Founder & CEO Bill Rylance has strategic communications and business leadership experience spanning more than 25 years in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He worked for Burson-Marsteller before establishing Merit Communications in Korea. When Merit was acquired he became B-M’s Regional CEO, responsible for 16 Asian markets and 500 people and later Global Vice-Chairman Worldwide responsible for affiliates and. His experience includes working on the sovereign communications programme for South Korea during the Asian financial crisis. He was also senior adviser during Seoul’s hosting of the 1988 Olympic Games and Korea’s bid and hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He serves on several Boards including as Trustee of The Marine Stewardship Council.

Founding Partner Chris Werner has worked in some of the most challenging business environments in Asia and Europe bringing his leadership skills to large corporations—including Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank—as well as mid-sized business units and companies. Chris has led strategy and business development teams on several major consumer bank focused acquisitions. He has vast experience in efficient structuring of business units, financial strategy and project coordination and in leading interaction with investors, analysts and regulators on IPOs, M&As and roadshows. His directorship experience covers companies in Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Founding partner Gus Chow is one of Hong Kong’s most active business leaders with vast experience across Asian markets. He is CEO of Harmony Asset Limited, a major diversified company listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, and Chairman of FutureWorld China Limited. He holds directorships at ten listed companies in Hong Kong and mainland China and has led more than 50 direct investments in China. Over the past 25 years he has been involved in the management of listed companies in manufacturing, marketing and financial services. Gus specialises in strategic management and turn-around operations.

Founding Partner Simon Pangrazio has more than 20 years experience in strategic communications in Asia-Pacific and and has worked extensively with multinational and Asian companies, governments and other organisations in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Simon was Regional CEO for Burson-Marsteller immediately before joining WATATAWA. He has an extensive knowledge and a deep network of business relationships in industry sectors including banking and financial services, telecommunications, food and beverage, mining and resources and technology.

Founding Partner Bryan Matthews began his career in in journalism in England, before moving to Asia as a correspondent for UK, Hong Kong and Australian media. He later co-founded Korea’s first foreign-owned public relations consultancy. Bryan has developed communications programmes for western multinationals in Asia and Asian firms expanding globally. He managed media relations for Seoul’s 1988 Summer Olympics and Korea’s successful bid to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup as well as the marketing and media launch of Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. He also accompanied three Korean presidential delegations in support of summits held in the United States.

Founding partner Michael Beamish has spent the last twenty years in Asia managing the regional businesses of some of the world’s leading luxury and FMCG brands. His initial professional years were spent in Africa, the Middle East and India, prior to moving to Seoul in 1988 where he assisted leading industry and E.U. trade bodies negotiate and implement the liberalisation of the market in Korea. He has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan and set up distribution networks throughout the region. Michael is based in Sri Lanka where he is Managing Director of Miller’s Brewery.