HONG KONG — Creating a hub to bolster service in and around China, Cognito has opened a new office in Hong Kong.

The new operation will be led by Dan Bradley, who most recently was Thomson Reuters PR director. His previous experience includes serving as PR director for SunGard covering EMEA and Latin America.

Bradley’s charge is to develop and grow Hong Kong-based business, with a focus on integrated communications and marketing across traditional and digital media, Cognito said.

Hong Kong is of particular interest due to its stature as a financial center and hub for emerging technology, the agency said, along with its mainland China links.

“As one of the world’s most important global financial centers, Hong Kong leads the evolution of this service industry and the transformation of the media landscape,” said Darrell Wright, Cognito’s managing director for Asia Pacific.  “As such, the city remains central to the region’s communications activities at large domestic and multi-national corporations.  This is reflected in the growth in activity we’ve experienced here, as firms wish to widen their exposure to an increasingly sophisticated audience using ever more advanced techniques, systems and platforms.”

The agency’s move into Hong Kong is part of a larger push to expand its presence throughout the Asia Pacific region, Cognito said. The London-based agency already has offices in Singapore, New York, Los Angeles and Amsterdam.