SINGAPORE — Emerging markets corporate affairs, public policy, government and regulatory affairs and corporate communications consultancy Speyside Group has appointed Saskia Kendall as chief operating officer of its Asia Pacific business.

Working from the Singapore hub office, Kendall will work with Ian Herbison, Speyside’s Singapore-based CEO, overseeing the group’s network of nine offices across Asia Pacific.

Kendall spent the past three years building the Sandpiper Health business across Asia Pacific as the agency’s director of health for the region. She also spent six years at The King’s Fund, a UK think tank, managing media and stakeholder engagement on a wide range of policy issues, and has worked at Hanover. Her clients have included major pharmaceutical companies, start-ups, government and charities.

Herbison said the appointment followed the fast growth of Speyside’s business in the region across specialist sectors including healthcare and digital and disruptive technology: “We are delighted to have Saskia join us, bringing extra weight to our senior team in the region. Her background in policy, public affairs and communications fits very well with our business and will enable her to provide the regional oversight that is so important to client accounts. She will help manage our senior regional and local teams to be able to continue to deliver our strategic advice for clients, as well as implement impactful programmes and award-winning campaigns.”

Kendall added: “The business has gone from strength to strength in Asia Pacific and it is easy to see why. With companies continually wanting to enter the region and grow their investments, understanding the environment in which they are operating is key to their success. The team is adept at being able to identify the key issues and opportunities that will have most impact for clients and have been delivering creative campaigns to meet these. I look forward to contributing to Speyside’s continued growth in the region.”