6 Agency Leadership Changes Marketers in APAC Should Know About
APAC agencies and adtech firms saw major leadership changes this month, as networks doubled down on AI, regional scale, and new growth models.
Asia Pacific is closing out November with one of the busiest talent shake-ups of the year. Global holding networks, independent creative collectives, and fast scaling adtech firms all announced major leadership changes that signal a new era of AI-driven transformation and region-first operating models.
In no particular order, we've taken the liberty of rounding up the biggest moves from the second half of the month.
Kantar Media appoints Mark Read as Chairman
Kantar Media has named Mark Read, former CEO of WPP from 2018 to 2025, as Chairman of its new independent board. The appointment comes shortly after the company was acquired by HIG Capital.
Read was a central architect of WPP’s digital and AI expansion and is expected to guide Kantar Media’s audience measurement strategy as consumption patterns shift at high speed.
Kantar Media also strengthened its presence in Southeast Asia by appointing Andy Gallagher as head of creative and media business in Singapore.
Ogury hires Nicolas Bidon as global CEO
Global adtech company Ogury has selected Nicolas Bidon, the former global CEO of GroupM Nexus, as its new chief executive, effective December 01, 2025. Bidon led 11,000 digital specialists at Nexus and previously ran Xaxis worldwide.
At Ogury, he will focus on global strategy, commercial growth, and product scale across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
The move highlights a wider trend in adtech where global leaders with deep AI experience are being redeployed into high-growth environments.
Leighton Cosseboom
Burson promotes HS Chung to APAC CEO as Adrian Warr exits
Burson has elevated HS Chung to CEO for Asia Pacific. Chung previously oversaw China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea and will now lead a ten-market region that includes Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and New Zealand.
She is known for her advisory work with global brands in technology, consumer goods, automotive, and healthcare, along with national projects in Korea.
Her appointment coincides with the departure of Adrian Warr, who returns to the UK after 15 years in Asia.
Ogilvy Indonesia names Kapil Arora CEO
Ogilvy has promoted long-time network leader Kapil Arora to CEO of Ogilvy Group Indonesia, starting January 01, 2026. Arora succeeds Sieg Penaverde, who exits after six years leading the business through transformation and post-pandemic recovery.
Arora has spent 24 years across the Ogilvy network, including leadership roles in India, Singapore, and Indonesia. He currently manages major clients such as Nestle, SMBC, Kimberly Clark, AkzoNobel, and Mastercard.
Ogilvy has also expanded its creative bench with the return of Andrew Low as executive creative director for Indonesia.
Leighton Cosseboom
Hakuhodo appoints Third Domingo as APAC Chief Creative Officer
Hakuhodo International has created a new regional creative role and named Third Domingo as APAC Chief Creative Officer. Domingo is the founder of IdeasXMachina and previously served as creative chief for Hakuhodo International Philippines.
He now oversees creative leadership across more than ten Asian markets. His mandate is to deepen Hakuhodo’s regional creative capabilities grounded in local insight and the sei katsu sha philosophy.
To support the transition, Gemma Alcantara steps into the role of President and CEO of Hakuhodo International Philippines.
TBWA Group Indonesia hires Mahmud Omar Saladin as Chief Digital Officer
TBWA Group Indonesia has appointed Mahmud Omar Saladin as Chief Digital Officer to accelerate its shift into AI-powered digital products and integrated performance solutions.
Saladin reports to Soum Banerjee and is responsible for team restructuring, digital talent development, and the launch of new AI-led offerings that support faster ROI for clients.
The appointment follows the recent return of Nicholas Kosasih as Chief Creative Officer, who aims to strengthen the agency’s Indonesia operations across creative and digital.
What this wave means for APAC in 2026
The November reshuffle highlights three clear signals. AI leadership has moved from a competitive advantage to a baseline requirement across agencies and adtech platforms. Indonesia continues to rise as a strategic talent hub. Regional networks are prioritizing integrated models that merge creative, PR, media, and data into a single growth engine.
The final weeks of 2025 show a sector preparing for a year that will be shaped by faster automation, tighter regional integration, and more aggressive competition for high-level leadership talent.
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