MANILA, MARCH 22, 2013 – Bob Hekkelman said JWT promoted him to Southeast Asia CEO “to spur business development and creative direction” in the region he oversees.
Speaking to adobo during a recent visit to Manila, Hekkelman, who remains in his Bangkok base where he continues to serve as CEO for the Thai office, added that the WPP network was very bullish about the region and its good prospects for continued growth and improved development in 2013 and beyond.
Hekkelman was promoted within weeks of Tom Doctoroff assuming leadership of the network’s Asia Pacific operations in January. Doctoroff named Hekkelman to the newly created role with responsibility for JWT’s operations in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Hekkelman also serves on a new regional executive committee alongside Australasia CEO John Gutteridge and Doctoroff, overseeing North Asia, representing the three Asia Pacific subregions. The committee also includes Asia Pacific CFO Nick Romas, Asia Pacific chief talent officer Sapna Srivastava, and other members.
In this dynamic and increasingly regional market, Hekkelman explained, many local brands would need help to develop a more regional focus and flavor, with the aim of transforming themselves from purely domestic brands to truly regional players. This makes it paramount for JWT to develop a cohesive network to enable people and groups to collaborate and learn from each other by sharing expertise and enhancing their digital capabilities.
“We as agencies have a big role to play to help [these brands] move outside their own territories – an exciting thing to [bring about]. I’m very excited about it,” Hekkelman said.
