Gonzalez is presently based in Sydney, but will move to Beijing in August.
Millward Brown, the market research company owned by the WPP Group, has a presence in China following a deal it signed with All China Strategic Research last year.
Travyn Rhall, regional CEO of Millward Brown, said: "Our partnership with ACSR, which began late last year, is thriving and having Adrian on the ground will add the right balance of regional support to our people and clients there."
Gonzalez has been with Millward Brown since 1994. He became regional COO in 2002. Prior to that, he was CEO of Millward Brown's business in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
He will continue as a board director of Millward Brown subsidiaries Newspoll in Australia and Colmar Brunton in New Zealand.