Patrick Yu (left) becomes general manager, Kitty Lee (right) appointed deputy general manager
HONG KONG, 29 January 2019 – FleishmanHillard has promoted Patrick Yu to general manager of its Hong Kong operations, effective immediately. Yu succeeds Geoff Bilbrough who has stepped down to return home to New Zealand. Yu will report to Rachel Catanach, FleishmanHillard’s senior partner and president of Greater China.
Yu previously served as deputy general manager of FleishmanHillard’s Hong Kong office and will remain the Financial and Professional Services sector lead across Asia Pacific. A trilingual Hong Kong native, he started his career with the agency in 2005 and in 2011 was awarded its prestigious John D. Graham Award for Excellence for outstanding leadership. He delivers guest lectures for The University of Hong Kong and is a sought-after presenter throughout Asia Pacific on financial and fintech communication trends.
“FleishmanHillard is thriving in Hong Kong and the team is poised to achieve another successful year,” said Catanach. “Geoff led with warmth and integrity, earning the admiration of clients and colleagues alike. We are grateful for his contributions, including ensuring a smooth handover to Patrick, and we wish him continued success back in New Zealand.
“Patrick is a highly experienced leader with a proven ability to drive growth for our company and clients. He is well-prepared to lead Hong Kong as general manager, having already served as deputy general manager. Patrick’s tireless commitment to his work is matched only by his strong network of industry contacts across the Greater China region. He is the natural choice to ensure the continued success of our company.”
To support Yu, Kitty Lee is promoted to deputy general manager. Lee started her career with FleishmanHillard in 2004 and was promoted to senior vice president in 2015. In addition to her new role, she will continue to co-lead the award-winning Asia Pacific consumer practice and enhance her unique expertise in consumer aviation communications. A trilingual Hong Kong native, and a John D. Graham Award for Excellence recipient, Lee serves as a Full Council Member of the Hong Kong Consumer Council. She also delivers guest lectures for Hong Kong Baptist University and mentors students.
“Throughout her 15-year career at the company, Kitty has distinguished herself as a generous leader in both the PR industry and the Hong Kong community,” said Catanach. “As deputy general manager, one of her key roles will be to coach and lead the next generation of PR practitioners, while instilling the culture of collaboration and excellence that is FleishmanHillard’s hallmark.
“Under the new management of Patrick and Kitty, we demonstrate our company’s commitment to offering unlimited career opportunities and providing clients with local expertise on a global scale. I congratulate them on their achievements and am confident that their complementary skills and expertise will further extend our company’s leadership across Greater China.”
