WPP has finalised its creative leadership team across ASEAN, naming market CEOs for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam under its WPP Creative structure.
The appointments include Samir Gupte (pictured top left) as WPP Creative CEO for Indonesia and Kenni Loh (pictured bottom left) as WPP Creative CEO for Malaysia. Gupte continues to serve as CEO of VML Indonesia, a role he held for the past two years, while Loh continues to serve as CEO of VML Malaysia, where he has been in the role for over two years.
Nimesh Desai (pictured bottom center) has been named WPP Creative CEO for Singapore. Desai continues to serve as CEO of VML Singapore, a role he has held for more than two years. Prior to the global merger, he spent 19 years at Wunderman Thompson, including four years as CEO.
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In addition, Elly Puyat (pictured top right) has been appointed WPP Creative CEO for the Philippines. She continues to lead Ogilvy Philippines as CEO, a role she has held for more than 12 years. In Thailand, Parattajariya Jalayanateja (pictured bottom right) has been appointed WPP Creative CEO. She is the current CEO of VML Thailand and brings with her three decades of experience at Wunderman Thompson.
Haiha Nguyen (pictured top center) has also been named WPP Creative CEO for Vietnam. She continues to lead VML Vietnam in the market.
The WPP Creative CEOs in these markets will focus on fostering greater connection and collaboration across WPP’s creative agencies in their respective markets, according to a memo seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE.
They will also be tasked with driving deeper partnerships with WPP Media and WPP Production locally, as the group looks to unlock growth with both existing and new clients, the memo added.
MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to WPP for a statement.
The leadership appointments is part of WPP’s “Elevate 28 strategy” and follow February reports that the company was restructuring its creative agency structure globally by bringing its three main creative advertising agencies — Ogilvy, VML and AKQA — under one banner, WPP Creative.
The agencies are reportedly expected to continue operating independently under the new structure.
The latest appointments also follow recent leadership moves within WPP’s media arm. Last week, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE reported that Vanitha Selvathurai, formerly partner and head of Carat Malaysia, had joined WPP Media Malaysia as vice president for clients.
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