HONG KONG Colgate-Palm-olive Asia-Pacific is under-stood to be relocating its regional team from Hong Kong to Bangkok over the next six months, though the shift is not expected to affect its regionally-aligned agencies Y&R and MEC.
While the client declined to comment, the motivation behind the move is believed to be to accommodate VP of Asia-Pacific, John Guiney, who lives in Bangkok.
Savio Sequeira, business director of Y&R Hong Kong, told Media that the agency's regional Colgate team - approximately 30 people - would continue operating from Hong Kong. MEC was unavailable for comment at press time.
Colgate's shift to Bangkok marks the third time Y&R has had to adjust to its client's new physical location. Colgate, stationed in Hong Kong, moved to Singapore prior to the 1997 handover, followed by a fraction of then-DY&R's Colgate team. But, in 2002, Colgate relocated back to Hong Kong and most of DY&R's Singapore-based Colgate team was believed to have been let go (Media, 14 June, 2002).
