There has been a changing of the guard with regards to The Hollywood Reporter‘s on-the-ground coverage of China. Replacing the Hong Kong-based Clarence Tsui as Asia Bureau chief is the Beijing-located Clifford Coonan (pictured):

Before moving to China, Coonan was a Reuters correspondent for seven years. He was previously a China correspondent for Variety.

“What I’m trying to do is to share my experiences with those interested in how film and media work in this part of the world,” Coonan said. “I want to clarify this fascinating but often challenging market to overseas audiences. This is a fast growing and wildly vibrant region and helming The Hollywood Reporter‘s Asian coverage is a fantastic opportunity.”

Coonan is a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin and holds an M.A. in Journalism from Dublin City University. Other outlets he has contributed to over the years include The Independent, the Irish Times and The National newspaper.

Coonan wil report to THR international news editor Kevin Cassidy. Tsui meanwhile will remain on board with THR as a senior film reviewer.

[Photo courtesy cliffordcoonan.com]