After WPP creative agencies, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, unified to create VML, (now claimed to be the world’s most advanced and largest creative company), the company has announced its APAC leadership team.
Paul Nagy moves up to become chief creative officer VML APAC. Tom Tearle becomes chief executive officer, Australia and New Zealand.
Nagy has been chief creative officer of VMLY&R APAC since August 2023, to oversee 21 offices across ten countries throughout Asia and AUNZ. He joined the agency as chief creative officer of legacy brand, Y&R, before being elevated to chief creative officer of Australia & New Zealand at VMLY&R in 2018.
The new VML will have more than 5,000 employees across 254 offices in 13 markets in APAC. Its principal offices are now in Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney under newly appointed VML APAC co-chief executive officers, Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay.
The following leaders have been chosen to head each region:
ANZ
Tom Tearle, VMLY&R ANZ CEO, becomes VML CEO ANZ
Gavin Bain, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Australia, moves to the role of VML Chief Consulting Officer, ANZ and Managing Director, Perth, Australia.
Southeast Asia
Singapore: Nimesh Desai, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Singapore becomes VML CEO, Singapore.
Rhys Taylor, VMLY&R Managing Director, Singapore, takes on the role of VML Chief Client Officer, Singapore.
Indonesia: Samir Gupte, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Indonesia, has been appointed CEO, VML Indonesia.
Malaysia: Kenni Loh, CEO, VMLY&R Malaysia, has been appointed CEO, VML Malaysia.
Philippines: Golda Roldan, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Philippines, has been appointed CEO, VML Philippines.
Thailand: Parattajariya Jalayanteja, CEO Wunderman Thompson, Thailand has been appointed CEO, VML Thailand.
Vietnam: Ha Nguyen, VMLY&R CEO, Vietnam, has been appointed CEO, VML Vietnam.
East Asia
China: Kevin Zhu, VMLY&R China CEO, has been appointed CEO VML, China.
Carter Chow Wunderman Thompson CEO for Greater China, becomes President, VML China.
Hong Kong: Maggie Wong, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Hong Kong, has been appointed CEO, VML Hong Kong.
Japan: Ichiro Ota, CEO, VML & Ogilvy Japan remains in his position.
Akira Suzuki, CEO, Wunderman Thompson Japan, moves into the role of COO, VML Japan.
Taiwan: Even Teng, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Taiwan has been appointed CEO, VML, Taiwan.
South Asia
India: Mumbai is a principal office for VML in this region. VML will announce India’s leadership in Q1 2024.
Audrey Kuah, Co-CEO, VML APAC, stated, “We are thrilled to introduce our new APAC leadership team, who represent the cream-of-the-crop across two of the most awarded creative agencies in the region. As we unify our storied agencies, there is an exciting opportunity to redefine the possibilities of creativity and set the stage for more innovative and effective work.”
Yi-Chung Tay, Co-CEO, VML APAC, added, “At VML we are dedicated to creating connected brands which matter to the consumer and drive growth for our client partners. Working closely with our leaders across our APAC network, we are well positioned to provide the best possible solutions to our clients’ most pressing business problems via an integrated suite of capabilities which are unsurpassed in the region.”
