Who better to build Monster Worldwide’s Asia Pacific operations than an experienced marketing manager who helped expand one of the world’s biggest brands with a swoosh across the Pacific Rim?

That’s the notion that moved Monster Worldwide to recruit former Nike executive Tony Balfour as president of its Asia Pacific operations, a newly created position the online recruiting giant hopes will help propel the growth of its existing operations in India, South Korea, China, and elsewhere in the region.

Balfour was most recently employed by SEEK, the Australian online recruiting company, where he served as a marketing director. Prior to that, he was general manager of Nike’s operations in Australia and New Zealand, and held a number of other positions with Nike over a nearly 10-year period, including general manager of Asia Pacific.

Monster already holds an important strategic investment in ChinaHR, adding to the company’s growing presence in the region. Under Balfour, it expects to continue to build awareness of its global brand, expand its worldwide job seeker audience, and deliver online recruiting services to large and small companies throughout the fast-growing Asia Pacific market.

“The Asia Pacific region, particularly China, is a large, emerging market with strong GDP growth, rapid job formation, and increasing broadband and Internet penetration,” says Andrew McKelvey, chairman and CEO of Monster Worldwide.

Balfour will report to Steve Pogorzelski, group president of international operations for Monster Worldwide, and will work closely with Monster’s Asia Pacific country leaders. Balfour will be based in China and will assume his new duties at Monster on October 1.