Joanne Theseira named CEO of Publicis Communications SG, adds SEA-wide growth remit

Publicis Groupe Singapore is promoting Joanne Theseira, the current managing director of Publicis Communications, to CEO of Publicis Communications Singapore.

In this role she will take on executive responsibility for Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Prodigious and MSL. In addition, Theseira will also take on the newly created role of chief growth officer for Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia and will report to Amrita Randhawa, CEO of Publicis Groupe Singapore and Southeast Asia.

As Publicis Communications CEO, Theseira will champion the continued development of clear and ownable client, business, and employee positionings for the agencies under her stewardship. She will ensure that they are evolving in line with clients’ needs and reflective of the way consumers are engaging with brands today.

Further in her role as chief growth officer she will lead Power of One accounts expansion, power new business development and manage the profile of Publicis Groupe in Southeast Asia.

Amrita Randhawa, CEO of Publicis Groupe Singapore and Southeast Asia, said, “Theseira’s passion for the creative business is addictive. The clarity of her vision for our creative communications agencies and her determination to make the Groupe the fastest growing in the market is energising and impressive. Joanne has demonstrated a strong capability to build high-performing teams and attract both clients and outstanding talent into the Groupe which makes her uniquely qualified to make an impact in this role.”

Randhawa added that Theseira will be focused on areas such as new client acquisition, organic growth, our agency got to market narratives and profile. Theseira will also work closely with the Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia market CEOs and practice leadership across SEA and APAC to deliver on the Growth agenda.

“This is a dream role. I believe that a strong and positive talent-centred culture is integral to the business of creativity, and this opportunity to hone and harness our different creative agencies is one that only Publicis Groupe can offer. Driving growth across Southeast Asia gives me an incredible canvas to scale and shape the future of our agency offerings and make a meaningful impact on our industry and our clients. I’m excited to get started,” said Theseira (pictured).

Commenting on the synergy between Theseira’s new role and that of recently appointed chief transformation officer Ian Loon, Randhawa said both roles look to our future. “Theseira is focusing on client growth and Loon focusing on practice growth."

On a group level, Publicis has been bringing on board several notable clients out of its Singapore office. In fact, just last month, Publicis Groupe, led by Leo Burnett bagged the massive global creative mandate for Standard Chartered. The agency was up against incumbents TBWA\ and BLKJ Havas. The pitch was first called in February this year, and was handled by R3. The key markets are understood to be Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and the Middle East, and the contract takes effect from 2023.

The win marked the second global AOR appointment won by Publicis Groupe Singapore this year. In January, Singapore Tourism board appointed its agencies BBH and Zenith to manage global creative and media duties respectively. Leo Burnett Singapore also picked up a three-year appointment with Singtel in March 2023. On a Groupe level, it also bagged duties for L’Oréal in Southeast Asia and PepsiCo across China, Southeast Asia and India.

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