Chung, a two-time 4As art director of the year winner, was brought on board to elevate DDB's position in the market in terms of both billings and creative work, according to Aaron Lau, DDB's president and CEO of Greater China.
"We haven't been able to achieve our vision in Asia as much as we'd like to," Lau said.
That vision is to have DDB among the top three in both creative work as judged by industry peers, and in terms of billings.
Lau estimates that DDB Taiwan is not even in the top five on both counts.
Chung's appointment was made with the intention to "revitalise the agency with creative work," Lau said.
Chung started his career with local agency United Advertising, followed by a stint with creative boutique Ideology.
His most recent agency position was with Ogilvy & Mather in Taiwan, which he left in 2002 to concentrate on freelance work as a producer and director.
Lau said he approached the top three creative directors in Taiwan before Chung accepted.
He did not reveal the other CDs who were approached.
For Chung, the lure of DDB is that it will see him work more directly in the creative and conceptualisation process. As a freelancer, he was primarily a director on other creative's projects.
Working with former Ogilvy colleague Harrison Dong, now DDB Taiwan president, was also part of the drawcard.
Chung has worked with DDB previously as a freelancer on a number of projects, including McDonald's.