Edelman expands Southeast Asia public affairs bench with senior hires

Edelman has strengthened its public and government affairs capability in Southeast Asia with the appointment of Wai Leong Tang (pictured left) as head of public and government affairs for the region, as the firm looks to deepen advisory support for CEOs, boards and strategy leaders.

Based in Singapore, Tang joins from H/Advisors, where he was head of public affairs for Asia. He will report to Delicia Tan, Edelman’s CEO for Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Edelman’s public and government affairs offering sits at the intersection of corporate reputation, public affairs and policy, advising multinational and regional organisations on how political context, regulatory shifts and public expectations affect licence to operate and business outcomes.

“As the cost of getting politics wrong rises, leaders need partners who understand how government works across this region. This expanded capability strengthens our ability to help CEOs stay ahead of risk, not just respond to it,” said Tan.

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“Wai Leong brings a clear regional perspective on how these dynamics play out market by market, and how leaders can engage governments with confidence and credibility,” she added.

Tang will work with Edelman market teams across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and beyond to help clients align regional decision-making with locally credible government engagement, reflecting differing political, regulatory and stakeholder realities.

“Across Southeast Asia, politics and policy are no longer peripheral issues; they are core drivers of business risk, trust and growth,” said Tang. “Leaders today must balance regional strategy with local political realities, while demonstrating credibility with governments, regulators and the public. Our role at Edelman is to help them do that with clarity and confidence.”

The regional build-out is supported by senior programme manager Kenn Yee (pictured right), who focuses on technology policy, AI, data governance, cybersecurity and critical information infrastructure across Asia-Pacific. Based in Singapore, Yee advises organisations navigating increasingly complex and scrutinised digital and data regulation.

According to Edelman, Yee’s appointment strengthens its ability to translate complex policy and technology issues into decision-ready guidance for senior leaders, ensuring public affairs strategies are both technically sound and politically credible.

Together, Tang and Yee form part of Edelman’s expanded Southeast Asia public and government affairs capability, which is positioned as “purpose-built” for CEOs, boards and strategy leaders. The practice is focused on strategic foresight, early government engagement and integrating public affairs into long-term business strategy in a more politicised and volatile environment.

“We are delighted to welcome Wai Leong to Edelman. His leadership will be critical as organisations across Southeast Asia navigate a business environment increasingly shaped by geopolitical dynamics, trade considerations and government decision-making,” said SB Jang, Edelman’s senior regional advisor for public and government affairs, Asia-Pacific.

Earlier in December, Edelman had expanded its Asia Pacific leadership bench with two senior appointments, naming Pooja Rawat as chief strategy officer for APAC and Quang Nguyen as managing director for Vietnam. The moves signal the firm’s intent to elevate its strategic consulting capabilities across the region while deepening its investment in high-growth markets, the company shared.

In other industry developments, Singapore-based integrated communications agency PRecious Communications had appointed industry veteran Ng Chip Keng as senior vice president to lead its corporate and financial practice earlier in January this year.

His remit includes advising on financial transactions, investor relations, issues and crisis management, litigation, PR strategy, and financial services marketing.

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