Changing of the guard at Burson-Marsteller

Hong Kong - Simon Pangrazio, regional managing director for Burson-Marsteller North Asia, will succeed Bill Rylance as president and CEO of the public relations group from 1 January next year.

Pangrazio, who has been with the WPP-owned company for 11 years, will report to Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn and also takes a seat on the company's global leadership team.

Rylance has been appointed to the position of Asia Pacific chairman and vice chairman for global development. His new role will see him leave the region and focus on growing the company's affiliate partnerships and business development in emerging markets.

Hong Kong-based Pangrazio will take management of the agency's Asia Pacific region, which holds offices in India, Singapore, Indonesia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Australia.

His current role of regional managing director for North Asia and director of its corporate and financial division, is not expected to be immediately filled, with minor management changes to be announced in the near future.

Rylance said appointing a CEO and president from within the company was testament of its senior management experience.