Publicis Groupe China today announced that BBH China, the renowned creative shop, will be fully integrated into the Groupe. To lead the consolidated creative offering, a new leadership team has been appointed overseeing a new structure to deliver deeper integration with media, data, technology and performance marketing for clients. The BBH brand will remain fully intact.
Arto Hampartsoumian, current Executive Chairman of BBH China, has been promoted to Managing Partner and Executive Chairman of Publicis Groupe China, with immediate effect. In his new role, he will oversee all creative agency brands of Publicis Groupe China, including BBH, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, MSL, Publicis Luxe, Prodigious, and others.
He will be tasked to supercharge the Groupe’s creative brands with integrated solutions, and enhance media solutions with creative and brand building capabilities, closely partnering with Cary Huang, the recently appointed CEO of Publicis Media and Digital.
Arto will be based in Shanghai and will report directly to Jane Lin-Baden, Managing Partner, APAC and CEO for North Asia.
BBH China’s current CEO, Christine Ng, will continue leading BBH China, with the expanded responsibility of overseeing the operations of Publicis Worldwide Shanghai. Christine was the founding member of BBH in both Asia and China, with 15 years’ experience in China. She will also continue reporting to Arto.
Left to right: Arto Hampartsoumian, Jane Lin-Baden and Christine Ng
Jane Lin-Baden, Managing Partner APAC and CEO for North Asia said:
“Creativity is a growth agenda and the lines between legacy creative and media solutions have blurred. An idea needs media to thrive; whilst media, in the absence of great creative, is incomplete. This becomes truer with the power of data, technology and commerce. The magic is in how it comes together and is activated for clients.
In the last 18 months, Publicis Groupe China implemented the Power of One model for key clients including Procter & Gamble, Huawei, Nestle, Mondelez, GSK, amongst others. We will further accelerate transformation by infusing media, data and products in creative agencies, and vice versa.”
“Arto’s solid on ground experience in China, passion for creativity and inclusive leadership style make him the right leader to build a creative power-house that inspires the best Chinese and international creative talent. I look forward to seeing a new energy emerge under Arto’s leadership.” Jane further added.
BBH China has created many iconic works for top clients including Johnnie Walker, Harbin Beer, Audi, TCCC (The Coca-Cola Company), Google etc. BBH China has frequently been named the creative agency with the highest client satisfaction by Agency Scope Report, published by R3 Scopen.
Taking up the new role, Arto Hampartsoumian is resolute in the transformation that needs to happen, “At BBH we have always believed in ‘running at the future’ and not away from it. The time has come for us to be smarter and more efficient in our business through consolidation and collaboration. For BBH China, consolidating in to Publicis Groupe only makes us all stronger. It allows us to close the gap between creative and media, as well as stay ahead of the evolving digital landscape. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to work with the Groupe’s creative agency brands in China to redefine the industry business model, an evolution which will benefit our clients and make our creativity ever more powerful”.
Due to family reasons, Michael Lee, Publicis Groupe’s Greater China co-CEO, has decided to resign from the role after being with Publicis Groupe Greater China for nearly a decade. He is exploring opportunities within the Groupe in other markets.
Fanny Yum will exit her duties as CEO of Publicis Worldwide Shanghai and Managing Partner of Publicis Communications Shanghai and supporting the transition of Publicis Worldwide to Christine Ng. Fanny will explore other opportunities with the Groupe in China.
Jane added, “I want to express my sincere thanks to Michael for his contribution to the Groupe in Greater China for all these years. Thanks also go to Fanny for her contribution to Publicis Worldwide for the last one year. ”