TBWA creates Greater China region led by Ian Thubron

Thubron assumes the role of group president of TBWA Greater China and will relocate from Hong Kong to Shanghai. His appointment and the restructure are effective immediately.

According to TBWA Group’s president international, Keith Smith, Thubron will maintain a focus on digital and will oversee a staff of 500 within network subsidiaries including TBWA, Integer, TBWA Hakuhodo and Tequila Digital.

“Ian’s done a good job and he was the obvious choice,” Smith said. “Ian’s got 20 years of China experience and he’s done a great job with global clients.”

Joanne Lao and Ruth Ang will continue their roles at TBWA and Tequila in Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively, and will report to Thubron.

Smith said that the agency is still looking for a managing director for its Beijing office.

He added that the movements surrounding China are not intended to diminish TBWA’s focus in Hong Kong, saying: “This doesn’t mean Hong Kong is less important, but we’re reinvigorating. This is a Greater China movement”.

“We are not going to have everything centralised in a mini headquarters. We have strong resources in Hong Kong and Shanghai and Beijing as well as Taiwan, and we’re going to combine the region to create a Greater China talent pool", Thubron said. “It’ll be 500 people working together in a defined region rather than it becoming a geographical thing.”

TBWA’s biggest clients in the region include adidas, Apple, Mars, McDonald’s, Nissan, Nivea, Pepsi, Pernod and Wrigley.

The news comes less than two months after the agency announced Donald Chan would depart his role as CEO of TBWA China after one year in the position.

Last week, JWT confirmed Chan would become the CEO of its China operations.