LBi appoints regional CEO, outlines ambition for China and Asia Pacific

The agency, which is headquartered in Amsterdam, has offices in Mumbai, Dubai, Sydney and Beijing, the latter branded as Metadesign. Publicis Group reached an agreement to purchase LBi for US$540 million last week.

Reporting to the LBi group executive board, Capon will work to bring "greater consistency" to LBi's operations across the region. He will be relocating from London to Shanghai, at least initially.

"The role is new for the network and acknowledges the increasing importance of business within the region and how it's coordinated," Capon told Campaign Asia-Pacific via email. "We are first launching in Shanghai, which complements the business we already have in Beijing. Shanghai is being targeted as there's specific client demand for us to be there. After Shanghai we will then look to build out a regional HQ, probably from Singapore. But there's also opportunity to build out capability in Hong Kong, Tokyo, other major cities in Greater China and beyond."

Capon joins LBi from Wunderman/Y&R Brands in London, where he was group client managing director. Prior to that, he was deputy managing director of Euro RSCG 4D and head of digital at Euro RSCG in Sydney. He has more than 15 years of experience in global integrated agencies.

The network's aim is to provide a gateway to the region for existing clients while also "bringing LBi’s blended service offering to homegrown brands".

"The majority of our large global clients are asking us to be more active in the region and specifically in China," Capon said. " We are currently servicing some of those clients from our major hubs in London, New York, the Nordics, MENA and India, but we feel this demand is now better served on the ground with local expertise and talent."

LBi is already engaged in Asia-Pacific for brands such as Carlson Hotels and AstraZeneca, and most of its top 20 clients are asking specifically for more capability in China, Capon added.

The network will consolidate its current footprint of offices into a single leadership team and capability for the region, Capon said. "We will focus on building local market skills in Shanghai so that we can provision market specific insight and creative," he added. From a creative talent standpoint, the network will look to bring in a mix of current employees looking for adventure and local talent.

“Asia-Pacific is hugely important for LBi and I’m excited that someone of Roy’s calibre is coming on board to ensure that we continue building business value for our clients,” said Ewen Sturgeon, chief executive, EMEA for LBi.