Mediabrands restructures regional client services

The move follows the departure of global chief integration strategy officer Steve Blakeman for the Asia-Pacific CEO role at OMD. 

Clinton Simpson (pictured) assumes leadership responsibilities for regional accounts, while still fulfilling his role as managing director of UM and Initiative in Singapore. Simpson has led UM and Initiative in Singapore for the past two years. Previously, he was general manager of Ballamyhayden in Australia.

Natalie Pidgeon takes on new responsibilities as chief strategy officer for Asia-Pacific. Pidgeon was formerly head of strategy and insights for Mediabrands Asia-Pacific. She has worked exclusively in Asia-Pacific since 2001. She joined Mediabrands in 2007, with a role at UM that identified people-driven insights and leveraged these insights to improve clients' communication strategies.

Pidgeon has also worked at Saatchi & Saatchi, building a key client's brand across Europe, and Foote Cone & Belding, developing strategic planning across Asia-Pacific.  

Arun Kumar continues to support Mediabrands’ accounts as current head of digital of Mediabrands Asia-Pacific. Kumar brings more than a decade of digital development experience in Asia-Pacific.  His first digital role was at UM India, and later at Starcom as planning and digital director, driving the digital strategy for P&G brands in China, such as Crest, Pampers and Olay.