12 days of Christmas: Top five unsung heroes of 2010

Topping our list of unsung heroes is Nirvik Singh, chairman and CEO at Grey Asia-Pacific. Singh started his career with Grey in its Kolkata office back in 1989. Since then he has moved from MD at Grey India to COO of Grey South Asia where his remit was subsequently widened to include Southeast Asia and then Asia-Pacific for G2.He was promoted to his current role in 2009 following Mike Amour's departure. 

Since Singh took over the reigns, Grey Group has jumped from number 14 on Campaign Asia-Pacific's new business league, with a year-to-date total of US$25 million in December 2009, to number three this year with a year-to-date total of US$181.6 million. Some of the new clients behind the impressive growth figures include Panadol globally, KFC in Singapore and Reliance Communications in India.

Joining Singh on the list is TBWA's Ian Thubron. Reported in April this year, Thubron took charge of the network's newly created Greater China region as group president of TBWA Greater China. For his new role, Thubron relocated from Hong Kong to Shanghai to oversee 500 staff across TBWA, Integer, TBWA Hakuhodo and Tequila Digital. 

China for TBWA was without question a problematic market and the restructure was intended to refocus the agency in such a critical market. As the year comes to an end, it looks like he has all the right elements in place in terms of talent and strategy to enable TBWA to push forward in 2011.

Martin Sorrell's man in Asia Scott Spirit sits third on the list. Based in Shanghai, Spirit's promotion to chief strategy officer, announced in September, marked the first time a global role within WPP is stationed outside of the group's London and New York offices. Spirit joined the group in London during 2003 and relocated to Shanghai three years later.

Following his promotion, Spirit took responsibility for developing corporate strategy in implementing the group's focus on new markets, new media and consumer insights. A behind the scenes performer, the promotion recognises the contributions Spirit had made in one of the holding company's key growth markets.

Since he joined McCann Healthcare Worldwide (MHWW) in 2000 as the first employee in India, Amar Urhekar has driven the healthcare unit's expansion across the region. Prior to relocating to Shanghai to rebuild the China operation, Urhekar proved his chops by growing the business in Mumbai and Delhi.

Announced in November this year, Urhekar scooped a well deserved promotion as representative director and president of MHWW in Japan. The promotion came as John Cahill stepped up as global CEO. As a testament to the business' impressive track record, MHWW won Campaign Asia-Pacific's Specialist Agency of the Year in both 2008 and 2009.

Last but definitely not least on the list is Dentsu Media Palette's Ken Matsumura. Though the dominant force in media in Japan, Dentsu’s profile elsewhere is still relatively low. This is something that Ken Matsumura is working to change.

International, businesslike and decidedly un-stuffy, Matsumura recently relocated from a regional role in Tokyo to set up Dentsu’s Media Palette subsidiary in Hong Kong - the network’s eighth media operation in the region - as president and chief executive. Under Matsumura, the office is quietly gathering steam and, assuming it enjoys lasting success, will act as a benchmark for further regional expansion by Dentsu Media.

Also catch the top five ECDs of 2010, top five promotions of 2010, top five agency-client breakups in 2010 and top five agency-staff breakups in 2010. 

Still to come on 12 Days of Christmas:

• Top five pitches
• Top five viral campaigns
• Top five look-a-likes
• Top five gadgets
• Top five campaigns
• Top five most read articles
• Top five christmas ads