International PR firm Porter Novelli has appointed Richard Muller as new managing director of its Sydney office effective late July. Muller joins the consultancy after four years with Edelman China, where he was managing director of Edelmans China corporate and financial practices and was most recently managing director of its almost 60-strong Shanghai office.

In his new role, Muller will be responsible for consolidating the firm’s already strong position in the Sydney market and extending its differentiation, intellectual capital and capabilities across all practices.

Muller said: The chance to head up a well respected and rapidly growing business like Porter Novelli, and forge its further integration with the Clemenger Group, was too good to pass up. The company has a great team of consultants and an established base of terrific clients.

In China, in addition to heading up its Shanghai operations, Muller drove the development of Edelman’s corporate and financial practices to become a market leader across its Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou offices. Muller joined Edelman China from leading Australian financial communications consulting firm Cosway Australia, also owned by the Clemenger Group.

Muller will join the board of Porter Novelli Australia and replaces David Lumb, who left in April to head up Communications at NRMA Motoring & Services. Porter Novelli Australia has offices in all states, Sydney being the largest with around 25 staff.

Further fuelling its integration with the Clemenger Group, Porter Novelli Sydney will also move from its current office in St Leonards, where it has been for the past three years, to the nearby Clemenger building in August.

Robert Morgan, chairman of the Clemenger Group said: Richard’s arrival and the office move marks a new era for Porter Novelli Sydney and sets them up for continued business growth. These announcements demonstrate our commitment to growing a truly integrated offer across the group and offering a best-in-market service to the market and existing clients such as Visa, Diageo and 3 mobile.