dentsu Malaysia names new managing partner to lead data and tech

dentsu Malaysia has appointed Nick Drew (pictured above) as managing partner, data and tech, strengthening the agency’s push to deepen integrated data, technology and media capabilities as brands navigate an increasingly complex digital ecosystem. He will report to Bala Pomaleh, CEO of dentsu Media Malaysia. 

In the expanded role, Drew will lead dentsu Malaysia’s data and tech practice, with a focus on building connected solutions that link data, technology and media to measurable business outcomes for clients. He will also work closely across the agency’s media and creative functions to drive more integrated, insight-led strategies.

A digital industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Drew has worked across data strategy, marketing technology, media platforms and digital acceleration for brands in both regional and global markets. His career spans senior leadership roles across agencies and platforms, including nearly a decade at Google Malaysia.

Don't miss: Uday Desai exits dentsu Creative Malaysia 

He first joined Google as head of agency, before moving into a sector lead role overseeing travel, export, performance and agency relationships. Prior to that, Drew spent close to seven years as managing director at Starcom, where he oversaw integrated media, data and technology operations across complex client portfolios. Following his departure from Google in 2024, Drew founded CoreADV, where he worked as an energy leadership coach.

Audrey Chong, CEO of dentsu Malaysia, said Drew brings a rare blend of platform expertise, leadership experience and people-first thinking to the role. She said: “Data and technology are central to how brands grow, connect and create value in today’s market. Nick brings a rare combination of deep platform expertise, regional leadership experience and a genuinely people-first philosophy."

"His appointment reflects our commitment to building a data and tech practice that is not only future-ready, but grounded in empathy, collaboration and long-term impact for our clients and our people,” Chong added.

Reflecting on his new role, Drew said dentsu’s philosophy around technology and people was a key draw. "Malaysia is at a pivotal moment in its digital maturity, and there is a real opportunity to build ecosystems that are resilient, ethical and commercially meaningful. I am excited to work with the team to help brands unlock the full value of data and technology, while creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to do the best work of their careers,” he said.

Drew succeeds Suhail Ahmed (pictured), who departed dentsu Malaysia after 7.5 years with the agency. Ahmed joined as head of programmatic before stepping into the role of partner, head of data and martech in July 2021, a position he held for over four years. Reflecting on the broader industry shift, Ahmed told A+M that brands are increasingly focused on extracting real value from their technology investments.

“In Malaysia, there is a growing confluence of adtech and martech. Organisations are increasingly adopting unified martech stacks, with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive marketing automation, deepen customer engagement and enhance data analytics to deliver superior consumer experiences,” he said. “Brands that will stand out and win are those that prioritise the value realisation of their tech stacks, supported by robust measurement to link media investments to business outcomes," added Ahmed.

Ahmed also shared that his time at dentsu Malaysia had been a formative chapter in his career. “My journey with dentsu has been full of learnings and growth. I would like to thank the leadership team at dentsu Malaysia for the trust and support over the years. I am looking forward to the next chapter and excited to continue doing what I love, working at the intersection of data, technology and business impact,” he said.

Earlier this month, A+M reported the departure of dentsu Creative Malaysia's managing director Uday Desai. He had been in the role for a year, since January 2025, focusing on scaling the agency's creative business. Desai has over 20 years of experience in shaping brands across APAC, MENA and India. He joined dentsu with extensive client experience across major agency groups, such as Hakuhodo First Bangkok, BBDO Thailand, Publicis One, and Y&R. Before taking on the role as dentsu Creative Malaysia's MD, Desai was an integrated client partner at dentsu Vietnam.

Meanwhile, this comes as dentsu named Yuichi Toyoda as CEO of dentsu Asia Pacific, effective 1 January 2026. He will also join the group executive management team, reporting to Hiroshi Igarashi, dentsu’s president and global CEO. Since 2022, Toyoda has led Dentsu Inc’s global division and Dentsu Group solutions office.

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