Bleasdale heads for Iris

Singapore - Group MD for DDB group Singapore and president and managing partner for Rapp Collins Asia Pacific, Richard Bleasdale, is set to join integrated marketing agency Iris as regional CEO for Asia Pacific.

Bleasdale will leave the agency in the coming months and DDB Group has already moved to fill his position, promoting Huw Hopkin to MD for Rapp Collins Singapore and Jeff Cheong as director of integration for Tribal DDB Singapore. At Iris, Bleasdale will oversee the Singapore, Sydney and Delhi operations as well as the opening of further offices in the region. He will be based in Singapore and report to Stewart Shanley, joint chief executive of iris Worldwide.

"Their philosophies around media, creativity and most importantly people, are identical to mine and its exciting to be joining them at this stage of their growth in Asia Pacific. Iris has really ambitious expansion plans and a growing global client base, which combined with their unique view on the world, means they will make a real impact on this region, its clients and the work you see in the marketplace," Bleasdale said.

Bleasdale was handed the Rapp Collins portfolio only four months ago after the departure of MD Lucy McCabe and he has worked within DDB Group Asia Pacific since early 2004.