Scott Kronick to lead Ogilvy PR in Asia as Steve Dahllof retires

Kronick, a 26-year Ogilvy veteran, will officially assume the role on 1 January 2014 and continue to be based in Beijing.

In advance of Dahllof’s departure, the two will work together for the rest of the year to ensure a smooth transition for clients and staff.

“Steve has been an agent of change throughout his long career with Ogilvy and his time as a leader in Asia is no exception, said Christopher Graves, global CEO of Ogilvy PR, who revealed that Dahllof will stay engaged with the agency as a consultant.

Commenting on his retirement, Dahllof (pictured below) said he has held some of the best jobs in the business, including being managing director of Ogilvy PR’s largest office in Washington DC to the lead of EAME.

"But there are none that I have enjoyed more than my time in Asia Pacific. It is the perfect position from which to retire and I move on knowing that I’ve left my role in the most capable of hands”.

Kronick joined Ogilvy PR in New York in 1987—his second job out of college—before moving to Asia four years later to expand the Taipei office. He has spent the last 22 years in Greater China, founding Ogilvy PR’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in the mid-90s.

He also has been leading Ogilvy's PR operations in North Asia for the last four years, which made him the "clear and obvious choice” to step up to the regional leadership role, added Graves.

Kronick's other accomplishments include being the recipient of the Individual Achievement SABRE Award in 2012, China International PR Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and was named “PR Agency Head of the Year” in 2008 at the Asia Pacific PR Awards.

“I am humbled and honoured to be the next leader for this region. Steve leaves very big shoes to fill in 2014,” said Kronick (pictured below).

"My wish, ambition and desire is to ensure the 1200 employees of Ogilvy PR in Asia Pacific have the same experience that I have had at this company," he revealed.

Although he will still based in Beijing, Kronick promises that his focus will shift to Asia "to help us win a disproportionate share of the opportunities ahead" with undisclosed but “very ambitious" plans.

In the next phase of the company, Kronick (pictured below) said he will ensure that it is "growing healthily", and focus on client demands in the areas of content marketing and storytelling.

"We hear repeatedly that clients want their brands at the centre of conversations that connect in new and meaningful ways to help drive a business result".

Kronick's tasks will be supported by the 13 leaders in the Ogilvy PR China executive committee led by Debby Cheung, group managing director of Ogilvy PR China.

In a motivational internal memo to staff, Kronick said his goal is "to be the smallest person amongst all of you", quoting the words of David Ogilvy: "If each of us hire people who are smaller than we are, we will become a company of dwarfs.  But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company a company of giants."