Chris Jaques is reportedly set to leave Young & Rubicam after almost three years in charge of the WPP network's operations in Asia.
While Jaques declined to comment, the news follows the surprise elevation of Y&R Australia chief Hamish McLennan to the global chief executive role at Y&R Advertising. McLennan succeeds Ann Fudge, who remains global chairman of Y&R Brands. As CEO of Y&R Brands Australia/New Zealand, McLennan previously reported to Jaques, before becoming more closely aligned with WPP chief Sir Martin Sorrell.
While Jaques declined to comment, the news follows the surprise elevation of Y&R Australia chief Hamish McLennan to the global chief executive role at Y&R Advertising. McLennan succeeds Ann Fudge, who remains global chairman of Y&R Brands. As CEO of Y&R Brands Australia/New Zealand, McLennan previously reported to Jaques, before becoming more closely aligned with WPP chief Sir Martin Sorrell.
Jaques joined the agency — then known as DY&R — in mid-2003, charged with rebuilding a flagging regional presence. He has been largely successful, turning Y&R Asia into a profitable operation, despite being hamstrung by a global offering that has leaked business and staff in recent years. In Singapore, the agency scored resounding success in winning OCBC and the Singapore Tourism Board, and retaining SingTel.
Jaques also established a regional creative and planning unit at the agency, whose key regional clients include Caltex and Colgate. However, the recent shift of Citibank's global creative to Fallon was a blow, even as it strengthened Wunderman, which absorbed the bank's BTL business. Overall, Wunderman has fared less well during Jaques' tenure, suffering through global realignments of IBM and Motorola. "It's a huge blow for Y&R," said a source. "He's a tremendous operator."
