Danny Mok to join DDB China Group as president and chief executive officer replacing Richard Tan

DDB Asia has appointed Danny Mok as President and Chief Executive Officer of DDB China Group, effective from 20 February 2017. Formerly CEO of Leo Burnett China, Mok takes over from DDB China Group CEO Richard Tan.

“Richard has built DDB China Group into what it is today – ranked as a top five agency in China, attracting strong talent and businesses across Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou,” said DDB Asia CEO David Tang. “Danny will add new momentum, fresh talent and best practices to our DDB China offices, which has been earmarked as our most important market for growth in Asia,” he added.

“DDB has shaped my career over the last seven years, and I’m very proud of the agency and the team I’ve helped build. Of course, seven years is quite a record in China. I’m hungry and excited about my next chapter ahead,” said Richard Tan.

Mok (pictured) has over two decades of experience in the industry, working on both agency and client sides in Shanghai and Hong Kong. During his tenure at Leo Burnett, he managed three offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou – rebuilding the leadership team and adopting an entrepreneurial business unit operating model. Prior to joining Leo Burnett, Mok was Chief Marketing Officer at Hong Kong mobile communications company CSL Limited, where he led over 100 marketing professionals for three mobile brands. Mok was Deputy General Manager at BBDO for eight years, and CEO of Grey Shanghai and Hong Kong for seven years.

Speaking of his new role, Mok said, “I’m attracted to DDB’s values of creativity and humanity, particularly David’s focus on the work and the team. I love the bold opportunities and challenges in China, and I’m really encouraged by the energy and the drive for innovative marketing solutions with the T-divisions at DDB China. My experience as a client marketer has helped me understand and deliver what clients really need in smart marketing solutions.”

Mok’s new role coincides with several new appointments and high profile hires at DDB China Group. It has appointed Allen Wang, Tim Cheng, Twelve Tong, Phil Romans, Simon Cheng and Chris Chen as its core DDB China Group management team.

Adding firepower to the group are new hires Lawrence Li as General Manager of the Local Business Unit at DDB Shanghai and Matthew Cheng as General Manager of National Business Development at DDB China Group.

Li joins DDB from McCann Erickson where he was General Manager on SGM and other local businesses including China Telecom and Harman Kardon. Prior to McCann, he was with JWT, Hylink, Dentsu and Euro RSCG. Cheng comes on board from Leo Burnett where he was Director of Client Service for Huawei and other key accounts. Before moving to China, Cheng spent 14 years in Hong Kong working with Grey, Leo Burnett and BBDO.