David HK Tan returns to the Publicis fold

Publicis Chemistry Malaysia has appointed David HK Tan (pictured left) as creative lead, marking the creative's return to the Publicis network as the agency looks to accelerate its next phase of growth.

His appointment takes effect immediately, and he will report to Publicis Malaysia's CCO Emir Shafri.

In the newly created role, Tan will partner closely with Anna Ragen (pictured right), business head of Publicis Chemistry Malaysia, to strengthen the agency's creative capabilities and further sharpen its positioning as a social-first player.

Ragen, who stepped into her expanded role in January 2025, has been instrumental in driving that growth, the network shared in a statement. Previously social media director at Publicis Groupe Malaysia, she helped shape the agency's approach to helping brands engage meaningfully with culture and communities.

Don't miss: Publicis buys LiveRamp in US$2.2b bet on data, AI and agentic marketing 

Tan shared that returning to Publicis and Malaysia felt like "a drop of forest green paint falling onto a brown canvas".

"Anna and her team understand how brands show up in culture, not just campaigns. Coming back to be part of that works hand-in-hand with what I am passionate about: ideas rooted in a 'Humankind' philosophy," he said.

Returning to Publicis after a short stint at 72andSunny in Singapore as an APAC creative, Tan had previously been at Leo Malaysia for 12 years. He most recently held the position of associate creative director. During his time there, he was part of the team behind Heineken's award-winning "Heidden in plain sight" campaign.

Tan also previously spent over two years as a junior art director at Grey Malaysia.

The creative lead's arrival signals a deliberate push to elevate the agency's creative output as it enters its next chapter of growth. Since its launch, Publicis Chemistry Malaysia has grown into a 50-strong team, focusing on content strategy, creative development, community management and always-on engagement driven by cultural relevance.

According to Publicis, the appointment also reflects Publicis Chemistry's broader ambitions in the region. Originally launched in Singapore in 2024, the agency was designed as a social-first offering that combines data, media intelligence and creative content under Publicis Groupe's 'Power of one' model.

"This team has been deliberately handpicked and curated to reflect where advertising is today, rooted in culture, moving at speed and built to stay ahead of constant change," said Firzan Mulafer, managing director, Publicis Communications Malaysia. He added that the agency's momentum in Malaysia has been driven by bringing together the right talent at the right time.

In August last year, Jaz Lee, formerly executive creative director at Ogilvy Malaysia, rejoined Leo as executive creative director of Leo Constellation, Southeast Asia, with a regional remit focused on Samsung.

In this role, Lee has been tasked with elevating the quality and creative consistency of Samsung’s marketing efforts across Southeast Asia. He reports to Emir Shafri, chief creative officer of Publicis Groupe Malaysia, and Paolo Garcia, chief creative officer of Publicis Groupe Vietnam.

Related articles: 
Jaz Lee exits Ogilvy Malaysia to reunite with Leo 
Duolingo nabs former Publicis Chemistry ECD as its first APAC head of creative 
Agency agenda: Amrita Randhawa talks acquisitions and Publicis’ AI play