Ex-Nokia global head of digital campaigns joins Cheil as regional digital head

The agency said this newly created role is due to the fast-growing Southeast Asia market and the region's high connectivity. It has been pushing hard to further develop digital business that gives the agency an integrated shape and allows it to create work that goes beyond traditional advertising.

Wong will focus on the development of digital and social media marketing strategies, including overall strategies for web, mobile, social media, search engine marketing, social media content, analytics, new digital media development, and interactive branding for the company’s global and local clients.

He reports directly to CS Park, president and head of regional HQ of Cheil Worldwide.

Wong said it is a challenging start for him to work in a totally different environment “after working from the client side in Europe for more than 10 years, now to come to an agency in Singapore". 

Wong said understanding the different cultures in the region, and having something relevant for consumers is key when it comes to digital,. "Culture is definitely one thing I am trying very hard to learn right now,” he told Campaign Asia-Pacific.

“Europe has been talked about ‘Omni channels’ for a while and this concept can work particularly well in this region due to the unique buying behaviour of consumers,” he continued. “I always believe digital is not a stand-alone channel, but how we can integrate digital seamlessly as a medium in the whole consumer journey, and help a brand to engage their consumer in this growing area.”

Wong joins Cheil from Nokia UK, where he was leading the global digital campaigns for a product portfolio. His innovative approaches helped Nokia penetrate the youth market and recapture some of their market share in key territories, notably, the digital introduction of “Nokia Asha” worldwide and rollout of the industry’s first viral interactive video.