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.
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.”
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.
Why isn’t he reporting to Rupen? Poor Rupen Desai. Even at Lowe, he had a Regional APAC President role with only a couple of country heads reporting to him.
ReplyDoes he still have a job at Edelman?
ReplyDoesn’t sound like Rupen Desai has a job any more. This article mentions all countries reporting to the new chap.
ReplyIt was a big jump from David Brain to Rupen in terms of PR expertise. The jump to Jessie Lin is no less big.
Which side of the equation is most desperate? Ad agency people moving to PR, or PR hiring ad agency suits and the odd mid-weight creative?
I get it. PR is eyeing the step up the value chain and access to brand marketers rather than the cash-strapped comms people. But is this the best way to achieve this?
ReplyAs you sow….
ReplyAre conmen like him to blame? Or the higher ups in NYC who hire them with no referential checks. MullenLowe still has his compats in the Sg office, imported from their Bgk office. Keep spewing forth outdated marketing jargon dug up from some nineties Unilever marketing manual.
ReplyEdelman filling their ranks with ex-creative agency folk. Wonder what that says about both creative and PR shops.
This one is a particular surprise. Not quite as odd as the hiring of Jeffrey Yu in China, but not far off.
ReplyI guess two weeks with his family was more than enough for Lin or them?
Reply^^You win the interwebz for this.
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