Burnett taps Wilkerson for regional job

The hire is part of the agency's intent to further strengthen its Asian operation, said Michelle Kristula-Green, president of Leo Burnett Asia-Pacific. Burnett recently hired Cynthia Alfieri as a second regional account director for its Procter & Gamble portfolio and "is looking to hire other key people within the network", she said. Wilkerson joins Burnett this month, and adds "firepower" to the Asia-Pacific team: "Patrick will work on incubator projects for some of our current clients, and also leads our regional business development activities," Kristula-Green said. "He has multiple Asian market experience, the ability to work effectively across cultures, and a broad portfolio of experience ranging from packaged goods to finance." Wilkerson brings 36 years of advertising experience to the job, and will be based in Singapore. Before joining BBDO in 1998, he worked at McCann Erickson for more than 13 years, in senior positions in Thailand and Korea before moving on to Tokyo, where he worked on Nestlé and Coca-Cola. Most recently, he helped drive the development of Visa's regional brand campaign. At Burnett, his immediate goal will be "to learn all I can about how Burnett services brands and business around the world, around the region and country by country", Wilkerson said. "Then, with Michelle and (regional business development director) Stine Storm, I will work on an overall approach for the future that builds on current best practice."