Carat Taiwan and Vizeum Beijing announce promotions to GM roles

At Carat Taiwan, Liu (pictured left) will report to YC Chu (朱詣璋), the agency’s managing director, and will continue to focus on new business development and client service while assuming management responsibilities for the 150-plus employees.

Joining Carat Taiwan in 2002 and promoted to VP in 2006, Liu has been one of the key drivers of the agency’s successful track record of new business development. Liu has helped the agency to win the Pernod Ricard and Sony accounts and has served on China Motor Corporation, Kuang Chuan Dairy and Yulon Motor.

Talking about the tough challenges ahead for her new role, Liu told Campaign Asia-Pacific that a media agency can no longer just act as a media agency, as clients are looking more for integrated media services and marketing solutions for their growth. One of her immediate tasks is to enhance staff capabilities by integrating offline and online media skill sets. She will also work to strengthen collaboration with sister agencies within the Aegis Media Group.

A veteran of the media industry, Liu has nearly 20 years of experience in the marketing and media industry in Taiwan, and previously has worked at ADK for 10 years and a WPP’s media agency Mediaplus for two years. She worked on direct marketing for Alico Insurance under AIA in Taiwan in her earlier career.

Across the Straits, Amei Zheng (郑鸿梅), managing director of Vizeum China, has been leading Vizeum's Beijing and Shanghai offices directly, and the promotion of Zhang (pictured right) reflects the growth of the Beijing operation.

Zhang was one of the founding members of Vizeum Beijing in 2003. Most recently the agency’s deputy general manager for two years, she demonstrated her competency in leading the team to win new clients such as Lindt Swiss Chocolate, Orion, Sanquan Food, Joyoung and Lashou.com.

Zhang is a 17-year media veteran in the Beijing market and has previously worked for UM, OMD, StarCom, Carat and MediaCom, serving clients including Moto, Wall’s, Nestle, Cadbury, Mars, China Unicom, Yili and Nokia.

In her new role, Zhang will be responsible for the operation and day-to-day management of Vizeum Beijing, as well as new business development. She will lead the office's 40-person strategic planning team for key clients. The portfolio also includes LG Lifegoods, Beijing Mobile, Korean Air, Shilla DFS, 20th Centrury Fox, Tai Kang Insurance and Jossy Jo.

Reported in March, Seth Grossman, most recently MD of Carat China, has been promoted to CEO for Vizeum Asia-Pacific.