Richard Irvine joins Publicis Malaysia

Dean Bramham, CEO of Publicis Malaysia and Indonesia said that Publicis Kuala Lumpur has had spectacular business results over the past 24 months. "Building on this positive momentum, our focus is to bolster further the creative product across advertising, digital and shopper marketing.”

Publicis Kuala Lumpur operates across core five business units of advertising, digital, shopper marketing, CRM and media content for clients such as Nestlé, Citibank, L’Oréal and HP. Recent new business wins include Maggi, 100Plus and Zurich.

Irvine's considrable experience and track record makes him ideal for the post, continued Bramham.

Irvine joins Publicis Malaysia from Beacon (an amalgam between Leo Burnett, Publicis and Dentsu), Tokyo where he started his tenure as executive creative director in 2008. During his time there he helped guide the agency towards a Cannes Grand Prix and Gold Lion and an AdFest Grande Lotus and Inova Lotus. 

His career with the Publicis group dates back almost three decades when he first joined as a copywriter at Leo Burnett London. Ten years on he was transferred to Leo Burnett Bangkok and then to Leo Burnett’s start-up in Ho Chi Minh City as creative director where highlights include the country’s first ever Cannes, Clio and London International awards for Mercedes and P&G.

Next posting was Manila where under his stewardship as chairman and chief creative officer, Leo Burnett Manila won the country’s first TV Gold at AdFest, seven Ad of the Year Awards, four Best of Show Awards and was named the Philippine 4A’s Agency of the Year Best in Creative. In 2007 Irvine was inducted into the Philippine Advertising Hall of Fame making him the first foreigner to be honoured in such a way.

Irvine's appointment follows a string of management restructuring moves across Publicies Southeast Asia with the pending expansion of Bramham's role in the region to the departure of Paul Grubb from its Thailand office.