The former Chicago-based D'Sylva will retain his current role as senior vice-president and director of global media systems, while Sriram will also stay on as managing director of SMG's Singapore operation.
"Clearly if we are successful with the strategy we've got now - which we believe we will be - we will see significant revenue growth in China. This also applies to India as well,
Malloy added.
According to the Recma report, SMG achieved billings of US$1.5 billion in Asia in 2000, putting it in fourth place behind agencies in the WPP, Interpublic and Publicis groups.
SMG projected Asia billings of $1.7 billion last year, with its power markets of China and India expected to hit $173 million and $103 million respectively in 2001.
D'Sylva, who was last in Asia in 2000 as managing director of the Procter & Gamble AOR account, said SMG was adding staff to its local buying team in China, where state-driven media consolidation has tempered the media buying business.
Sriram, who will continue to oversee planning on the P&G business, said pushing media AOR assignments would be a challenge in India as few local companies have bought into the media-only concept.
"When clients invite media agencies to pitch, by and large the thing they are focusing on is how much money you're going to save them because you're buying cheap. As a communications company we have to help them understand that there are benefits beyond that which are more significant,
Sriram said.
