iris names Cox as head of business development for APAC

Cox will relocate to the agency’s Singapore office from its London headquarters, where she will be responsible for marketing iris’ integrated capabilities to prospective and existing clients, which include Sony Ericsson, Microsoft, Unilever, Tiger, Shell and Diageo.

She will report in to the agency’s recently appointed CEO for APAC Josh Thomson.

Cox, who previously held the global role of group new business manager, will spearhead iris’ new business initiatives for the region, working with the local managing directors of iris’ offices in Singapore, India, China, Sydney and Melbourne. She will focus on marketing the agency’s strategic capability across its multiple disciplines.

A press statement from iris calls Cox "a key appointment for the agency as it targets further growth opportunities in the region in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines."

Josh Thomson, iris’ regional CEO for Asia-Pacific, said: “Rebecca has only been onboard in APAC for a couple of weeks and already she’s opened up several new opportunities in Singapore, India, Hong Kong and Australia with a series of major blue-chip brands. This is about us transplanting our best talent as we target bigger opportunities in China and elsewhere.”

Cox said: “I love the fact that iris is constantly evolving and is not afraid to change with the times – it feels like we cannot be second-guessed and that we strike fear into older established agencies out there. I’m looking forward to being part of iris’ growth in such an exciting region.”

Prior to joining iris in 2007, Cox was new business manager at London-based creative agency The Design Conspiracy from 2005, and prior to this, she was sales and marketing manager at specialist new business agency Rainmaker since 2003.