Essence names global chief client officer

Essence has announced that APAC CEO Kyoko Matsushita will become the agency’s first global chief client officer.

Matsushita joined Essence in 2014 and led the agency’s rapid growth in the region, from a handful of staff in Singapore to more than 400 employees across nine offices. She will continue with her APAC leadership duties while she transitions into her new role, for which she will relocate from Tokyo to San Francisco.

The company expects to name a replacement APAC CEO in the coming weeks.

Speaking to Campaign Asia-Pacific, Matsushita said: "The experiences I’ve had as APAC CEO are part of what makes this new role possible for me. The great thing about my new global position is that I'll be able to keep working with all of the people here in APAC. Their ongoing input and voices will continue to play a critical role as I shape my new role."  

As chief client officer, Matsushita will lead Essence’s global client services practice, which seeks to increase organic account growth and drive new business initiatives with clients.

“Kyoko has demonstrated outstanding business and client leadership in her time at Essence,” said Christian Juhl, Essence global CEO. “She is the perfect individual to take on this role and take our client services teams to the next stage.”

Prior to Essence, Matsushita worked at Electronic Arts and Sony, leading in-house marketing teams.

"We’re currently talking to a range of great candidates inside and outside of Essence to take over for Kyoko as APAC CEO, and expect to name a replacement in the coming weeks," Juhl said. "Kyoko will continue to oversee the region for us until that time."