots network and deep affiliations with quality firms worldwide through MDC Partners (NASDAQ: MDCA, Toronto Stock Exchange: MDZ.A), a progressive marketing and communications network, championing the most innovative entrepreneurial talent. Visit us: www.allisonpr.com, http://facebook.com/allisonpr, http://twitter.com/allisonpr.