LePub appoints Stephan Schwarz as ECD for APAC

LePub Singapore has appointed Stephan Schwarz as its new executive creative director for Asia Pacific. Schwarz was recently part of the team that won Singapore’s only Grand Prix, a Glass Lion for Change, at Cannes Lions this year for the ‘Transition Body Lotion’ campaign. He joins from Ogilvy Singapore, where he managed the Unilever account as creative director for over two years.

This announcement follows the departure of Cyril Louis, the regional executive creative director for LePub APAC, who is moving to Melbourne to join independent creative agency, The Royals, as partner-ECD. Louis, who led creative efforts for Heineken APAC and Tiger Beer globally, will start his new role in October.

Schwarz joins LePub in Singapore in September, 2024. In his new role, he will collaborate with LePub’s leadership team, including Bruno Bertelli, Ajay Thrivikraman (chief creative officer, Publicis Groupe SEA), and Hanh Kanssen (general manager, APAC at LePub Singapore), to enhance the agency’s creative output across the region.

With over a decade of experience in markets such as Paris, Shanghai, and Singapore, Schwarz’s career began in public relations and corporate communications before transitioning to advertising in 2012.

LePub Singapore’s recent projects include Heineken Korea’s ‘LaundroMatch’, which won a Bronze Lion at Cannes, and ‘Enjoy the Smoothness’ for Heineken Vietnam, in collaboration with Leo Burnett Vietnam. Another notable project is ‘Playbrary’ for Singapore’s National Library Board.

Bruno Bertelli expressed confidence in Schwarz’s ability to drive the agency’s growth in the APAC region, stating, “Stephan is an exceptional talent whose vision and leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of LePub Singapore. His impressive track record of delivering award-winning work, coupled with his deep understanding of the APAC region, makes him the ideal candidate to spearhead our growth in this crucial market.”

Schwarz added: “I’m excited to be joining the team at LePub Singapore. I love its flagship brands and its ability to use data to understand consumers in each market. I love the work the agency has done to create brands that resonate culturally to rise above the competition."