BANGKOK—FleishmanHillard has hired industry veteran Sophis Kasemsahasin to lead its new operation in Thailand.

The move strengthens FH's Southeast Asian presence, adding to existing offices in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines and Malaysia.

Kasemsahasin is named SVP and GM after previously spending several years at Ogilvy PR in Thailand. 

“Thailand is an important hub for international trade and a gateway to the ASEAN Economic Community, so it made good business sense to establish a wholly owned office in this market,” said Dave Senay, president and CEO of FleishmanHillard.

While Thailand's PR market has suffered from political turbulence over the past decade, recent years have seen stabilisation and growth, with several international PR firms viewing the market as an opportunity.

Kasemsahasin has CSR and consumer marketing campaigns for multinational corporations, Thai companies and government organizations, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Prime Minister and the Thailand Board of Investment.

Said FH Asia-Pacific president Lynne Anne Davis: “This is an exciting time to start a business in Thailand, and with Sophis at the helm, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the enormous business development opportunities."