Lau is looking to hire at least another two local planners to work alongside planning director Anant Deboor.
said Lau, who himself has a decade's worth of experience working in client operations.
On top of his stints at Young & Rubicam, as well as helping with the set-up of the Dentsu Young & Rubicam operations in Hong Kong, Lau has been in automotive retailing in both Canada and Hong Kong. During his time in Canada, Lau went into business for himself, opening a car dealership, before returning to Hong Kong in the early '90s to run Jaguar.
"Unlike most agencies who hire a DCS, I was specific in wanting somebody with client experience. I felt it was important that the candidate bring a broader and different perspective to the communications business, especially in the 21st century,
said Lau.
Clients tend to see things differently, added Lau, although at times the attention is short-term rather than a longer-term brand-building focus.
Still, he believes this gives such candidates an edge over those with only agency experience. "Working in an agency, you realise that most agency people look at the real world from an angle that is sometimes not very pragmatic. You sense that not having had to face business decisions or situations, they don't see the pressure, like the current situation where most agencies are having to make payroll every month."
According to Lau, Chau's stints on the other side of the fence played a key part in her hire. Chau started as a research executive in Lintas before crossing over to the client side, where she worked mainly with telecom clients, including Hutchison Telephone (now known as Hutchison Telecoms). In her next position, she helped launch the second generation mobile phone with Chevalier Telecoms before moving to the former Hong Kong Telecoms (now known as PCCW), where she held a variety of roles in marketing communications, branding and advertising positions.
