ASHBURY COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED - Key Persons
Adam Harper - Founder, Managing Director
Adam was previously HSBC's Head of Communications for Greater China, responsible for the Group's communications in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He also played a leading role in HSBC's communications about its China strategy and business with international audiences.
Adam joined HSBC in 2012 and was also Head of Communications for the bank's home market of Hong Kong and Regional Head of Communications for Global Banking and Markets, Asia-Pacific. Before joining HSBC, he was a Vice President in Credit Suisse's Asia-Pacific Corporate Communications team.
Adam has extensive experience in advising senior executives on strategic communications in Asia-Pacific, including campaigns, crisis management and employee engagement. Creating original content has always been a passion for him.
Adam started his career with Euromoney Institutional Investor in London and worked as a financial journalist in London and Hong Kong, where he has lived since 2004. He has a degree in English from the University of Cambridge.
Adam grew up in Ashbury in Devon and his real job is being a husband and the father of three boys. He loves novels, skiing and yum cha. He thinks he attended 12 Hong Kong Sevens in a row and has played rugby in places from Cornwall to Kolkata.
Asmita first joined Ashbury as an intern.
Through her work at Ashbury and previous internships in venture capital, advisory and non-profit settings, she has worked with a diverse array of stakeholders and audiences ranging from corporates, philanthropies and the investment community to startups. Asmita is driven by the desire to bring impact through her work, and is particularly enthusiastic about the intersection of sustainability and innovation.
Asmita graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Global Affairs, and a minor in modern languages. She enjoys watching thought-provoking documentaries, practising yoga and reading. 
Job Titles:
- Director and Head of Singapore
Bruce heads Ashbury's Singapore office. He advises on corporate reputation and positioning. His international experience runs deep with global PR consultancies in both developed and emerging markets. Bruce has lived and worked in the US, EMEA, Russia, and East and Central Asia and brings decades of experience to understanding and unwinding the ​overlapping complexities that impact business strategy and risk management.
Hoong Jun supports the Finance function of Ashbury. He started his career in Malaysia as an audit associate in PwC, and subsequently transferred to PwC Singapore working on industries such as financial services and private equity.
He obtained his Chartered Accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He enjoys playing football and badminton during his free time.
Elspeth is EMEA CEO for Vested. She founded the UK office in 2018 and has overseen double digit growth since inception. Vested UK was awarded the CIPR's Specialist Consultancy of the Year in 2022.
With client experience spanning financial institutions from American Express, Canada Life, HSBC and Virgin Money to niche disruptors and challengers, Elspeth is a strategic senior leader. She supports C-level executives and their marketing and communications teams to develop and deliver authentic, purpose-led programmes with impact.
Elspeth joined Vested from FTI Consulting where she was a Managing Director. Prior to that, Elspeth was Deputy Managing Director and head of financial services at Consolidated PR.
Job Titles:
- and Chief Communications Officer, Fusang Digital Securities Exchange
- Managing Director and Chief Communications Officer at Fusang Digital Securities Exchange
Farah has over 25 years of experience in wholesale financial services, financial eco-system curation, business advisory, strategic communications and branding. She was formerly the CEO of Labuan IBFC Inc, the market development and marketing arm of Labuan Financial Services Authority, and was attached to the Asian Institute of Finance and Malaysia's national stock exchange.
Farah is passionate about equality, financial inclusion and win-win partnerships, as she strongly believes that "a rising tide lifts all boats". She has an LLB (Hons) from Sheffield University, United Kingdom.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Advisory
Fion supports Ashbury's advisory services. From traditional and social media relations to content creation and internal communications, Fion contributes to strategy development, corporate messaging and key research. Her background includes working in top-flight financial brands in Asia as well as experience in knowledge services firms and CSR program development and execution.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Advisory
Florence joined Ashbury from DiDi Global where she was a Manager in the external affairs team. She played a key role in centralising DiDi's global communications, with a focus on developing and implementing narratives and campaigns for its international business.
Prior to that, with global agencies Edelman, Omnicom and Portland Communications, she advised multinational technology companies, disruptive Asian innovators and public sector clients on reputation, crisis and thought leadership.
Originally from Beijing, Florence speaks fluent Mandarin and English. She is a graduate of Yale-NUS College. You'll find her in a yoga or dance studio over the weekend.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Editor
- Senior Writer
- Associate Director Senior Writer and Editor
Jason develops perspectives for corporate leadership. He brings decades of writing experience to Ashbury, from technology, investment, marketing and research backgrounds. He has worked extensively with financial clients on research-driven projects with innovation, sustainability and macro-based themes. His international experience ranges from the US to Asia, including China's early stages of economic opening in the 1990s.
Prior to joining Ashbury, Jason was Senior Editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit and Economist Impact.
Joanne has extensive experience in commercial, governmental and financial institutions. She has routinely worked with top leadership to craft communications and corporate positioning. Her financial background includes retail and private bank operations as well as philanthropic foundations. She has a deep understanding of financial services clients' needs and opportunities and a passion for sustainability.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Editor
- Senior Writer
- Associate Director Senior Writer and Editor
Joe has been in financial journalism since 2000, most recently as Managing Editor for Capital Monitor, a UK-based publication focused on ESG and sustainable finance. Before that, he was Online and International Editor for AsianInvestor in Hong Kong. As well as sustainability and institutional investment, he also has experience covering risk management, trading and derivatives for Energy Risk and Asia Risk.
He worked for 10 years in Hong Kong, as well as in New York and London, and brings decades of experience covering institutional investors, capital markets and sustainable finance.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Editor
- Senior Writer
- Associate Director Senior Writer and Editor
Kareem has 25 years of experience working in print, online and broadcast media across Asia. He has written widely on finance, fintech and capital markets for several publications and produced a wide range of insight-driven content for financial institutions, consultancies and crypto firms.
Prior to joining Ashbury, Kareem was a contributing editor at New Narrative. Before that, he spent a decade running Inside Asian Gaming, a magazine he founded and which remains the #1 publication in its space.
Kareem graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford. He is a recovering sugar addict and fervent advocate of getting a healthy dose of sunlight first in the morning.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director, Client Services
Kristen manages Client Services at Ashbury's Hong Kong office. She began her career in Sydney as an advertising copywriter and editor, before moving to Hong Kong and taking up in-house communications roles at HSBC and The Trade Desk. Most recently, Kristen was Head of Content (Asia Pacific) at BNP Paribas. She is a graduate of the University of Sydney. In her spare time Kristen is an avid equestrian and enjoys riding and competing when in Australia.
Job Titles:
- Global Communications Director
- Senior Advisor to Ashbury and Formerly Head of Communications for Europe and Asia Pacific at HSBC
Malcolm is a Global Communications Director who has worked in Asia and Europe with HSBC, J.P. Morgan and other leading international banks including Jardine Fleming and Nikko Europe. At HSBC, he has been Head of Communications for Asia-Pacific, Head of Communications for Europe, and Interim Chief Communications Officer for the Group. Before HSBC, Malcolm was a Managing Director and Head of Communications for J.P. Morgan Asset Management for Europe, Asia and Japan. Malcolm is a graduate of Exeter University.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Creative Director, Visual Design
Melanie works in partnership with Ashbury. With over 25 years' experience in branding, editorial design and art direction, her work for clients include AIIB, Alibaba, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, NDB, Prudential and Standard Chartered. Mel has won numerous design and communications effectiveness awards. Her recent work includes branding, financial reporting, employee engagement campaigns and social content.
Job Titles:
- Director of Advisory
- Strategic Advisor
Noel is a strategic advisor for public relations and corporate communications. Her extensive years of in-house experience in Asia's financial sector flows from top-flight global financial brands. She thrives in the region's fast pace and understands the distinct communication needs and goals of investment and financial-service companies, as well as editorial points of view in the financial press.
Prior to joining Ashbury, Noel was ANZ's Head of Communications for North Asia.
Noel is a graduate of the University of Leeds and holds a master's degree in Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London. Outside work, she is fond of open spaces and is always scouting for the next gourmet restaurant in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Creative Director, Multimedia Content
Paula is an award-winning Executive Producer with more than 20 years' experience in news and video production. She has held leadership roles at CNBC, Bloomberg and CNN managing production teams and shaping coverage of international events. Her true passion is financial news and she enjoys bringing complex topics to life in video and audio formats. She is known for bringing the pace and polish of live television to multimedia projects. Paula is a graduate of the University of Oxford.
Rima has extensive experience in supporting mid and senior management personnel. She has accomplished workflow optimisation techniques which increase productivity and maintain business integrity and quality of service. Prior to joining Ashbury, Rima was Administrative Assistant for Brunswick Group Singapore Pte Ltd. Rima enjoys the sun, sand and sea with her kids during her free time.
Steve leads content development at Ashbury. He leverages over a decade of capital-markets experience to advise clients and articulate their insights. As a dedicated financial writer in the region, he's an expert in financial news and analysis, especially with ESG, technological change, and their implications for Asia's markets, financial institutions and publishing landscape.
Prior to joining Ashbury, Steve was Editor of IFR Asia for 11 years, where he covered the Global Financial Crisis, the rise of sustainable finance, and Asia's pivot to investing in innovation.
Steve is a graduate of the University of Nottingham.
Tony Shale is a director of the integrated B2B media business Asian Private Banker (APB), based in Hong Kong.
Prior to joining APB, he was CEO of Euromoney Institutional Investor in Asia between 2002 and 2021. He spent 1988 to 2002 either writing for global newspapers and magazines about business and finance Asia or setting up what would become Euromoney's main competitors in the region. The latter included Finance Asia, Asian Investor, Financial Intelligence Asia, INSTO and Financial Technology Asia.