EDELMAN BOLSTERS SOUTHEAST ASIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS AS POLITICAL RISK RISES

Edelman has strengthened its Southeast Asia Public and Government Affairs practice with senior appointments led by Wai Leong Tang. The move reflects rising geopolitical and regulatory complexity, as businesses increasingly require strategic guidance to navigate political risk, align with government priorities, and maintain credibility across diverse and fast-evolving regional markets.

In a clear signal of how deeply politics and policy now shape corporate strategy, Edelman has expanded its Public and Government Affairs capability across Southeast Asia, positioning itself to better support business leaders navigating an increasingly complex regional landscape.

The move is led by Wai Leong Tang, who takes on the role of Head of Public and Government Affairs for Southeast Asia, based in Singapore. Joining from H/Advisors, where he served as Head of Public Affairs for the region, Wai Leong brings a regional perspective shaped by years of advising organisations on the intersection of politics, regulation and corporate reputation. He reports to Delicia Tan, the firm’s CEO for Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The expansion comes at a time when multinational and regional organisations are confronting a more fragmented and volatile operating environment. Across Southeast Asia, governments are asserting greater influence over economic policy, regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly, and public expectations of corporate behaviour are intensifying. In such a context, public affairs is no longer a peripheral function but a core element of business strategy.

Edelman’s offering in this space sits at the convergence of corporate reputation, public affairs and policy advisory. It focuses on helping organisations understand how political context and regulatory change influence their licence to operate and long-term business outcomes. Increasingly, decisions taken at regional headquarters must account for domestic political sensitivities in markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, where stakeholder expectations and governance frameworks differ significantly.

Delicia Tan underscored the urgency of this shift, noting that the cost of misreading political dynamics has risen sharply. Companies, she suggested, need partners who not only understand how governments function across the region but can also anticipate risk before it materialises. The appointment of Wai Leong, she added, strengthens Edelman’s ability to provide precisely that foresight, enabling leaders to engage governments with both confidence and credibility.

Wai Leong’s mandate reflects this evolving reality. He will work closely with market teams across Southeast Asia to align regional decision-making with local political and regulatory conditions, ensuring that engagement strategies resonate with national priorities while maintaining consistency with broader corporate objectives. This balancing act—between regional integration and local nuance—has become one of the defining challenges for CEOs operating in the region.

For Wai Leong, the shift is structural rather than cyclical. He argues that politics and policy have moved from the margins to the centre of business risk and opportunity. Leaders must now demonstrate not only commercial acumen but also political awareness, building trust with governments, regulators and the public while navigating geopolitical tensions and regulatory scrutiny. Edelman’s role, he says, is to equip them with the clarity needed to make informed decisions in this environment.

Supporting this expanded capability is Kenn Yee, who joins as Senior Programme Manager. Also based in Singapore, Kenn brings expertise in technology policy, artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity and critical information infrastructure—areas that are rapidly becoming focal points for government oversight across Asia-Pacific.

As digital economies expand, governments are tightening regulations around data usage, cross-border information flows and cyber resilience. For businesses, this creates both compliance challenges and reputational risks. Kenn’s role involves helping organisations interpret complex regulatory frameworks and develop engagement strategies that are both technically sound and politically credible, bridging the gap between policy detail and boardroom decision-making.

Together, the appointments of Wai Leong and Kenn signal Edelman’s commitment to integrating public affairs more deeply into corporate strategy. Rather than treating government engagement as reactive, the firm is emphasising strategic foresight—encouraging organisations to engage earlier with policymakers, anticipate regulatory shifts and align their business objectives with public policy priorities.

This approach reflects broader trends reshaping the global business environment. Geopolitical tensions, shifting trade relationships and the growing influence of domestic politics are creating new uncertainties for companies operating across borders. In Southeast Asia, where markets are diverse and political systems vary widely, these challenges are particularly pronounced.

SB Jang, Senior Regional Advisor for Public and Government Affairs in Asia-Pacific, highlighted the importance of leadership in navigating these dynamics. He noted that organisations across the region are increasingly shaped by government decision-making, trade considerations and geopolitical developments, making experienced advisory support essential.

Edelman’s strengthened capability is therefore as much about anticipation as it is about response. By integrating government engagement, policy intelligence and communications into a single strategic framework, the firm aims to help clients avoid missteps, build durable stakeholder trust and operate with greater confidence in an environment defined by uncertainty.

For CEOs and boards, the message is becoming unmistakable: success in Southeast Asia now depends not only on market strategy but on political literacy. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and public expectations evolve, the ability to navigate government relationships and policy landscapes is emerging as a decisive competitive advantage.

In expanding its Public and Government Affairs practice, Edelman is positioning itself at the heart of this transformation—where business, politics and public trust increasingly converge, and where the stakes for getting it right have never been higher.