Our People
At WATATAWA we have created a unique dynamic – driven each day by a team who together offer clients strategic advice based on decades of marketing communications experience in Asia, real-world knowledge of business management in the region, and the objectivity born of many years working at the highest levels of journalism.
We understand the issues that can confront a boardroom – but we’re also frank with clients. We tell them how others might see things and then develop strategies that create authentic, constructive engagement with stakeholders.
Our client strategy team includes:
Founder and CEO, Bill Rylance, formerly led the Asia-Pacific network and concurrently was global vice-chairman of one of the world’s largest public relations consultancies; his experience covers 25 years of strategic communications and business leadership in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Founding partner Simon Pangrazio who brings 20 years of Asia-Pacific experience including leading a regional public relations network. A corporate positioning, financial communications and crisis management specialist, Simon has worked with clients in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.
Founding partner Bryan Matthews has spent 30 years in Asia. A former correspondent, he has led communications programmes for western multinationals targeting Asian markets and Asian organisations seeking global profile. He has also worked with sponsors, bidding committees and organising committees for some of the region’s largest sporting events.
Associate Partner Allison Lim has worked in journalism, corporate communications and public affairs for more than 15 years. Her clients have included local and multinational corporations and government agencies and her experience covers a number of sectors including energy, technology, construction and tourism. She previously headed the Singapore office of a global public relations consultancy.
Associate partner Elaine Chan is based in Hong Kong and, prior to joining WATATAWA, was senior vice-president at a leading financial communications consultancy specialising in M&A and IPO transactions. Elaine also brings to the team nearly 18 years of experience in financial journalism with leading media in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Associate Partner Laurel Teo brings significant experience in financial communications and journalism. She previously headed Financial Dynamics in Singapore and prior to that was a journalist with The Straits Times and Business Times. Laurel has extensive experience of advising clients in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia on communications issues linked to capital market transactions, crisis and litigation issues.
Head of Media Strategy John Burton has spent more than 20 years as a journalist in Asia – much of it as a correspondent and bureau chief for the Financial Times covering issues in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea. He brings to clients a deep understanding of media, economic and political issues in the region as well as the journalistic objectivity required to give frank and constructive counsel.
Associate Lynn Lee brings to WATATAWA a strong background in journalism and a deep interest in and knowledge of the political and business climates in southeast Asia. She was previously with The Straits Times for eight years and immediately prior to joining WATATAWA was the newspaper’s Indonesia bureau chief.
Associate Ng Tze Yong is focused on Corporate Responsibility programmes at WATATAWA. He also brings to the team a deep knowledge of social media issues. He was previously a journalist with Singapore’s New Paper and The Straits Times, most recently as the ST’s first-ever Social Media Editor.
We also can bring to clients the perspectives and insights of each of the members of our Board of Directors — and their years of experience in Asia covering a range of industries and business sectors – and the specialist knowledge of the members of our Catalyst Group.
Collectively, our aim is to help organisations wishing to communicate and grow in a stakeholder environment that has changed dramatically. When we create engagement strategies for clients we draw on a significant breadth and depth of knowledge. We speak from experience. But first we listen.