Yong Yuan named president of Ogilvy Shanghai – Joe Yu to lead Ogilvy’s PR & influence in China

Ogilvy China has appointed Yong Yuan, current Group Managing Director, to President of Ogilvy’s Shanghai Office and 20 year – Ogilvy veteran Joe Yu, also a Group Managing Director in Beijing, to President of the Public Relations & Influence Capability of Ogilvy China. Yuan and Yu will officially assume their new positions on January 1st, 2019. Both leaders will succeed Debby Cheung, who will retire from her current roles, but will remain with Ogilvy as a senior advisor for the Greater China Region.

“Debby has led a long and impactful career with Ogilvy and I, along with all of my colleagues wish her all the best in her next chapter,” said Chris Reitermann, Chief Executive, Asia & Greater China, “I couldn’t be more thankful for this ‘easy’ transition, Debby came to me over a year ago, after 25 years with Ogilvy, indicating her desire to retire in order to devote more time to her passion projects and family. For both Debby and I, Yong was the definitive and logical successor, and we have since put the wheels in motion to make this transition happen. There couldn’t be a better person to lead Ogilvy’s Shanghai Office than Yong.”

A Shanghai native, Yuan is a Harvard Business School MBA graduate, with over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications in Mainland China. Yuan has been with Ogilvy for the past eight years and has been one of the key drivers of the success of Ogilvy’s Shanghai Office. He joined as Managing Director of Ogilvy Advertising and since the agency’s integration has been one of the Group Managing Directors running a large portion of the agency.  

Yu has more than 20 years of experience in tech marketing, public relations, business operation, and is well recognized for his strategic counsel, industry insights & influential leadership. Joe will remain as Group Managing Director of the Beijing Office, taking up the additional role looking after the Public Relations business in China.

“Joe Yu is the natural successor to run our public relations capability in China,” added Scott Kronick, Chief Executive, Asia, Public Relations & Influence. “He combines strategic capabilities with hands-on leadership, while also having a deep understanding of the role of influence and its importance to the success of businesses today and tomorrow. We will miss Debby, but have nurtured a very strong leader in Joe over the past 20 years.”

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