The reorganisation will see Hong Kong executive creative director, Alec Cheng, move to Beijing to take up the post of managing director, with special responsibility for creative output. He replaces James Kwan, who has resigned to pursue personal interests.
The Beijing office has also been given added strength with the appointment of Bryan Eytcheson - currently with JWT Chicago managing the Nestle business - to handle key clients, such as Kraft/Nabisco, Nestle and Reckitt. In Hong Kong, Ellis So has been promoted to take Cheng's place as head of creative.
Meanwhile, the agency's Guangzhou general manager, Edgar Yang, will relocate to Hong Kong as director of business development.
The reorganisation elevates JWT's Beijing office to a similar standard to Shanghai, and streamlines Hong Kong.
JWT Greater China chief executive officer, Tom Doctoroff, said raising Guangzhou's capabilities was next on the agenda, however, the agency favours the acquisition route.
"We're looking seriously at acquisition and we are in active conversation with one candidate, Doctoroff said.
