Women to Watch 2024: Lalit (Cherry) Kanavivatchai, Publicis Groupe

Lalit (Cherry) Kanavivatcha

Chief strategy officer
Publicis Groupe
Thailand

In her late 30s, Cherry Kanavivatchai is already a well-known industry leader. Since joining Publicis in February 2022 as head of strategy at Publicis Media in Bangkok, she has been a driving force in uniting the group under one cohesive umbrella in the market. Her ability to collaborate across the different agencies within Publicis Groupe has helped unify the group and work to its full potential.

Kanavivatchai’s knack for identifying and addressing organisational challenges and meeting the rapidly changing needs of the agency quickly caught the attention of senior management, who recognised her impressive contributions with a promotion to chief strategy officer, making her one of the youngest C-suite leaders at the agency. By applying her extensive strategy, planning and crisis-solving expertise along with a deep understanding of data and technology, she has reassured existing clients and unlocked business growth for Publicis.

Her success is rooted in a people-first approach and a growth mindset. She has secured major new wins, including PepsiCo, L’OReal, and FrieslandCampina while building strong relationships with existing clients. Her achievements have also earned prestigious industry awards for Publicis Groupe Thailand at Campaign’s Agency of the Year awards and Smarties among others. Her expertise, honed through previous roles leading strategy at Mindshare Bangkok and planning at McCann Worldgroup Bangkok, has been instrumental in such accolades.

Nurturing new talent is a priority for Kanavivatchai. She has addressed skills gaps by creating training programmes to enhance employee skills in areas like consumer analysis and launching problem-solving workshops to improve leadership capabilities. She also fosters a culture of thought leadership within the agency.

Kanavivatchai is a passionate advocate for DEI. She fosters an inclusive work environment where every voice is valued. She champions fair opportunities for all employees, ensuring equitable access to training, rewards, and promotions. Amrita Randhawa, CEO of Publicis Groupe Singapore and Southeast Asia, perfectly captures Kanavivatchai's impact: "Cherry is a transformer. I have never met anyone who gives so deeply in terms of her individual contribution to the company from new business to current clients.”

Kanavivatchai's influence extends beyond Publicis Groupe. She's a sought-after industry speaker, awards judge, and mentor to young talent, generously sharing her expertise and time. She played a key role in launching Publicis Play, an innovative gaming proposition.

Kanavivatchai's meteoric rise to a C-suite position is a testament to her unwavering drive. Her leadership at Publicis has not only boosted the agency's profile and financial success in Bangkok but also championed employee growth and inclusive values. For this, Kanavivatchai takes a well-deserved spot on Campaign’s Women to Watch 2024 list.