BBDO Asia boss Chris Thomas named CEO for the Americas

BBDO Worldwide has announced regional management changes that will go into effect immediately. Chris Thomas (pictured), CEO of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, will has been promoted as CEO of the Americas, with responsibility for 21 BBDO agencies in the US, Canada and Latin America.Thomas will remain chairman of I&S BBDO Japan and chairman of Proximity Worldwide. He replaces Troy Ruhanen.Jean-Paul Burge will take on the role of chairman and CEO of BBDO Asia. He was most recently president of Southeast Asia and CEO BBDO Singapore.In Greater China, Carol Potter, president and CEO for the past nine years, will leave the company. Succeeding her will be members of the current Greater China management team: Tze Kiat Tan is promoted from managing director to CEO; Wai Foong Leong becomes Chairman and chief creative officer; and Hans Lopez-Vito becomes chief strategy officer.Dani Richa, currently chairman and CEO of BBDO Middle East and North Africa, will add the rest of Africa to his responsibilities.“It has been a privilege living and working in the Asia region for the last nine years," Thomas said."We have grown our reputation and our clients business through our work. And these management changes show that we have also grown our people. I would like to personally thank Carol for her extraordinary contribution – and am excited about JP and Dani accelerating our great momentum in the region”Robertson added, “In his nine years in Asia, Thomas has led a sustained transformation of our network there into the most creative and effective in the region. Revenue and profit growth has followed. Thomas established our offering in west and east Africa and has provided Proximity Worldwide with the leadership and glue it needs. He is truly a global citizen who will have a valuable impact on his new time zone when he moves to New York in May.”