UM Sydney’s David Haddad succeeds Pat Lim to lead IPG Mediabrands Singapore
IPG Mediabrands has added to its senior rank of executives from the Australian market, bringing in David Haddad from UM in Sydney to run the Singapore office.
Haddad is to succeed the much-admired Pat Lim in the top job at the media agency. Lim has led IPG Mediabrands Singapore for the last five years, having joined from PHD in 2011.
Hadded brings 11 years of media experience to the role, having started his career at Mediacom and also worked at the now defunct Bellayhayden. He takes on the role of MD.
Update: IPG Mediabrands confirmed Haddad’s appointment with a press statement this afternoon, also confirming that Lim would be moving on from the business.
“It’s been a great five years running the business and we have achieved so much in that time,” Lim said in a statement. “I welcome David to the business. He will bring a different culture and perspective to the business as it moves into its next growth phase.”
Meanwhile, Reg Davidson, the recently appointed regional CFO of IPG Mediabrands has moved from Sydney to Singapore, according to sources close to the company.
Davidson commented: “Pat has done a great job accelerating our Singapore business during a time of constant transformation, and we are very grateful to her for this. Pat will be leaving the agency in fine shape and we wish her the very best for the future.”
An IPG Mediabrands spokesperson in the Singapore office claimed to have no knowledge of the moves earlier today.
The news emerges just a week after the agency announced that Matt Scotton was moving from Australia to Singapore as head strategist for the region.
Other key people moves at the agency in recent months include Scott McBride joining as APAC chief digital officer from Ogilvy and Kasper Aakerlund as Hong Kong CEO to replace Lilian Leong.
Former Omnicom Media Group Australia boss Leigh Terry is soon to start as regional CEO of IPG Mediabrands based in Sydney.
Pat Lim was one of the few local women leaders left in the advertising industry. It is unfortunate that the top brass is being replaced by foreign male heads with little or no knowledge of the local markets.
ReplyOne of the veterans and few well respected individual who has done a lot for our Singapore media industry. A shame.
ReplyPat is a class act and commands respect from clients, media owners and crazy loyalty from staff.
ReplyHuge boots to fill.
I don’t doubt what you’re saying but loyalty is very loosely used and often misused in this industry. Agencies seem to think it only cuts one way.
ReplyMore Australians occupying IPG MediaBrands roles. Me thinks the Aussies don’t trust anyone but their own kind.
ReplyWell, all leaders bring changes to the network but this time around, it is just out and out nepotism with all the key positions being filled up by Aussies by removing previously appointed, well performing and much loved execs. And they call this business. Hah!
ReplyAn unknown upstart coming to replace an industry stalwart… A gaping hole is thus left in this agency. Dark days ahead.
ReplyDavid is not the CEO, he is the MD. Try getting your facts right.
ReplyUM was floundering when they hired a foreign head before Pat’s time. She came in and cleaned up their mess, and this is how they treat her in return. The local heads who do the heavy lifting have been disposed in favour of inexperienced lightweights.
ReplyHard to understand this one, they are creating a hard time for themselves here.
ReplyGiven the laid back ozzie laid back culture of beer-at-5, they may be talent in their own country by just working till 6pm. In a highly compressed fast pace cut-throat Asian markets where relationships is paramount to the success of a company and solutions a phone call away, these so-called “talents” like so so many before… are just a bunch of lemons here, no action talk only. Diversity much at IPG Mediabrands?
ReplyWhat did pat do for the industry? Genuinely curious here..
Reply@12 You must be new to Singapore’s ad industry, or bad at comprehension.
1) She holds an undisputed track record of turning flailing agencies around into profitable and/or award winning businesses
Reply2) One of very few woman leader veterans in this industry
3) Built a reputation of fighting very hard for the welfare and interests of her staff
4) Respected amongst media owners and clients alike
Could Pat be joining DDB since David is taking a step back from pitching local businesses? Last of the old guard of Singapore’s media leadership now. Open field game begins.
ReplyIt’d now seem like they are getting rid of the locals across various levels. Surely cutting out the pillars would mean fall out… ipg should be bracing from a firestorm of account and staff poaching, and ohhhh… lets throw more money to stem the bleed.
ReplyPat’s one of the few people in the ad world I respect. Smart, sassy, fiercely protective of her people and such fun to work with! I hope the industry hasn’t seen the last of her.
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