Mark Blair, Ogilvy & Mather Group's president in Japan for the past five years, will return to Hong Kong as president of the six-year-old Global Brand Community (GBC) for Asia-Pacific. The post was previously held by Paul Heath, who has taken up the reins at Ogilvy Advertising, the company's largest discipline which until last year-end did not have its own dedicated leadership (Media, December 16). Blair's current remit has been handed to Mumbai-based India/South Asia CEO John Goodman, who has been in India for the past three years.
An announcement on Goodman's replacement is expected in the next six weeks.
"It has been our experience that our senior executives move to new roles and responsibilities well, as they bring their experience from various markets and enthusiasm to their next assignments and challenges," said Miles Young, Ogilvy's regional chairman.
In his new role, Blair will manage teams that handle the network's major international clients wherever they are located. "GBC represents our largest client portfolio, which groups international clients such as IBM, Lenovo American Express, BP, Unilever, Nestlé and DHL," said Heath.
