Maureen Tan joins J. Walter Thompson Asia Pacific as Bangkok’s new chief executive officer

J. Walter Thompson Company Asia Pacific has appointed Maureen Tan as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for J. Walter Thompson Company Bangkok.

Tan (pictured) is charged with the next stage of transformation for J. Walter Thompson Company Bangkok, which is one of the network’s largest offices in the region, with strong specialist business units across Branding (JWT), Digital (Mirum), Design (Degree), Public Relations (Verve), and Chameleon Production.

She succeeds Bob Hekkelman who recently returned to his native Netherlands after 16 successful years with JWT and WPP.

Tan’s career experience spans 360 integrated marketing across multiple touchpoints including ATL, Shopper & Retail Marketing, Social & Digital, Activation and CRM. She is also an experienced 360 planner and integrator across cross-agency functions.

Having started her advertising career at Leo Burnett Malaysia, Tan has been based in Bangkok for over ten years. Most recently, Tan was General Manager of Southeast Asia for integrated communications specialist agency Commonwealth/ McCann. Prior to that she held Managing Director roles at Atlas Communications, and OgilvyOne Thailand, as well as senior roles at Geometry Global and OgilvyAction.

Jacco ter Schegget, Southeast Asia Chief Executive Officer J. Walter Thompson Company said, “Maureen is the ideal modern-day integrated leader to drive Thailand’s combined offering forward. One of our biggest offices in Southeast Asia, J. Walter Thompson Bangkok boasts strong specialisms across the marcoms spectrum, and Maureen’s excellent track record across all the key disciplines – digital, CRM, shopper, activation and brand-building – make her the perfect choice to drive deeper collaboration between the 5 business units.”

Tan added, “These are exciting times at J. Walter Thompson, as business transformation is being effected across the region. To be taking charge of the already thriving Bangkok office is a great honor, and I look greatly forward working with Jacco and the rest of the SEA leadership implementing his transformation process.”