Arlene Ang steps down as CEO of OMD China

CHINA – After six years with OMD, Arlene Ang has stepped down from her role as CEO, to take up a Greater China role at Google, based in Hong Kong.

In an interview with Campaign Asia-Pacific, Ang said that she had “an incredible time” at OMD, and that her exit from the industry was prompted by a desire to explore new avenues.

“I’ve been in advertising for more than 20 years now,” she added. “And I wanted to explore something new, to do something different in a new environment.”

Ang said that her role at Google will see her running the internet giant’s SMB vertical for the Greater China region.

She will leave the agency at the end of June and according to Omnicom Media Group, an executive search for her replacement is at the shortlist stage.

In the meantime, agency management will rest with the China office leaders, Weibin Zou in Beijing, Lisa Thompson in Shanghai and Dickie Cheng in Guangzhou, actively supported by OMD APAC CEO Stephen Li.

In a statement issued, Li said Ang led the digital transformation at OMD China “superbly over the past two and half years.”

“It is now time to take the next step into a more integrated data driven marketing world and we have a shortlist of outstanding candidates that we are in final stages of discussion with,” he added.

Doug Pearce, CEO of Omnicom Media Group, Greater China said Ang has been “a great contributor” to the business.

“We thank her and wish her all the best in her new career at Google”, he added.

Ang joined OMD as MD for Beijing in 2010 and quickly climbed the ranks to become OMG’s digital CEO where she was instrumental in building and running the agency’s small business units in China including Accuen, Resolution, Airwave, Annalect, and Social@OMG. She was appointed to the role of OMD China CEO in 2014.

A 16-year veteran of the China market, Ang was also included in Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Digital A-List for 2015.