JWT APAC announces new regional executive management committee

The announcement was made by JWT Asia Pacific CEO Tom Doctoroff in his first major move since assuming the leadership role on 1 January.

JWT Bangkok’s CEO Bob Hekkelman has been promoted to the newly-created role of Southeast Asia CEO, overseeing operations in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Having worked in the industry, both on the agency and client side, for 26 years, Hekkelman has spent 12 years in agency leadership roles in Southeast Asia. He served as group managing director for O&M in The Philippines, and later Jakarta, before joining JWT Bangkok as CEO in 2007.

“Southeast Asia’s economic star is on the rise, and we are committed to seeking out new opportunities, both in existing markets we operate in, and in the newer, emerging markets of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar,” Doctoroff said. “Bob’s new role reflects the importance of Southeast Asia to our broader strategy.”

Hekkelman, together with Australasia CEO John Gutteridge and Doctoroff, who also serves as North Asia area director, will represent JWT Asia Pacific’s three sub-regions on the new regional executive committee.

Meanwhile, Ratan Malli, a 20-year veteran of JWT APAC, has been promoted to the new role of strategic planning director, Asia Pacific. Having spent his time with JWT in Bangalore, Taiwan and Shanghai, Malli became the Northeast Asia planning director in 2004, working with clients such as Unilever, DTC, Nokia, Microsoft, Unicharm, InBev and HSBC.

The creative leadership of the new JWT APAC committee, meanwhile, will be made up of Lo Sheung Yan (who will take on expanded responsibilities as chairman of the Asia Pacific Creative Council); Tay Guan Hin, JWT’s Southeast Asia ECD and Global Lux ECD; as well as Yang Yeo (who will be promoted from Shanghai chief creative officer to the role of North Asia ECD and China chairman).

Yang led JWT Shanghai to capture China’s first-ever Grand Prix at Cannes in 2011, and brought home awards from other major shows last year. He was also named Designer of the Year last month, by the president of his native Singapore.

Other members of JWT APAC’s new regional committee include JWT Asia Pacific CFO Nick Romas; Sapna Srivastava, JWT’s APAC chief talent officer; Mark Webster, JWT APAC consultant; as well as executives from partner companies, including founder and CEO of Always Field Marketing Cai Hui; president of Blue Hive (WPP’s team Ford Asian agency) Pete Rentschler; and CEO of XM Asia Pacific Paul Soon.

Webster has, in the past, led JWT’s Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Japanese offices.