Publicis Groupe Vietnam names new leadership

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Publicis Groupe Vietnam has reshuffled its leadership, naming Kate Bayona-Garcia as CEO of the Groupe locally, succeeding Lukasz Roszczyc who is stepping down to pursue opportunities outside of the ad industry. At the same time, Vineeth Dhruvan will succeed Francois Goddet as CEO of Publicis Media in Vietnam as the latter returns to Europe mid-2022.

According to her Linkedin, Bayona-Garcia started at Leo Burnett Vietnam in 2009 and joined Publicis in January 2021 to lead all creative services covering Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi and MSL. Her new portfolio consists of advancing new models for clients, contributing to the expansion of capabilities, as well as strong partnerships with the media and digital functions to deliver the Groupe’s Power of One promise, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Dhruvan has been with the Groupe in Vietnam since 2012 and has managed many key client relationships across different categories. He has grown Publicis Groupe’s team and specialisations in media, growing many of its key media talent internally. According to the agency, Dhruvan is passionate about the next chapter of Publicis Media in Vietnam, and is keen to bring more innovation into the market anchored in technology.

Publicis Groupe has also promoted Anish Kotian to MD of creative services. Kotian has been with the Groupe in Vietnam for the past three years, and with the Groupe since 2013, which included an extensive stint with BBH India. With almost 17 years of integrated marketing and communications experience, he has embraced the transformation offered by a platform world to build bridges across the organisation.

This new management team will be overseen by the Groupe’s chairperson Hoang Thi Mai Huong. Bayona-Garcia will report to Amrita Randhawa, CEO of Publicis Groupe Singapore and SEA, whereas Dhruvan and Kotian will report to Bayona-Garcia.

“There is no greater personal satisfaction for me than when we have leaders from within ready to step up. Bayona-Garcia, Dhruvan and Kotian are just the right leaders who complement our firecracker of a team in Vietnam, and I can’t wait to write the next chapter with them,” said Randhawa.

“Roszczyc made the Groupe in Vietnam an absolute powerhouse over the past decade. His legacy for the Groupe is exceptional but perhaps the best testament to his leadership lies in his ability to grow Publicis Groupe Vietnam’s leadership from within,” added Hoang.

In the past year, Publicis Groupe SEA has made several new appointments and changes to its leadership, across markets such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, in addition to its latest Vietnam fixtures. This month, the Groupe appointed Ajay Thrivikraman to the role of CCO for SEA, and Sarah Ko as ECD at PG ONE Singapore, the Groupe's dedicated unit for P&G brands.