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Tag: Ewen Sturgeon

  • Wunderman Thompson appoints James Hammond as APAC head of healthcare

    Wunderman Thompson appoints James Hammond as APAC head of healthcare

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson has announced the appointment of James Hammond to the newly created role of head of healthcare for the APAC region. Hammond is currently based in Hong Kong and shall begin his new assignment in November, said the company in a statement.

    Hammond previously worked with WPP Health Practice International as APAC client lead and global client EVP for close to a decade. He then went on to J-lab Asia where he forged an independent network of healthcare agency partnerships across the APAC region as principal. During the same time, he was simultaneously working with Klick Health USA as a regional partner.

    “James brings with him a deep understanding of the unique needs of the healthcare industry in APAC. We are thrilled to have such a prolific industry leader drive our health practice forward,” said Wunderman Thompson International CEO Ewen Sturgeon.

    With over 25 years of experience, Hammond has led agencies across the United States, North Asia, and Australia, working with large multinational brands such as J&J, GSK, Nestle, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Gilead.

    “This is a very exciting time to be joining Wunderman Thompson. The agency has built a unique offering at the intersection of creativity and technology. I believe this is a great fit for healthcare clients looking to build more integrated customer experiences,” said Hammond. “We have big ambitions in this region as we continue to build our consumer healthcare business and extend our offering to prescription healthcare clients.”

  • Isobar’s Shamsuddin Jasani joins Wunderman Thompson South Asia as CEO

    Isobar’s Shamsuddin Jasani joins Wunderman Thompson South Asia as CEO

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson has appointed Shamsuddin Jasani as chief executive officer for South Asia, effective 1 November.

    Jasani will report directly to Wunderman Thompson International CEO Ewen Sturgeon. “We are pleased to have Shams join our Wunderman Thompson leadership, and believe he is the natural successor to continue propelling our South Asia business forward,” said Sturgeon.

    The development comes on the back of chairman and group CEO – South Asia Tarun Rai moving into a new role as executive director of strategic initiatives, APAC.

    Jasani is a veteran of the industry, having launched Isobar in India in 2008 and growing it from a two-person team to over 300-strong across South Asia. Under his leadership, his team has been recognised as one of the top digital agencies under the Brand Equity Agency Reckoner and won multiple awards including ‘Digital Agency of the Year India’ for three times. Jasani was also awarded ‘Digital Agency CEO’ by Media Ace and has been featured on Impact Magazine’s ‘Digital Power 100’ list, two years in a row.

    “It’s a great honour, but an even greater responsibility, to join such an iconic brand as Wunderman Thompson, with an amazing legacy. I am really excited to not only continue this legacy but to take it to greater heights with the combination of creative, data, commerce and technology,” Jasani commented. “I believe at Wunderman Thompson we have all the ingredients to be the partner of choice for the growth and transformation of brands and business in India.”

  • Wunderman Thompson South Asia elevates Tarun Rai to ED, strategic initiatives, APAC

    Wunderman Thompson South Asia elevates Tarun Rai to ED, strategic initiatives, APAC

    Mumbai: After an illustrious 25 years in advertising in India, Wunderman Thompson South Asia chairman and group CEO Tarun Rai will move into a new role as executive director (ED) – strategic initiatives, APAC, effective 1 January 2022.

    Rai will report directly to Wunderman Thompson international CEO Ewen Sturgeon. Details on Rai’s successor will be announced shortly, said the agency.

    In the seven years as chairman and CEO, Rai has successfully steered the company through significant changes at an organisational and cultural level – most recently leading the successful and seamless transition to Wunderman Thompson.

    “We would like to thank Tarun for his leadership and efforts as group CEO of South Asia, and are pleased that Tarun will continue his strategic guidance and support for the agency as he moves on to serve as our APAC executive director of strategic initiatives,” said Ewen Sturgeon.

    Previously with JWT, Rai returned to the agency in 2015 after a long stint in media, and quickly put the company back on an aggressive growth path, diversifying the organisation’s capabilities to better serve clients, many of whom have been partners for a long time and remain so. He built an excellent leadership team and has fostered a culture of collaboration across the various group companies. Throughout the pandemic, he has led the organisation with sensitivity and empathy without compromising on the quality of the work, said the cocompany

    “The last seven years have been very exciting and rewarding. The unprecedented changes in these years required nimble leadership,” said Rai. “I also had the opportunity to lead the transition to our new company, Wunderman Thompson, which has a powerful mix of creativity and technology. I am extremely proud of our people and of our leadership team for their fantastic work through these years. We partner with some of the best clients in the industry and I value their friendship and support. I now look forward to stepping into my new role in an expanded geography.”