IPG Mediabrands China reshuffles leadership amid Omnicom-IPG merger

As the restructuring of the Omnicom–IPG merger continues, IPG Mediabrands China has reshuffled its leadership across its subsidiary brands such as UM and Initiative, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE understands.

Dennis Gu, chief client officer, UM China; Abby Wong, chief strategy officer, Initiative China; Sherry Pan, chief investment and transformation officer, IPG Mediabrands China, are understood to step down from their roles. 

Gu has nearly 20 years of marketing communication experience with specialised knowledge in working with multiple international and local clients. As the a digital marketing practitioner in China and a digital media expert with robust creative thinking, Gu accumulated a strong passion to combine forces of traditional media and digital innovations, leading the team to tackle the real-time business challenges and helping on the digital transformation of corporations, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Gu joined UM China in 2019 as managing partner, responsible for the agency’s management of key global clients, including American Express, Coty, Mattel, Tourism Australia. He was then promoted to chief client officer in March this year. 

Wong is a creative strategist with 18 years of experience across communication, digital transformation, and marketing innovation. Since joining Initiative China in 2020, Wong has helped reshape China’s media strategy, guiding the agency through disruption to emerge as a top contender. During her tenure, she launched Media Lab, a think tank offering creative services, CX design, and social activation—expanding the agency’s scope beyond media.

On the other hand, Pan has been leading the Magna, transformation, investment, and Orion teams at Mediabrands China—overseeing crucial aspects such as business modelling, process excellence, automation, investment, and negotiation.

With over two decades of experience in the marcomms industry, Pan commenced her career at Mindshare, later transitioning to Universal McCann and Starcom. She initially joined Mediabrands Shanghai as managing director in 2011, briefly leaving for Fanli, Inc., and making her return to Mediabrands in 2021 as the chief investment and transformation officer for China.

Their departures come as Omnicom Media Group APAC CEO Tony Harradine unveiled a new leadership structure for the merged entity, aimed at driving growth and innovation across the region. Under the new structure, Melinda Po also exited her role as CEO of IPG Mediabrands Greater China, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE reported earlier.

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