PHD names new APAC chief strategy officer

PHD has appointed Kiron Kesav as its chief strategy officer for Asia Pacific with immediate effect. He reports to Eileen Ooi, chief executive officer of PHD APAC.

Together with PHD’s regional leadership team, Kesav (pictured) will drive better business outcomes for clients by leveraging intelligence that connects businesses to the next generation of consumers. Kesav will also lead strategic planning, business growth, innovation and digital transformation.

With more than 15 years of industry experience, Kesav was most recently chief strategy officer at OMG Malaysia, where he led several successful multi-market and local pitches including OPPO, Warner Bros. Discovery, CelcomDigi and Dutch Lady. Kesav also championed AI adoption across the agency and elevated OMG Malaysia’s reputation as an industry thought leader through several initiatives, including conceptualising the flagship ‘Future Play’ event.

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Before taking on the group role, Kesav spent three years with PHD Malaysia as general manager, strategy and platforms, driving strategy and the use of new technology platforms, and scaling the adoption of Omni in the market. As a result, PHD Malaysia was among the top 10 markets globally in terms of Omni Studio usage. Additionally, Kesav was instrumental in conceptualising and designing key strategy products, including the digital efficacy monitoring framework, PHD Pulse and OMG OOH priority radar.

In a statement, OMG said Kesav’s appointment is a testament of his abilities as a strong analytical thinker, adept at solving clients’ business challenges and helping them outpace their competition in the dynamic landscape. 

Kesav said: "PHD APAC boasts of some of the sharpest strategic minds in the industry and for me, it is a fantastic feeling to once again to don the PHD colours and work alongside them."

"I see our strategy teams across markets being the force multipliers in our journey to make our new proposition – Intelligence Connected – meaningful in APAC while capitalising on the immense potential of OMG’s capabilities. I am excited to partner with our global and regional teams to deliver transformative growth for our people and our clients with a focus on bringing clarity in complexity," he added.

Ooi said: "Kesav is a seasoned strategy expert who is skilled in navigating the complexities of brand building. Having worked with him during my time at PHD and OMG in Malaysia, I recognised Kesav's knack for insightful analysis and creative problem-solving that successfully brought clients’ visions to life."

"His ability to unlock growth opportunities while leveraging OMG’s agency as a platform proposition to create inspiring executions will help our clients outthink, outpace, and outgrow their competition, making him a valuable asset to PHD APAC," she added.

Kesav will continue as OMG Malaysia’s chief strategy officer in the interim while a search for his successor is underway, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained momentum.

Most recently, OMG Malaysia named Winnie Chen-Head as its new chief executive officer. She succeeds Ooi, who was named CEO of PHD APAC last year. In her role, Chen-Head will lead strategy, operations, and the development and adoption of transformative capabilities that will drive the next chapter of growth for OMG Malaysia.

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