Brunswick Group is planning to open a Singapore office in August, the firm's fourth outpost in Asia, and is ramping up staff in the region.

London partner Kate Holgate is relocating to Singapore to open the office and recruit a local team.

Mei Yan, a former journalist and corporate communications exec for News Corp, Turner International Asia and, most recently, Viacom International Media Networks Greater China, has joined Brunswick as a senior partner in Beijing. The firm has also tapped Susan Ho as Hong Kong office chief and promoted St. John Moore in Beijing to partner.

Tim Payne, who is based in Hong Kong as managing patner and head of Brunswick Asia, said the moves reflect the increasing importance of the region to the firm and its clients, as well as "the growing role for strategic communications in helping support business challenges here."

Brunswick has 80 staffers in Asia.