Rowden has promoted Southeast Asia executive creative director Andy Greenaway to Asia-Pacific chief creative officer.
Southeast Asia planning director Jonathan Daly’s responsibilities have been broadened to cover the region. Daly and Greenaway will report to Rowden. China chief creative officer Peter Soh is leaving the agency and Malaysia ECD, Edmund Choe, relocates to the mainland to take up the same role there.
However, Rowden has confirmed that he will not unify the China management at present. Currently, Saatchis China management is split between Pully Chau, who oversees Southern China - including Shanghai and the critical P&G hub in Guangzhou — and Charles Sampson, who is in charge of Northern China from Beijing.
“The China leadership will remain as is, but I will act as CEO of Greater China,” said Rowden. “I will partner Edmund while I take a good look at what our needs are in China.”
Rowden added that Saatchis was currently “deep in discussions” regarding a hire to lead digital for the network.
“The challenge we will face as we go forward with the network is to truly optimise what we do,” he said.
“Having a true regional structure will help me put in place a process to lead the way that we work and how our agencies are positioned.”
