JWT hires new Southeast Asia CEO

J Walter Thompson has hired Jacco ter Schegget as Southeast Asia CEO as part of a restructuring of digital agency Mirum in the region. He starts on 1 September.

The newly created role sees ter Schegget take on responsibility for the ASEAN operations of both JWT and Mirum. Together with Mirum’s North Asia heads, ter Schegget will report to John Gutteridge, JWT’s APAC CEO.

Ter Schegget joins from OgilvyOne, where he was most recently China president. Before that, he was Europe president of Tribal Worldwide and Co-CEO of DDB & Tribal Amsterdam.

He takes over from former Mirum APAC CEO Nanda Ivens, who has retired from the agency world to pursue startup investments, according to the agency. Bob Hekkelman, who was serving as both Bangkok CEO and Southeast Asia CEO for JWT, will now focus on JWT’s Thailand and Pakistan businesses.

The restructuring aims to improve collaboration between JWT and Mirum, forming a more integrated offering to clients, JWT said. In a release, Gutteridge stressed that this is not a merger of the businesses.

“While our Mirum leaders in each market will work more closely with their counterparts at J. Walter Thompson, it is vital that Mirum retains its unique identity and culture,” he said. “The appointment of Jacco in Southeast Asia is key part of this. He thinks digital first, while having a great passion for creativity and technology, and is in a prime position to drive the new agenda at JWT and grow Mirum in Southeast Asia.”

Ter Schegget said the combination of JWT’s creative skills and Mirum’s deep digital knowledge was vital in a digital first environment.

“John’s vision for APAC illustrates exactly this combination of art and science and I’m looking forward to supporting him and the rest of the teams,” he added.

Mirum operates in six ASEAN markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.