Publicis Modem opens Bangkok office with Suthasarn as MD

This new operation is a full-service digital agency within Publicis Worldwide offering strategy, creative, analytics, user experience, multi-platform (web, mobile, social, gaming) development, paid media, search, social media and eCRM services.

Publicis has tapped one of Thailand's leading digital specialists to lead the new operation. Chatuphum Suthasarn joins as managing director from BBDO Proximity Bangkok, where he headed up Proximity.

Prior to this he was head of marketing for DTAC, Thailand's second-largest mobile phone operator and was vice-president of M-Web Thailand, the country's largest internet service and content provider. Regarded as something of a digital evangelist, Suthasarn has an MSc from New York and a BA from Chulalongkorn University.

"These are exciting times, both for me and Publicis Modem," said Suthasarn. "The opportunity to play a critical role in this market in such a dynamic agency was too good to miss. Publicis has really been making waves in Thailand recently and it is clear that there was huge potential from Publicis clients new and established, in the digital arena."

Suthasarn will partner with Kannadhee Dejkert who joined Publicis Bangkok as creative director (digital), from JWT Connect a few weeks ago.

Dejkert is recognised as one of Thailand's leading digital creatives, having won this year’s Adman Award for top interactive campaign for Oriental Princess and Best Interactive at the Bangkok BAD Awards for Panasonic and the Oriental Princess ‘Avatar’ campaign last year.

Publicis Thailand CEO, Mark Ingrouille added, "Some say we've come late with our full digital offering, but this has allowed us to leapfrog others, learn from their mistakes and now advance a digital planning, creative and execution product that is second to none."

He said that critically, the expansion of capabilities comes just at the time when the walls between creative disciplines, be it digital or analogue, are crumbling. “We're now developing work for clients such as Siemens and Citibank that is fused and complete. It's wonderful."

With nearly 2,000 people deployed across 30 countries around the world, Publicis Modem is one of the largest global digital agencies in the world, serving brands on a global basis including LG Electronics, Citi, Paypal, Sanofi and General Mills.