DDB's Richard Tan joins MullenLowe Group China as CEO

MullenLowe Group has restructured its operations in China to create MullenLowe Group China. The agency will integrate the MullenLowe China creative communications business with MullenLowe Profero’s digital expertise.The launch of MullenLowe Group China is its latest step of building what it calls the "hyperbundled model" in key markets, and follows on from the integration of operations and new leadership in New York and London over the last 12 months.The new restructured agency will be led by Richard Tan, CEO, MullenLowe Group China; now a 230-person organisation across three offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu.Tan brings 19 years of leadership experience in the Chinese market to the business, having previously been CEO and president of DDB China Group. He will report to Vincent Digonnet, CEO MullenLowe Group, North Asia, and CEO MullenLowe Profero, APAC.“China is the most digitally developed market in the world, with Alibaba and Tencent spearheading rapid transformation of the whole business ecosystem. It is crucial in that environment to consolidate and strengthen our offering to lead business transformation,” said Digonnet.“MullenLowe Group exists in essence to give our clients an unfair share of attention. Having spent two decades in this market, I understand that China requires a totally nuanced approach, so the consolidation of our China operations is about accelerating the growth of a business which is able to deliver both world-class creativity and transformative solutions for our clients,” said Tan.Fanny Yum will continue as CEO MullenLowe China, and MullenLowe Profero will remain under the joint leadership of Brian Leong, MD Shanghai and Alessandro Grena, MD Beijing.The new China group is strengthening its strategic offering, bringing on three new integrated planning directors, whose names will be announced in the weeks to come.Chief planning officer, Baiping Shen, however will be leaving the agency after nine years at MullenLowe China. Cheelip Ong, who joined the company at the end of 2016 remains as chief creative officer.