CAREERS: Bates appoints new MD in management revamp

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