Isobar Asia-Pacific selects Ogilvy's Graham Kelly as first regional ECD

The appointmen was effective on 1 May. Based in Singapore and reporting to Jean Lin, CEO of Isobar Asia-Pacific, Kelly will be responsible for driving creative excellence across the network's 21 offices and 13 markets in the region. He will also sit on Isobar's regional team, working on key multinational accounts. 

As a founding partner of GKIM, Kelly will remain a shareholder but the agency's day to day running will be handled by his partner Ian Morrison. 

Kelly's appointment is part of Isobar's roadmap, explained Lin in an interview with Campaign Asia-Pacific. "We have strong creative leaders in all markets and at this stage of our evolution, we knew we needed a strong creative and technology lead across the region."

According to Lin, Kelly's background in both traditional advertising, at agencies such as BBH, Leo Burnett, TBWA, and Saatchi & Saatchi across Asia and as a startup co-founder of creative technology company GKIM makes him an ideal lead for Isobar's network of digital startups. 

"At this stage of our journey, people who join the team need to come from an understanding of both traditional and entrepreneurial, digital and creative - Graham fits the bill," said Lin adding that she was keen to see the network "jump to the next level".

“I've worked with advertising agencies that have made the move into digital, and many have done so in an impressive way, but the opportunity to join an agency that has been digital since its inception is really attractive," said Kelly.