Omnicom Advertising relaunches BBDO in HK, refreshes leadership team

Omnicom Advertising has refreshed agency portfolio and leadership lineup for its Hong Kong operations, following Omnicom's recent acquisition of IPG and the introduction of its new global organisational structure. 

With the global retirement of the DDB brand, Omnicom will relaunch BBDO in Hong Kong, establishing it as the network's second creative agency brand in the market alongside TBWA. 

Moving forward, BBDO Hong Kong's direction is aligned with BBDO's global creative philosophy: solving big problems with strategy and creative that deliver real impact. It partners with brands and marketers that have ambitious objectives, recruit world-class talent, and create boundless career opportunities. Meanwhile, BBDO will continue to work with previous DDB clients. 

Andreas Krasser (pictured second left), formerly CEO of DDB Hong Kong, has been appointed CEO of Omnicom Advertising Hong Kong, overseeing both BBDO Hong Kong and TBWA Hong Kong.

Led by Krasser, BBDO Hong Kong currently comprises approximately 125 people, bringing together creative talent, strategists, account management, digital specialists, production talent, amongst others.

Meanwhile, John Koay (pictured second right) has been appointed chief creative officer of Omnicom Advertising Hong Kong. In this newly created role, Koay will provide overarching creative leadership and vision across the group, driving world-class creative output and positioning the agencies as destinations for breakthrough work in the Asia-Pacific region. He was most recently the regional executive creative director of Edelman Hong Kong.

Maggie Cheung (pictured far left), previously managing partner at DDB, will be taking the role of managing director of BBDO Hong Kong, supported by Koman Ko as managing partner, head of client services. Cheung's role was created to reflect BBDO's relaunch in the market with a dedicated leadership structure. These roles were created to ensure clear creative vision across and operational leadership as we integrate the portfolio and position both BBDO and TBWA for growth. Adrian Tso, previously chief strategy officer of DDB, will take on the role of chief strategy officer of BBDO Hong Kong.

Cheung and Koay both report to Krasser, who reports to Sean Donovan, president of Omnicom Advertising Asia. These appointments reinforce Omnicom's commitment to delivering world-class creative solutions and operational excellence for clients across the region. Ida Mak (pictured far right) will continue as general manager of TBWA Hong Kong. 

"Exciting times lie ahead," said Krasser. "With Koay driving creative excellence across the group and Cheung's operational excellence driving BBDO, alongside our strong leadership in Ida and her team at TBWA, we're positioned to deliver exceptional work.”

“By leveraging Omnicom's intelligence platform, Acxiom's data capabilities, and our connected content engine, the agencies in Hong Kong will be plugged into a vast global ecosystem that opens the door to new opportunities for clients. At the same time, BBDO and TBWA each maintain their own unique culture and positioning, which will continue to define their creative thinking and output,” he added. 

Krasser also said Omnicom Advertising's strategy centres on empowering TBWA and BBDO to shine through their distinct creative philosophies and unique agency cultures. "Omnicom Advertising plays an enabler role – creating connectivity across the creative space and beyond, providing access to cutting-edge tools, specialised knowledge in data, commerce, and other domains. This approach also delivers greater flexibility for clients. Rather than each agency brand protecting its own talent, we can now collaborate to bring the best talent and solutions to our clients' needs," he said.

“This is a pivotal moment for creativity in Hong Kong,” said Koay. “I’m thrilled to build on the legacy of excellence the teams have established and lead the creative vision for Hong Kong. Together, we’ll push boundaries and create world-class work that truly resonates with audiences locally and across the region.”  

“I’m delighted to step into this role,” said Cheung. “The launch of BBDO is far more than a simple rebrand. We’re upgrading our capabilities and have brought in fresh talent and perspectives that will help us and our clients do big things.”   

“This strategic restructure in Hong Kong represents an important step forward for the local creative industry,” said Donovan. “By strengthening our leadership and aligning our resources more closely with the unique dynamics of this key market, we are better positioned to deliver greater value and foster deeper collaboration. The leadership team’s strategic credibility, deep local insight, and proven track record of driving growth make them the ideal collective to champion new opportunities for our clients.” 

Related articles:

BBDO Asia CEO Tze Kiat Tan retires after 2 decades
TBWA's leadership for Greater China, SG and MY unchanged amid Omnicom-IPG merger