Christine Jones Rejoins Burson-Marsteller as Regional Managing Director, Asia-Pacific

Singapore, 23 March, 2010 – Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications consultancy, today announced that it has appointed Christine Jones as Regional Managing Director, Asia-Pacific. Jones is a senior communications executive with 25 years of experience working in several markets including Australia, Europe and Asia. A recognized expert in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, consumer goods, as well as issues and crisis management, Jones has successfully managed businesses through both periods of economic expansion and recession. She will report to Asia-Pacific President & CEO Bob Pickard and will be based in Australia.

As Regional Managing Director, Jones will be responsible for driving strategic business development in Asia-Pacific. She will work with teams across the firm’s 19-office region to help expand existing client relationships and build new business. She will be a regional board member supporting the senior leadership team.

“Christine’s return to Burson-Marsteller is emblematic of our firm’s rising fortunes in Asia,” said Pickard. “She has an outstanding track record building teams and businesses. Her expertise in pharmaceuticals will be invaluable as healthcare is our number one target growth sector in Asia and an area in which Burson-Marsteller has significant strength in the region and globally.”

Jones previously worked with Burson-Marsteller as Market Leader for Singapore from 2004 to 2007. In that capacity, she was credited with delivering 40 percent revenue growth and returning the company to the top of the agency rankings in Singapore as voted by Marketing Magazine.  During her tenure, her hands-on and people-orientated approach helped reduce staff turnover and ensure the highest quality standards. Some of her key clients were HP, Singapore Tourism Board and Pfizer.

Jones (nee McMenamin) is currently the Head of Global Oncology Communications at Roche Pharmaceuticals’ head office in Switzerland. At Roche, where oncology represents 55 percent of company sales, she is responsible for setting global oncology media strategy, positioning and messaging. In 2008, she created Roche’s first globally aligned and coordinated communications package describing the value of Roche’s cancer medicines, which was endorsed by the company’s CEO. In 2009, she helped Roche achieve double the media share-of-voice for its cancer portfolio versus all other competitors.

Prior to Roche and Burson-Marsteller, Jones worked with Edelman/Rowland Company (acquired by Edelman) for 14 years including assignments in London, Australia and Singapore where she was the Regional Director of Healthcare in Asia-Pacific and client leader for GSK, Astra Zeneca and Bayer.

Jones obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Technology in Sydney.