McCann promotes Prasoon Joshi to Asia-Pacific chairman

The agency said that Joshi will work with Charles Cadell, president of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, and Jesse Lin, CEO of McCann Worldgroup Greater China, to "drive client businesses through collaboration and integration".

Joshi is currently president of McCann Worldgroup South Asia as well as CEO of McCann Worldgroup India. He will continue as CEO of McCann India and remain headquartered in Mumbai.

"To a large part, it's a recognition of the power and the influience that Asia has within our group," Harris Diamond, McCann Worldgroup chairman and CEO, told Campaign Asia-Pacific by phone from Mumbai. "The particular issue for us is increasing integration and driving our business here."

Diamond declined to detail the reporting structure among the three, instead asserting that the combined leadership team best positions the network to address opportunities. He did clarify that Cadell's operational responsibility for Asia has not changed.

"Clearly Prasoon, with his focus on creativity, is very important to us," Diamond added. (Joshi headed the Cannes Lions Titanium and Integrated Jury this year.) 

"What clients are looking for now is integration of disciplines," Diamond said. "And in Asia, they're also looking to see that you can integrate across ideas and across borders. We're also seeing a restoration of growth in India, and in China, and by definition that gives us opportunities we want to take advantage of."  

Joshi joined McCann India in 2002 as executive VP and national creative director. In 2006, he became executive chairman and regional creative director for McCann Worldgroup South and Southeast Asia. 

Editor's note: This story has been updated after initial publication to incorporate the comments from Diamond.