R/GA names new APAC MD

Filling a leadership vacancy that opened in September, R/GA has appointed Tuomas Peltoniemi, formerly of TBWA's Digital Arts Network, as EVP and managing director, APAC.

Peltoniemi, who last served as DAN's Asia president for digital and innovation, begins the role on 3 January, overseeing R/GA's offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and Tokyo.

Jim Moffatt departed as R/GA's APAC MD after four years in September to join Engine Group, where he is CEO for Europe and Asia Pacific. 

Peltoniemi was with TBWA's DAN for seven years, first as Singapore head and then in the APAC role. Prior to that he was MD and partner of !NOOB in Helsinki. He was named to Campaign Asia-Pacific's 40 Under 40 in 2015, was named Asia-Pacific Agency Head of the Year (Digital) at Campaign's Agency of the Year awards last year, and this year served as president of the Spikes Asia Innovation jury. 

“Tuomas is a transformation pioneer who understands how to implement change ahead of disruption,” Bob Greenberg, founder, chairman and CEO of R/GA, said in a media release. “His career has evolved so similarly to R/GA’s own evolution that it feels like working together was simply a matter of time. We could not be more excited that that time has come, and I am confident that Tuomas will lead our APAC region to even greater success.”

Peltoniemi said R/GA's capabilities and focus on 'transformation at speed' are aligned with client needs, adding that this is arguably more true in APAC, which is R/GA's fastest-growing region.

Peltoniemi's old employers wished him well. “Tuomas joined TBWA Asia with the responsibility to deepen our digital and innovative capabilities, and now leaves having helped establish one of the leading agencies in the region," Ian Pearman, president of TBWA Asia said in a release. "We know he’ll be a success in his new role.”