SHANGHAI — Golin China MD Jason Cao has departed after less than 18 months with the Interpublic Group PR firm, PRovoke Media can reveal.

Cao left at the end of 2020 to "pursue a new career path", according to a statement from Golin. He is replaced by Lydia Shen, who is elevated from her role as DeVries Global China MD.

Shen will oversee both brands — Golin and DeVries — the latter of which reports into Golin since a global restructuring in late 2019. She reports to Darren Burns, who took charge of Golin Asia-Pacific (including DeVries Global) last year, and previously spent more than a decade in China overseeing sister firm Weber Shandwick. 

"In her new role, Lydia will continue to build two really strong brands in China as she looks to unlock the complimentary power of the Golin Group for clients," said Burns. "This is a well-deserved promotion for Lydia and I know she will continue to bring her innovative energy to both brands as we move into 2021."

Cao joined Golin in 2019 from the Hoffman Agency, tasked with accelerating the integration of Golin's China operations with GolinMagic, the agency formed by the 2016 acquisition of local player Magic Group. However, GolinMagic will now report directly to Burns, who described the integration as a "work in progress".

Burns also reiterated that the DeVries and Golin brands will "remain completely separate," pointing to their complementary natures. All told, the three brands number around 200 employees in China, with 150 of them coming from Golin and GolinMagic.  

Cao is the second market leader to depart Golin in the last couple of months, following the exit of Southeast Asia leader Tarun Deo in November.