Lesley John appointed CEO as VIRTUE Asia enters new era of growth

share on

twitter /
facebook /
linkedin /
- email
- telegram
- whatsapp
- wechat
- pinterest
- line
- snapchat
- reddit

VIRTUE Asia has named Lesley John to the role of CEO as part of a strategic restructure that enables VIRTUE Asia to accelerate growth across the region.

Under John’s leadership, VIRTUE Asia, which works with leading global and regional brands such as Diageo, Toyota and Shiseido, has expanded its teams in both Singapore and India. She has served as managing director of VIRTUE Asia since 2021 and joined from MediaMonks, part of S4 Capital, and has held senior positions at VCCP, Arcade and BBH.

As part of the restructure VIRTUE Asia will work independently of VICE Media Group, while collaborating with the VIRTUE Worldwide network on proprietary research and global clients when relevant.

Don’t miss: Virtue APAC names new executive creative director

John said, “This restructure represents an exciting new era for VIRTUE Asia, our people and clients. As we embark on a new chapter, the focus on creative innovation, cultural insight and meaningful partnerships remains unwavering.

“With greater autonomy and flexibility, our increased agility means we can meet the unique needs of brands across Asia, forge new alliances and tailor our approach to the region’s significant opportunities, while continuing to deliver the high standards that define VIRTUE,” she added.

John also shared that the company has plans to further invest in growing its team of specialists.

Chris Garbutt, president of VIRTUE Worldwide, said, “John’s appointment as CEO represents a new beginning for VIRTUE Asia. Operating independently, while maintaining collaborative ties with VIRTUE Worldwide will allow the agency to continue delivering innovative, culturally resonant work that drives real impact for clients. Under Lesley’s leadership, I look forward to watching the agency reach new heights and redefine what’s possible for brands in Asia.”

VIRTUE Asia isn't the only agency to have made new appointments recently. Earlier this week, global PR agency FleishmanHillard appointed Thomas Skelton as regional lead of its research and analytics practice, TRUE Global Intelligence (TGI) in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Skelton succeeds Michael Rinaman, who left the agency in 2024 to pursue other opportunities.

Based in Singapore, Skelton will oversee the growth and operation of TGI in APAC, driving the agency’s expanding research and analytics capabilities to deliver data-driven insights and solutions for clients across the region. He will report to Joanne Wong, APAC president and senior partner at FleishmanHillard.

share on