BEIJING—China appointed a new director for its powerful internet regulator, elevating an official seen as an associate of President Xi Jinping to a post with censorship responsibilities and huge sway over tech companies.
Zhuang Rongwen was named to head the Cyberspace Administration of China on Tuesday, the regulator said in a brief statement Wednesday. He had been a deputy director since 2015.
As top policy official for internet matters, Mr. Zhuang takes charge of implementing Mr. Xi’s plans for turning China into a cyberpower, as well as enforcing Communist Party internet controls. The regulator also sets industry guidelines related to technology, cybersecurity and censorship.