Puneet Pal Singh

Head of Communications, Asia-Pacific at ByteDance · Strategic communications leader · Building brands and reputations that last.

Singapore

About

What I care about: communications grounded in insight, built on trust, and measured by real-world impact. I'm particularly passionate about thought leadership as a strategic tool, not as a content exercise, but as a way to shape conversations, build credibility, and create lasting influence. If any of this resonates, reputation, narrative, thought leadership, or how communications can drive business outcomes, I'd love to connect. I've spent my career at the intersection of storytelling and strategy, and I believe the two are inseparable. Today, I lead communications for ByteDance across Asia-Pacific, overseeing the full portfolio of brands including TikTok, BytePlus and Lark. It's one of the most complex and fascinating communications challenges in the industry, operating across diverse markets, navigating intense scrutiny, and telling the story of a company that is shaping culture and constantly evolving. Before this, I spent nearly seven years at Cisco, most recently as Senior Director of Communications for Asia-Pacific, Japan and Greater China. I built the regional communications function, led global thought leadership across cybersecurity, AI and the future of work, and helped transform how the business thought about communications: from a support function to a genuine driver of business impact. My foundation is in journalism. I spent five years at the BBC as a business and technology reporter covering Asia-Pacific, which taught me how to find the story in the noise, how to ask the right questions, and how to make complex ideas accessible and compelling.

Experience

  • ByteDance ()
    • Head of Communications, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Central Europe
      Jun 2026 - Present · 2 mos

      I oversee communications for ByteDance's full portfolio of brands, including TikTok, BytePlus, Lark, in some of the most complex and high-profile operating environments in the technology industry. Much of my work sits at the intersection of communications, policy and regulatory affairs, where I partner closely with government relations, legal and trust and safety teams to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, manage high-stakes issues, and protect the company's reputation across diverse and fast-moving markets. A key part of my focus since joining the company has been building the narrative around TikTok's broader impact in the region, articulating the platform's social, economic and cultural contributions to markets across the region. I have also been driving a shift in how our brands approach communications, moving them towards genuine industry thought leadership that shapes conversations rather than simply responding to them.

    • Head of Communications, Asia-Pacific
      Apr 2025 - Jul 2026 · 1 yr 4 mos

  • Cisco ()
    • Director, Communications, Asia-Pacific, Japan and China
      Feb 2021 - Apr 2025 · 4 yrs 3 mos

      Lead Corporate Communications for Cisco across Asia-Pacific, Japan and China. Key responsibilities include ensuring our communications outreach is aligned to Cisco's purpose and business objectives, and conceptualizing and delivering thought leadership campaigns to drive perception change across key audiences and establish Cisco as an industry leader. I have the privilege of leading a team of some of the most talent communications professionals in the region who inspire me every day.

    • Head of Communications, Asia-Pacific, Japan and China
      Jul 2020 - Feb 2021 · 8 mos

    • Head of Communications, Southeast Asia
      Jan 2018 - Jul 2020 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Lead Corporate Communications for Cisco across Southeast Asia. Responsible for conceptualizing and delivering thought leadership campaigns aligned with business priorities to drive perception change across key audiences and establish Cisco as an industry leader. Lead a team of communications managers with responsibility for executive communications, messaging and content development, and media and analyst relations.

  • Partner at Klareco Communications (formerly Bell Pottinger)
    Sep 2017 - Dec 2017 · 4 mos

  • Bell Pottinger ()
    • Partner
      Apr 2016 - Sep 2017 · 1 yr 6 mos

      I lead the firm's Professional Services Practice in Singapore. I advise clients on their overall strategic corporate communications, crisis management, content creation, thought leadership and public and media relations campaigns. I have worked with clients across a range of industries in the professional services sector including management consulting, insurance, fund management, wealth management, recruitment and law. I also lead our Crisis and Media Training offering in Singapore and advise clients on their crises preparedness, response and recovery. I have designed and delivered bespoke crisis, media and presentation training programmes to clients across Asia.

    • Associate Partner
      Aug 2015 - Mar 2016 · 8 mos

  • Managing Partner at Saanjh Communications
    Aug 2014 - Sep 2015 · 1 yr 2 mos