Publicis lines up Jeng as mainland head

Publicis has revealed the next phase in a string of management changes at the agency's Greater China operation, following the high-profile departures in recent months of China chief executive officer and Shanghai MD Neil Hardwick and China managing partner and Beijing chief executive S Y Lau (Media, 16 June).<BR><BR>Publicis Taiwan head Sheena Jeng has been confirmed as the new China CEO, effective August 1, overseeing the Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou offices. <BR><BR>"Clearly she was due for a promotion, and while Taiwan is a very important market, it is not on the same scale as China," said Guillaume Levy-Lambert, chairman, Publicis Asia-Pacific.<BR><BR>Publicis Taiwan GM Roy Soetanto will also join Jeng in China, although Media understands his role will not be confirmed for a few weeks. March Chung, most recently business director in Taiwan, will be promoted to the GM Taiwan role, also effective from August 1.<BR><BR>Levy-Lambert also dismissed speculation that Hardwick would leave the agency altogether, insisting the outgoing mainland China chief would take up a new senior role within the network.