President of DDB Shanghai to join McCann Worldgroup as new Greater China CEO

Lin (pictured) joins McCann Worldgroup with 17 years' experience in the communications industry, eight of which have been in China. Lin was previously MD of DDB Shanghai and vice-president of DDB China Group, and was promoted to president of DDB Group Shanghai only last year.

Dick van Motman, president and CEO of DDB China Group said, "In a competitive industry such as ours, success brings with it challenges — and one of them is losing talent. Jesse did a great job in running our DDB Shanghai office and I wish him all the best in his new role. We will announce replacement plans in due time."

A Taiwanese-American, Lin’s knowledge and experience spans both digital and traditional communications within Greater China and international markets. He was Wieden + Kennedy’s first managing director of China, where he led the team to win international clients such as Nike, Starbucks and Electronic Arts. He grew the agency to 25 people with an annual revenue of US$4.3 million (RMB27 million) in 18 months.

Prior to that, he was group account director at Leo Burnett Hong Kong and over his career so far he has served on accounts including Heineken, Johnnie Walker, Konica, McDonald’s, P&G, Yahoo, Pepsi, Lipton and McDonald’s. 

“Jesse possesses the essential traits to lead the transformation of McCann Worldgroup in China and we are delighted he has now agreed to join us to lead the market,” stated Nick Brien, chairman and chief executive officer of McCann Worldgroup.

Meanwhile, the agency has also promoted Tomaz Mok, who currently divides his time as managing director, McCann Erickson/SGM Works and vice-chairman and executive VP/professional management of McCann Worldgroup China, to chairman of McCann Guanming China.

Mok joined McCann 28 years ago and has worked across three roles, three regions, seven cities and seven offices. The agency explained that in the new chairman's role, Mok will representing the company and partnering with Jesse in the management of the China operations. 

"Together with Tomaz, they will innovate off of our strong heritage in China while delivering the necessary infusion of strategic innovation and creative ambition,” said Nick Brien in a statement.

McCann Guanming China handles multinational accounts including Coca-Cola, General Motors, L’Oreal, and Nestle. McCann Worldgroup China operates across three cities with 12 offices, which include McCann Erickson, MRM, Momentum, and McCann Healthcare.

As reported in October last year, TH Peng, the 17-year McCann veteran and outgoing Greater China CEO, who resigned last October, bids farwell to McCann on 11 March to take up the newly-created role of chairman and CEO of Grey Greater China later that month.