Zhu reports directly to Richard Tan, CEO & president of DDB Group North China and leads the planning practice at DDB Guoan Beijing for the Volkswagen Business.
The key planning remit for Ying will be mainly local and new businesses. She reports to Jenny Liu, group planning director of DDB Group Shanghai.
“Planning calls for the smartest thinkers in the industry," said Tan adding that as both of the new hires are Shanghainese, they bring with them a "deep understanding of Chinese consumers".
"Their international perspectives and exposure will elevate our planning functions as well," he said.
Zhu's abilities have been honed by past work with TBWA, McCann, JWT and Leo Burnett – both in Chicago and Shanghai. Prior to DDB, she was head of planning for TBWA since August 2012.
Ying started at Bates Shanghai in 1999 and subsequently moved to DraftFCB, McCann Healthcare and most recently Grey, where she was director of strategic planning since October 2011.
