BBH AP promotes Webster + Sowden into senior management roles to support agency growth

BBH Asia Pacific has promoted two senior long-term staffers as it continues to grow its core business and related offering.

David Webster is promoted to Chief Growth Officer, while James Sowden is promoted to Head of Planning.

The Agency has grown considerably in the past year, taking on retained regional engagements for IKEA, Nike and Friesland Campina. It has also seen a huge growth in project relationships in the consultancy and production spaces.

Webster (right) has been with the BBH network for nine years – six in Singapore and three in London – and has excelled in building the agency’s Client relationships and strategic partnerships. He has successfully led the agency’s Perfetti Van Melle and British Airways business and most recently led several groundbreaking campaigns for Nike South East Asia. Webster’s new role will focus on new business and business development and in growing the agency’s new products and partnerships agenda.

In six years, Sowden (left) has been integral to growing the agency’s highly regarded planning department. James has built and nurtured a planning team equipped with a wide range of skills across brand planning, communications and engagement planning, analytics and performance. Sowden has led the agency’s strategy across clients including Johnnie Walker, Singapore Tourism Board, Axe, Chupa Chups and IKEA. He is also central to the agency’s talent and internship programmes, making the BBH Barn and the recent EDB Strategic Planning Scholarship among the most sought after in the industry.

On the promotions Frances Great, MD, BBH Asia Pacific said, “James and David are both exceptional guys with unique talent and skills that are integral to the future facing aspect of our business. I’m so proud of what our two homegrown black sheep have achieved.”