APCO Worldwide Strengthens Asia Position with Double Leadership Change in Singapore

Leadership better poised to be a stronger, more resilient partner across key markets

Singapore – 5 April 2022: APCO Worldwide has made a double leadership change in Asia, as the advisory and advocacy communications consultancy prepares for its next phase of growth across the region, CEO Brad Staples announced today.

James Yi has been appointed regional senior director of market development, Southeast Asia, Korea and Australasia, and JJ Lee succeeds Yi as the new managing director for Southeast Asia.

“Due to the great success achieved in Southeast Asia under the leadership of James and JJ over the past few years, we are looking to accelerate our plans for continued expansion in the region,” said Staples. “APCO seeks to further facilitate growth with the shift in roles, so that we may be well poised to be a more resilient partner and offer the best APCO has to this important and fast-changing geography.”

The acceleration is in line with APCO’s long-term vision for Asia-Pacific, home of the fastest growing global economies.

“This bolstering of our leadership represents our strong commitment to the region and propelling our business forward at this important intersection in regional growth. Coming out of the pandemic, governments, businesses and society all need to collaborate more proactively in establishing the necessary road to take in maximizing development and prosperity—APCO wants to ensure we are there to help shape the direction of these organizations as we look into the needs of future society,” added Staples.

Having served as managing director of Southeast Asia and Korea for APCO since 2018, Yi will focus more on driving new business and presence in the region across sectors, including health care, technology and in the social impact space. He will collaborate with APCO’s existing leadership in expanding APCO’s presence in key markets across Asia in coordination with both regional and global operations.

Yi will continue to be part of the Southeast Asia leadership team and support Lee in the transition to her new role. Lee, a seasoned consultant with more than 15 years of experience in policy and strategic communications, has played an integral role in the growth of APCO in Asia. She has held a leadership role with WE Communications APAC prior to joining APCO, and also held a post in Korea as a lecturer at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) Graduate School of Public Policy and Management, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

A talented leadership team based in Singapore reporting to Lee includes James Tyrell, Stephanie Tan, Gemma Kyle, Melissa Thomas and Kandyce Ong. They join a growing team of senior experts and APCO International Advisory Council (IAC) members with deep ties in Southeast Asia and around the world, including Ambassador Devinda R. Subasinghe, Rami Sharaf, Mike Chinoy, Yuli Ismartono, Dr Chew Suok Kai, Frederik Nyberg, Dr Deborah Elms, John Lin, Dr Maria Radyati and Aida Greenbury, among others.