Bates has reshuffled its management line-up in Asia with Andrew
Lethlean replacing Rob Graham as managing director of Bates Vietnam,
which in future will be devoting more time on staff training.
Graham has become chief executive officer of Bates Kuala Lumpur,
replacing Bob Houldsworth who is quitting Bates early next year after 10
years with the company.
Lethlean said he took the job in Vietnam because it was an opportunity
to move from account service into managing an agency.
One of the goals he has set is "to grow the creative product further and
develop local talent" at the agency.
According to Lethlean, the agency will be providing education and
training for its Vietnam office staff.
Some will travel overseas to attend Bates' regional strategic planning
and regional media planning workshops, said Lethlean.
The agency will invest in its own internal training programmes, he
added.
Lethlean moved to Asia from Australia in late 1999 when he became client
services director at Bates Bangkok.
He said he left Australia because he felt it was "a small market whereas
working in a market with billions of people offers so many great
(career) opportunities".
After Bangkok, Lethlean moved to Red-Bates Hong Kong as regional general
manager on the HSBC account in November last year.
Lethlean has also worked for Mojo Partners Brisbane - Publicis'
Australasian agency network - where he handled Suncorp-Metway, one of
Australia's biggest banks and the agency's biggest account.
He also worked at DDB Melbourne on Telstra, Australia's largest
telecommunications company.
Interestingly, another goal Lethlean has set is for the agency to win a
telecommunications account in Vietnam.
Bates' clients in Vietnam include British American Tobacco, Novartis and
Heineken.
Chrispan Dawes, former group communications director at George Patterson
Bates Melbourne, has taken on from Lethlean's previous position in Hong
Kong.
However, he takes on the title of regional business director at the
agency.
