JWT shuffles leadership in Asia-Pacific, focus on India and China

JWT has expanded the roles of Tom Doctoroff, North Asia Area Director and Greater China CEO, and Colvyn Harris, India CEO, to succeed Michael Maedel, President of Asia-Pacific following his transition to Non-Executive Chairman for Asia.

Doctoroff will take on the role of CEO, JWT Asia-Pacific, at the end of this year. In this role, he will oversee Northeast and Southeast Asia, as well as Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

Harris will become South Asia CEO (India, Sri Lanka and Nepal) and take on added responsibilities for JWT’s Indian companies, including Contract Advertising, Hungama Digital Services, JWT Mindset and Encompass.

Doctoroff and Harris will report to Bob Jeffrey, JWT worldwide chairman and CEO.

Maedel, who has spent 40 years in the industry and 22 years in leadership roles at JWT, including eight as president of Asia Pacific, will move into the role of non-executive chairman for Asia.

Commenting on the appointments, Jeffrey praised Doctoroff and Harris for their “strong connections to the markets, the consumers and the clients”. “By leveraging the strengths and strategic insights of these two very talented people, JWT is uniquely positioned to maximize growth in this critical and dynamic region,” he said.

Doctoroff has 20 years’ experience with JWT, and under his leadership, the agency’s North Asia operation has diversified into customer relationship marketing, field marketing, promotion network management and digital engagement.

A Detroit native, Doctoroff joined JWT in 1992, moved to Hong Kong in 1994, and became the managing director of JWT Shanghai in 1998. In 2002, he was appointed Greater China CEO and Northeast Asia area director, a remit that included Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Japan came under his purview in 2008, when Doctoroff assumed the role of North Asia area director. He speaks fluent Mandarin and is the author of What Chinese Want.

The restructuring also reflects a renewed focus on India, where JWT employs more than 1,500 people — more than any other single market worldwide.

Harris, who has 33 years at JWT, continues to lead India’s largest and most admired advertising agency as CEO South Asia. Under his leadership, JWT India has built a diverse spectrum of traditional, mainstream, activation, events and digital marketing services capabilities.

“We will continue to build and acquire the most diversified platforms to deliver on the market ambitions of the clients we service, thereby further consolidating our leadership position,” said Harris.  “Brands are the center of our focus, and with our skills and capabilities we deliver marketing solutions across the most diverse of offerings to meet the challenges of the dynamic markets we operate in.”

Maedel, who will remain in Singapore, will work with Doctoroff and Harris in an advisory role until he retires 2014. (Campaign Asia)