IPG expands DeVries, appoints Asia lead

Following an earlier roll out into a full-scale global consumer public relations agency, DeVries Global has appointed Michelle Tham to lead its Asia operations, focusing on the P&G business.Based in Singapore, Tham (pictured) was previously executive vice president at Weber Shandwick.Weber is understood to have been working on P&G's account with DeVries, but the expansion will see P&G's account shift to DeVries from Weber Shandwick.More than 50 people servicing the P&G brand in Singapore and China from Weber Shandwick will shift to the DeVries network, Tham told Marketing.DeVries is positioned as a consumer and lifestyle agency and its focus is to bring together clients from that sector. It is also likely that the network will be extended in other Asian markets but this will be done in consultation with P&G, she added.Key P&G brands DeVries currently handles include Olay, Pantene, SK-II, Head & Shoulders, Wella, Downy and Tide.In Asia, in addition to P&G's portfolio of beauty and personal care brands, other clients include Cerebos Asia Pacific, luxury jeweler Chow Tai Fook and Marks & Spencer.DeVries also has offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.In Europe, DeVries has partnered London-based consumer boutique PR agency, Slam PR, with the agency being renamed DeVries Slam. Slam PR's brand clients include: Zippo, Tanqueray Gin, PepsiCo, Beats by Dr. Dre, Durex and more.DeVries is Interpublic Group's third public relations network in addition to Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris.