McCann Singapore has promoted Gonzalo Olivera (pictured left) to chief executive officer as part of a planned leadership transition that also sees Paul Soon (pictured right) step down from his role and relocate to the US for personal reasons.
Olivera was previously president at McCann Singapore, having helped oversee the integration of McCann and MullenLowe Singapore into a single operating structure following Omnicom’s US$13.3 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
In his new role, Olivera is tasked with steering McCann Singapore towards its ambition of becoming a “more valuable growth partner” to clients. The agency said it will lean on a challenger mindset, underpinned by its “Truth well told” philosophy, to build a more integrated operating model focused on demand creation, cultural relevance, trust and measurable growth.
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Olivera has been with McCann Worldgroup since 2013, when he relocated to Singapore to manage global Unilever accounts. He went on to spend nearly 13 years across MullenLowe Singapore, including as managing partner, before moving into leadership roles within the merged McCann structure following the McCann–MullenLowe integration.
The agency said Soon’s departure forms part of a structured six-month succession plan designed to ensure continuity for clients and teams. It described the transition as one that allowed leadership to be firmly embedded ahead of the change.
At McCann, Soon led the combined Singapore business following the McCann–MullenLowe integration and played a key role in strengthening its digital and government client portfolio, as well as advancing its AI capabilities.
Prior to McCann, Soon was CEO of MullenLowe Singapore and China from 2020 to 2025, after first taking on the Singapore CEO role in 2018. He previously led POSSIBLE Singapore between 2015 and 2018, and Mirum Agency from 2011 to 2015. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at JWT, XM Asia Pacific, Arc Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi and AKQA.
“We wish Soon well in his next season of life. Under his leadership, McCann Singapore has sharpened its point of view, deepened client relationships, and demonstrated that creativity with commercial rigour is one of the most powerful things an agency can offer,” said Sean Donovan, president, Asia, Omnicom Advertising.
He added, “Soon is leaving behind an agency that knows who it is, and under Olivera’s leadership and direction, is positioned to grow in its next phase. On a personal note, I want to thank Soon for his partnership and leadership over the past six months as we re-imagined McCann Singapore.”
In tandem, Olivera thanked Soon for his contribution in building McCann Singapore into the agency it is today, noting its creative ambition, clear philosophy and commercial credibility.
“This industry may be measured in dollars, but it is built on relationships. Having had the chance to work with someone I can count as a friend has been a real privilege. The culture of this agency has been built on ethics, honesty, transparency and camaraderie, and even with Paul on the other side of the world, that spirit will remain very much alive here,” he added.
Commenting on his departure, Soon said, “First, I am deeply grateful for the 20 odd years I have had the privilege to be part of Singapore’s creative industry, working alongside some of the finest talents and competing against each other, while maintaining compassion and respect for one another’s craft and perspectives.”
“Second, to my colleagues, new and old, at McCann Singapore, ‘Truth well told’ should never sound easy, should never hide behind more slides, and most importantly, it should be embodied with meaning in everything you do, your work and in your life. The truth will always set anything free. I look forward to more amazing work ahead.,” he added.
Soon also expressed appreciation to Donovan and Olivera for their support and partnership during the transition period, noting the strong relationships built over his tenure and thanking them for their collaboration.
The leadership change comes as Omnicom continues to reshape its regional operations following its acquisition of IPG. Last month, Omnicom Advertising Asia unveiled a new regional leadership team aimed at accelerating growth and helping brands navigate an increasingly fragmented market.
Reporting to Donovan, the team includes Peter Khoury as chief creative officer, Melissa Daniels as chief innovation officer and Emmanuel Sabbagh as chief strategy officer, alongside expanded regional roles for Andreas Krasser, Ellie Brocklehurst and S. Subramanyeswar.
Working across TBWA, McCann and BBDO, the regional group has been tasked with driving creative, strategic and technological integration across the network.
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