Tuesday 23 September, 2008  Hill & Knowlton have announced the appointment of former of ESPN StarSports China Managing Director Gu Lufeng as Deputy General Manager. With over 20 years' experience in Chinese media of both management and front-line journalism, Gu brings with him a wealth of invaluable knowledge to the Hill & Knowlton Shanghai office.

Lufeng Gu will oversee the operations of the company and spearhead new business development, and also act as a strategic media counselor to clients.

Starting out in 1987 as a News Editor and Presenter for the English News Department of Radio Shanghai, he worked his way up through various broadcast media outlets in the city. He was Deputy News Director of Shanghai Broadcasting Network, and Managing Director of SMG's TV Drama Channel.

Prior to joining Hill and Knowlton he was Managing Director of ESPN StarSports in China, and before that, VP, MTV China.

"The appointment of Gu represents an enormous coup for us," said Hill & Knowlton Shanghai managing director David Zhao, "His long experience, and countless high-level contacts gleaned from a distinguished career at the top of the Chinese media industry will offer our clients strategic advantages unavailable elsewhere."

Zhao added, "With Gu aboard, our ability to influence key media decision makers in newsrooms all over China is greatly increased. His experience in sports media means we are now well-equipped to penetrate openings in the emerging Chinese sports market."

Lufeng Gu spoke of his delight at joining Hill & Knowlton and said "I am excited to enter the public relations industry and I look forward to lending my expertise and experience to the fascinating world of new business development. I have every confidence that I have joined a talented team and I look forward to winning many new pitches with my new colleagues."