JWT Australasia CEO John Gutteridge included in new Asia Pacific Regional Executive Committee

JWT Asia Pacific CEO Tom Doctoroff has announced the formation of a new regional executive management committee, bolstered by several key promotions, to help drive business development and creative direction in this dynamic, fast-growing region. The move is Doctoroff’s first initiative since he assumed the role of Asia Pacific CEO on January 1.

JWT Bangkok CEO Bob Hekkelman will be promoted to the newly-created role of Southeast Asia CEO, overseeing operations in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. Hekkelman has worked in the industry, both on the agency and client side, for 26 years, and has spent 12 years in agency leadership roles in Southeast Asia. He served as group managing director for O&M in the Philippines, and later Jakarta, before joining JWT Bangkok as CEO in 2007.

Hekkelman (left), together with Australasia CEO John Gutteridge (top) and Doctoroff, who also serves as North Asia area director, will represent JWT’s Asia Pacific’s three sub-regions on the new regional executive committee.

“Southeast Asia’s economic star is on the rise, and we are committed to seeking out new opportunities, both in existing markets we operate in, and in the newer, emerging markets of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Bob’s new role reflects the importance of Southeast Asia to our broader strategy,” said Doctoroff.

Doctoroff also announced that Ratan Malli, (left) a 20 year veteran of JWT APAC, will be promoted to the new role of Strategic Planning Director, Asia Pacific. Malli has worked with JWT in Bangalore, Taiwan and Shanghai, and became the North East Asia Planning Director in 2004. He has worked closely with many of JWT’s clients, including Unilever, DTC, Nokia, Microsoft, Unicharm, InBev, and HSBC. Malli, who holds an MBA and worked briefly in banking, brings empirical and analytical rigour to the planning process.

The creative leadership of the new JWT APAC committee will come from Lo Sheung Yan, who will take on expanded responsibilities as Chairman of the Asia Pacific Creative Council, Tay Guan Hin, JWT’s Southeast Asia ECD and Global Lux ECD, and Yang Yeo, who will be promoted from Shanghai Chief Creative Officer to the role of North Asia ECD and China Chairman.

Yeo (left) is one of Asia’s most awarded creatives. He led JWT Shanghai to capture China’s first-ever Grand Prix at Cannes in 2011, and brought home awards from every major show in 2012. In December, Yeo was also named Designer of the Year award by the President of his native Singapore.

Other members of JWT APAC’s new regional committee includes JWT Asia Pacific CFO Nick Romas; Sapna Srivastava, JWT’s APAC Chief Talent Officer, JWT APAC consultant Mark Webster, who has, in the past, led JWT’s Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Japanese offices, as well as executives from partner companies, including Cai Hui, founder and CEO of Always Field Marketing; Pete Rentschler, President of Blue Hive, WPP’s Team Ford Asian agency; and Paul Soon, CEO of XM Asia Pacific, a JWT company.

“This group of very talented people will work together to shape our business and creative strategy, drive our growth and strengthen the collaboration across our network and office. It’s JWT’s Worldmade ethos, put into action,” said Doctoroff. “JWT and its partner companies have a long history and strong reputation in Asia, and we are now positioned to push the frontiers of media-neutral idea-centricism, rooted in a spirit of collaboration among like-minded warriors.”