DDB hires creative-turned-consultant David Shaw as chief strategy officer
DDB Group Singapore has become the latest creative agency to add the role of chief strategy officer to its leadership team.
David Shaw
The agency has hired former consultant David Shaw to head its brand and planning divisions, following in the footsteps of Y&R Indonesia, Leo Burnett Shanghai and Grey Group Singapore, who recently added the CSO role to their ranks.
Shaw began his advertising career 36 years ago as a copywriter for Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore, and has worked in agencies including J. Walter Thompson and BBDO in Singapore and Canada.
During his time as creative director of JWT Singapore, Shaw worked with DDB’s creative chairman Neil Johnson, the chief creative officer Chris Chiu and creative group heads, Joel Chin, Chris Lim and Chew Ping Nan.
After departing JWT in 1997, Shaw became a regional marketing lead at HP and Lenovo, before co-founding consultancy firm CourageousBrands in 2014.
He said: “I’ve been a fan of DDB for a long time – huge respect for what David and Neil have accomplished at the agency – so it was hard to resist the call. But what struck me when I got here is how tightly knit Jeff, Melvin, Chris and the teams are. You need that trust and collaboration to scale your success in these challenging times.”
Commenting on the creation of the new role, DDB Group CEO for Singapore and Asia David Tang said: “We’ve seen how the game has shifted. Far beyond just brilliant creative execution and ads, our clients want us to make the really serious marketing impact for their business, especially at the CEO and CMO levels.
“David is an exceptional practitioner: He’s a creative-turned-client-then-consultant, and gets what clients want from an agency in creative marketing solutions. What’s more, he’s a gentleman who fits our ‘talented and nice’ mould at DDB. I think clients will like his marketing sense and savvy.”
Eleanor Dickinson is the editor of Mumbrella Asia. Eleanor joined the Asia platform from Dubai, where she acted as senior reporter for Campaign Middle East.
Is this the result of that incredibly pompous ad they wrote where they said they were tired of winning so much and wanted to step back and let someone else take the reins? Couldn’t have found a more pliant candidate.
Will this mean any change to strategic approach…..ie. corny singlish set ups in ads……most likely not…..yawnzzzzzz.
ReplyDavid used to be one of the most astute copywriters in the 80s and early 90s. He’s now matured into a sharp and seasoned marketeer. Look forward to witnessing greater wisdom from DDB’s planning department.
Reply“….our ‘talented and nice’ mould at DDB”
can someone explain this….having dealt with just about all these guys that would be the furthest description from my mind. all i could discern was a huge chip on the shoulder.
ReplyDDB hire someone experienced
Mumbrella’s anonymous legion of keyboard libel queens jump to
“DDB are horrible / he’s old / bah, humbug”
Has there ever been an article published here that hasn’t resulted in a spewing of hate?
This really does make the industry look petty, small minded, spiteful and cowardly.
Why do we (no you) do this?
ReplyThis is so true. I often visit simply to look at the comments sections and expect to find a lot of negativity and comments that seem to come from rather “small” people – and I am rarely disappointed.
ReplyHave your say