London-based brand strategy and corporate identity consultancy
Springpoint has appointed Michael McComb as managing director,
Asia-Pacific to head its regional expansion. The move follows its
acquisition by Golin/Harris, a member of the Interpublic Group, in
April.
McComb will head the Hong Kong office, which will serve as Springpoint's
regional headquarters, and will help the company develop regional
operations, with particular emphasis on Greater China. "We'll be hiring
brand consultants in Hong Kong and training them on Golin/Harris
operations. But by most indicators, Hong Kong is not the strongest
growth market. It will help us build a regional client base. We'll be
looking at Greater China and hope to set up a Shanghai office by the end
of this year," said McComb.
According to Fiona Gilmore, Springpoint's chief executive officer,
McComb was picked to head the company as his experience in the region
would help "develop and manage both strategic and design projects".
McComb's experience is largely in mainland China, where he managed Image
Factory Communications Design in Shanghai from 1995 to 1999, serving
multinational clients such as General Motors, Unilever, Siemens,
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hershey's and Kodak Professionals.
He also served as senior director with Bozell Advertising in San
Francisco, working with US tech and web companies.
McComb believes Springpoint's holistic approach and proven record in the
UK will be help the company differentiate itself from its
competitors.
"Most corporate identity companies are aligned with advertising
agencies, but we are with a PR firm. We will be talking with CEOs and
advocating large organisational changes. Springpoint also has experience
in Hong Kong having worked on the Hong Kong Airport Core Programme," he
added.
