doug michelmanRLM Finsbury has opened a San Francisco outpost to serve existing business and target new clients in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Heading the office is Doug Michelman, who stepped down as Visa's chief communications officer last year after 10 years with the San Francisco-based company and has recently been an advisor at RLM Finsbury. He takes a partner role with the WPP-owned firm.

RLM chairman Roland Rudd said the new office strengthens the firm's West coast presence, brings it closer to Asian offices, and "marks an important new chapter in our global expansion."

Michelman is a former partner and managed West coast operations at FleishmanHillard and did a three-year stint as VP of corporate communications for FH client AT&T.

RLM Finsbury has US offices in New York, Los Angeles and Washington.