JWT's Northeast Asia area director Tom Doctoroff said demands on his time across China and Northeast Asia since his late 2001 promotion to his current role had made it necessary for the Shanghai office to have senior management in place to achieve growth goals, including expansion into new service areas, without sacrificing its product focus. "Jennifer is that rare person who is committed to the product and strategy - you can't rise in Burnett without these qualities," he noted. "She is a pragmatic and savvy operator; she complements senior management, which is a little academic at this stage."
Doctoroff said the agency was benefitting from organic growth - local pharma firm 999 and Ford - as well as new business wins such as the global realignments of HSBC, B&Q and Listerine this year.
In tandem with the growth, staff numbers will rise from a 118 currently to about 150 by January 2005. Starting this year, JWT has also been investing in local agencies, from a stake in below-the-line start-up Ignite (Media, July 30) to an expected and significant financial investment in Guangdong-based affiliate Newsun. It is also understood that JWT is in discussion for a stake in a local agency, which has a four-city network, including Beijing and Shanghai.
"We are trying to find like-minded people to work with because we recognise the potential that exists in different segments in China, each with their own needs, and it is important to have the right agency and structure in place to service those needs," Doctoroff explained.
See p6.