Grey China strengthens strategy team with two senior local hires

Guan (pictured) and Tong joined the strategy and innovation team based in the Grey Shanghai office in mid-October.

As strategy and innovation director for Grey Group China, Guan is a seasoned strategist with 13 years of experience at McCann Worldgroup, JWT, BBH and Millward Brown, and was most recently integrated strategy director at McCann Worldgroup China.

Thaker said he had previously hired Guan when they worked together at McCann Worldgroup two-and-a-half-years ago, so they already have a good working chemistry.

Meanwhile Tong (pictured below) joins Grey Shanghai as integrated brand strategist, bringing with her six years of experience with iResearch and Millward Brown Shanghai. She holds a Bachelor of Media & Cultural Studies from Macquarie University.

Thaker said Guan offers depth and breadth of experience in decoding Chinese cultural insights and transforming it into strategic business solutions, while Jessica understands emerging media and the changing socio-economical behavior of the Chinese market.

"We want to build and nurture the best in class of local Chinese talent and give them the environment and freedom to do their career's best work," he added.

Grey Greater China has been hiring senior talents aggressively this year since TH Peng came on board in March, including four other senior talents from McCann: Thaker,  Canon Wu (吴佳蓉) as chief digital creative officer for its China operations, Eric Leong as senior strategic planner and Alison Teh as digital director for Grey Hong Kong, and two new CDs for Grey Beijing.

It has also benefited in its new business tally, including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, which chose Grey New York as its lead creative agency of record for its global flagship brand. China is Marriott International’s second largest market outside the US.

Earlier this year, Grey Hong Kong extended the Watsons Water Hong Kong account, which it has held for seven years, into the mainland China market.