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Jesse Lin named CEO of Edelman APAC just weeks after leaving McCann due to ‘family reasons’

Seven months after the departure of long-running chief executive officer David Brain, Edelman Asia-Pacific has announced a new CEO and president for the region.

The public relations agency has hired McCann Worldgroup’s Jesse Lin to lead its 24 offices across APAC, plus the Middle East and Africa, from Shanghai.

Jesse Lin

Lin was previously the vice chairman of APAC and the CEO of Greater China for McCann. Earlier this month, the creative agency claimed he was stepping down from the role he had held for five years because he  wanted to “spend more time with his family”.

Prior to moving to McCann, Lin was president of DDB China Group and has held executive roles at Weiden + Kennedy Shanghai and Leo Burnett Hong Kong. He will report to global chief operating officer Matthew Harrington.

 “Jesse is one of the strongest creative agency leaders in the region and has a clear vision for integration, which will help us further advance our communications marketing ambition in Asia Pacific,” said Harrington. “Having lived and worked across Asia Pacific for more than 20 years he has a superior understanding of the region’s markets and opportunities.”

David Brain

In February this year, Brain announced his decision to leave Edelman after 13 years, citing “personal reasons”. His announcement coincided with a restructuring of the regional leadership team, with North Asia sub-region president Bob Grove taking the newly created title of APACMEA chief operating officer.

Grove will continue his COO role once Lin joins in January, the agency said. Meanwhile, Brain is currently listed as “resting” on his LinkedIn profile.

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