Twitter said it would be opening an office in Sydney this week, and has also hired former Google Asia-Pacific executive Karen Stocks as its Australian Managing Director.

Although its staff have been working from the Twitter building for several weeks, this week's launch will be the formal opening of Twitter's presence in Australia.

The social networking giant has been stepping up its presence here since late last year, taking on more staff and partnering with several sporting codes and media groups.

The move down under comes at a time when Twitter claims around two million Australian users and will seek to intensify its local advertising revenue. The company has lately entered into several partnerships and sponsorships with Australian companies and events.

Meanwhile Karen Stocks, the new MD of Twitter Australia, joins the social media darling after five years at Google, and a previous 12 years at Vodafone.

 

Very exciting day, I will be joining the Twitter team in Australia as Managing Director!

— Karen Stocks (@KazStocks) September 1, 2013

 

“She brings a wealth of relevant experience to Twitter. Karen, in her time at Google, has had exposure to mobile business, thought a lot about the social business and has worked a lot with the YouTube and online sales business in Australia,” Shaliesh Rao Twitter’s Vice President of Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific and Latin America, told Mumbrella.

“What it means for us is a continuation of a strong commitment to the Australian market. It is extremely important to us and can be a source of innovation and business growth.”

Google and Facebook already have offices in Sydney.