HONG KONG: MindShare has promoted Chris Walton, its regional
business director, as the chief executive officer for China, taking over
from Leo Wong, who has left the agency.
Walton has moved into his Shanghai-based position with immediate effect,
with a remit to oversee MindShare's offices in Shanghai, Beijing and
Guangzhou.
Wong is one of the more high profile industry practitioners to break
away from a multinational agency to establish his own business.
He has about 15 years' experience in media, three of which were spent at
MindShare. "It is time for me to start my own business and I have been
planning this moment for half-a-year," he said.
Wong's new media-buying company in Shanghai is aiming to provide media
buying services to both local and international clients.
He plans to open branch offices in Beijing and Guangzhou next. "Because
adspend in China is growing at double-digit rates and the fact that it
will continue to in the near future, there is plenty of room for people
like us," he said.
Wong also predicted that after China formally becomes a member of the
World Trade Organisation, a significant number of local and
international clients will increase their advertising budgets.
