Omnicom Names Andreas Krasser CEO of Hong Kong Operations
Andreas Krasser consolidates BBDO and TBWA Hong Kong leadership post-IPG acquisition. Part of Omnicom's Asia restructure retiring DDB globally by 2026.
Omnicom Advertising has appointed Andreas Krasser as CEO of its Hong Kong operations, overseeing both BBDO Hong Kong and TBWA Hong Kong following the company's acquisition of IPG and global restructuring. The appointment, announced in 2025, consolidates leadership as part of broader changes that include relaunching BBDO in the market and retiring the DDB brand globally by mid-2026.
Leadership Consolidation Follows IPG Acquisition
Krasser, previously CEO of DDB Hong Kong, now leads unified operations across both creative agencies in the market. The restructure places approximately 125 employees under BBDO Hong Kong, which replaces DDB as Omnicom's second creative brand alongside TBWA in the territory.
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John Koay joins as Chief Creative Officer for Omnicom Advertising Hong Kong, tasked with strengthening creative output across both agencies and positioning Hong Kong as a regional hub. Koay, formerly Executive Creative Director at Edelman Hong Kong, called the move "a pivotal moment for creativity in Hong Kong."
Maggie Cheung, previously Managing Partner at DDB, becomes Managing Director of BBDO Hong Kong. She is supported by Koman Ko as Managing Partner and Head of Client Services. TBWA Hong Kong retains Ida Mak as General Manager, providing continuity during the transition.
Regional Pattern Emerges Across Asia
The Hong Kong restructure mirrors similar consolidation efforts across Asia Pacific markets. Omnicom's India operations adopted a comparable leadership model, with Prasoon Joshi as Chairman and Aditya Kanthy as President and Managing Director overseeing multiple agencies.
Sean Donovan, President of Omnicom Advertising Asia, described the changes as "an important step forward for the local creative industry." The new structure integrates Omnicom's intelligence platform and Acxiom's data capabilities while maintaining distinct cultures for BBDO and TBWA.
The consolidation follows Omnicom's acquisition of IPG, which prompted a global restructuring that reduced the company's creative networks from six to three brands: BBDO, TBWA, and McCann. The changes resulted in 4,000 job cuts worldwide, with analysts expecting restructuring efforts to continue into 2026.
Market Positioning and Client Services
BBDO Hong Kong's relaunch emphasizes upgraded capabilities through fresh talent and expanded resources. "We're upgrading our capabilities and have brought in fresh talent," Cheung said, noting the agency aims to help clients "do big things" rather than simply rebranding.
The unified leadership structure under Krasser allows clients to access integrated solutions across creative, strategy, and production capabilities. Both agencies maintain separate positioning while sharing access to Omnicom's connected content engine and data tools.
Omnicom's global restructuring introduced nine "Connected Capabilities" including advertising, media, and specialized services. Client Success Leaders coordinate customized solutions across these capabilities, streamlining how clients work with multiple Omnicom agencies.
The Hong Kong operations report through a clear chain: Krasser to Donovan as Asia President, who reports to Troy Ruhanen as Global CEO. This structure aims to balance local market expertise with regional coordination and global resources.
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