ASIA-PACIFIC – SHANGHAI, CHINA, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 – TBWA\Shanghai has announced that Brian Swords, formerly the Managing Director of Cawley NeaTBWA in Ireland, has joined the team at the Shanghai office. Effectively immediately, Swords assumes the role of Brand Team Leader on the agency’s flagship McDonald’s account to help the company with its massive expansion in China.
Swords joined Cawley Nea\TBWA in 1993 and was appointed Managing Director in 2004. As Managing Director, he was closely involved with the McDonald’s account in Ireland and Europe. For the past two years, Swords has also served as President of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising in Ireland.
“We are delighted that Brian has moved to China to lead TBWA’s McDonald’s team. We have aggressive goals ahead of us and we need the best possible talent in our agencies,” said Christine Xu, Vice President of Marketing at McDonald’s China.
Ian Thubron, President of TBWA\Greater China said, “Brand Leadership is one of the most important drivers of our business. Everything stems from the right Brand Leader. In Brian, we have someone who has proved himself to deliver for clients, to marshal the best resources of the agency, and like all great leaders, get the very best out of everyone. McDonald’s deserves no less.”
Brian Swords commented, “I’m delighted to be making this move within our network. McDonald’s is a fantastic brand that I have always enjoyed working on, and China a very exciting market. The lure of the combination of both was impossible to resist.”
Chris Cawley, Executive Chairman of Cawley Nea\TBWA wrote in an all-staff memo, “For Brian, and indeed for all of us at Cawley Nea\TBWA, this is a signal honor and recognition of his talent and commitment to his clients and colleagues. We wish him well and look forward to establishing close links between Shanghai and Dublin.”