ASIA PACIFIC – January 14, 2014 – Underscoring JWT Asia Pacific’s commitment to building a strong digital capability within each agency, CEO Tom Doctoroff has appointed Josie Brown to the newly created role of APAC digital director.
"This is the first regional digital role – we promoted Josie, who was Australasia digital director to AP leader – She has been with JWT for 2.5 years and before that was head of P&G’s digital operation across brands," Doctoroff said.
JWT Asia Pacific doubled its digital revenue last year, and the network is taking strategic steps to expand its capabilities further still. JWT Beijing won Microsoft’s digital business for key Asia Pacific markets, including Japan, Hong Kong and China, in 2013, and other clients, including Mattel and Estee Lauder Asia Pacific also expanded the network’s digital remit across the region. JWT Asia Pacific’s digital campaigns have received international recognition, earning Gold at Cannes, Clio, and the London International Awards, among others, last year.
"Our mission this year is to ensure we have a strong, digital heartbeat in every office, and Josie is the right person to add momentum to that drive," Doctoroff said.
In addition to working with regional clients and providing support to local accounts, Brown will help agency heads across the JWT APAC network develop key performance indicators, from hiring digital talent to enhancing operational structure and training, to help accelerate the digital capability of each office. She will also put processes in place to facilitate collaboration across the network on digital projects.
“Josie has that rare combination of commercial savvy, knowing what clients want and what agencies can deliver to build clients’ business," Doctoroff said, adding that she will work cross regional client base, for e.g. Nike, Estee Lauder and also with our offices across the region on their KPIs. "She has done an inventory of our back office, where we have strengths and weaknesses," he said.
Brown has a unique blend of client, agency and entrepreneurial digital experience. She began her career at Lufthansa in Europe, where she led the launch of the airline’s first .com websites. Brown later worked on the launch of online travel agency Opodo in Europe, and established Sputnik, a digital agency in Melbourne.
She joined JWT as digital director for Australia, and works with clients such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer and she has overseen JWT’s regional relationship with Mattel for the last two years.
Prior to joining JWT, she was digital marketing head at Procter & Gamble, where she worked across the brand portfolio in ANZ to help support the inclusion of technology and digital marketing solutions as an integrated part of communication solutions.
"Building greater collaboration amongst our JWT digital teams in APAC will unleash unparalleled expertise to our clients. I’m thrilled to be working in the region to amplify the digital success the JWT network has seen," said Brown.
