Chan’s decision follows the recent departure of Burnett China executive creative director Ruth Lee (Media, 16 May). Over the past five years, the duo solidified Burnett’s position as one of China’s leading MNC agencies.
The Publicis Groupe agency has moved swiftly to address the developments, naming current Indonesia MD Dean Bramham to the new role of Northern China MD.
Greater China CEOs Michael Wood and Eddie Booth will focus on Southern China from their current base in Hong Kong.
As part of the restructuring, business director Eric Lee and Gordon Zhang become operations directors of Leo Burnett Shanghai and Arc Shanghai, respectively.
Chan, meanwhile, declined to comment on his next destination other than to say it was media-related and outside the agency sector.
“I’ve been in China for five years and at Leo Burnett for 12,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve done a lot with this agency and I want to give something new a shot.”
Bramham, meanwhile, is succeeded by JWT’s Steve Bonello as GM for Indonesia, and joins Burnett China after 11 years at the Publicis Groupe agency. He will reunite with the newly-hired China ECD KC Arriwong (Media, 11 July).
“His talents dovetail very well with KC’s strengths, and they have also worked together in the past, in Vietnam,” said Leo Burnett Greater China CEO Michael Wood.
