TBWA announces key executive appointments and new regional structure

TBWA\Worldwide’s Aussie expat president and CEO, Troy Ruhanen, has announced several key executive appointments among the global leadership team, including new leadership for TBWA\Greater China and regionally in Asia.

Joining TBWA\Greater China is multi-award winning creative director, Nils Andersson. After 10 years at WPP, most recently at Y&R, Andersson (left) rejoins TBWA in the role of president and chief creative officer.

 In 2014, Nils won Campaign Asia-Pacific’s ‘China Creative of the Year,’ along with ten Cannes Lions, ranking him the fourth most awarded creative director in the world.

Joanne Lao, who takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer, Greater China, joins Andersson. Lao previously ran TBWA’s Hong Kong agency, and has been very involved in the Greater China operation, particularly with the growth of TBWA’s Digital Arts Network, the agency’s digital operation.

Complementing the new leadership team in Shanghai will be Milo Chao, who has led the agency’s planning operation for the past two years.

Brian Swords, who has worked within the TBWA network for 14 years, will continue as Managing Director of TBWA\Shanghai and will relocate to Europe later in the year.

Says Andersson: “I am really looking forward to returning. Powerful, disruptive work for many of the best brands on the planet is what TBWA has built its reputation on. Getting it right in China has never been more important, both for international and local brands with the desire to truly connect, across all channels, within the country and beyond. It feels like there is a new beginning, and I want to be part of it.”

Adds Ruhanen: “TBWA is a creative company and many of our offices have creative leaders at the helm, this being the second creative we have put in charge of one of our key offices this year. Nils comes with a stellar reputation in the region and a belief in using Disruption to create business changing creative ideas. Adding to his skills those of Joanne Lao, who has built TBWA\Hong Kong into a modern, truly integrated agency, I’m looking forward to seeing what they can create together in China. We are making a pledge to increase female leadership in our company with Project 2020, and having Joanne leading one of our key offices is testament to our belief in that initiative.”

Keith Smith moves into the role of President, International – Global Markets, supporting Ruhanen across the 15 core global markets in a new Global Client Market structure.

Smith commented, “Nils’ creative talents and Joanne’s digital background will make a powerful leadership team in Greater China. They are taking on a group that has won eight out of the last nine pitches, so we are really looking forward to a great future for TBWA in China.”

Philip Brett has been appointed to the role of President, Asia. Asia Pacific will be divided into three focused regions including Asia, Oceania and Greater China, with Brett having oversight of all three. TBWA’s regional operations for Asia will relocate from Hong Kong to Singapore, reflecting the location of many of the regions’ key clients. Paul Bradbury continues to lead Oceania as CEO of Whybin\TBWA in Australia and New Zealand.

“Philip is a proven, integrated agency leader and an established regional leader. He has been the driving force behind some of our biggest regional clients and most interesting work from the region. His charge is to bring Asia’s energy and dynamism to our promise of being The Disruption Company,” said Ruhanen.

Smith added, “Philip has done a magnificent job in building our regional hub in Singapore. This is a well-deserved step up for him and he will do a great job for the network.”

TBWA also announced several global appointments including Nick Barham, Chief Strategy Officer of TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles, who adds responsibility as Global Chief Strategy Officer to his existing duties. He will be charged with leading TBWA’s Disruption practice. Before joining TBWA in LA 18 months ago, Nick spent time at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland and Shanghai, as well as TBWA\Shanghai.

Luke Eid, Global Innovation Director for TBWA\Worldwide also takes on the role of President, TBWA’s Digital Arts Network for the global network. Luke moved to the New York office from TBWA\Hong Kong in 2014 where he ran Hong Kong’s Digital Arts Network. He is joined by Juuso Myllyrinne who moves to the role of VP and Head of Strategy for TBWA’s Digital Arts Network.