M&C Saatchi returns to Hong Kong with operation spearheaded by Spencer Wong
M&C Saatchi is re-launching in Hong Kong five years after shutting up shop and will be led by veteran adman, Spencer Wong.
It will be the network’s ninth office in Asia and its 29th globally.
The agency will be called M&C Saatchi Spencer Hong Kong and focus on local businesses in addition to servicing Chinese brands seeking to expand internationally via Hong Kong.
Wong was executive creative director at M&C Saatchi between 1998 and 2000 before spells with Ogilvy & Mather South China and Y&R.
He has spent the last 12 years as chief executive and chief creative officer at McCann & Spencer in Hong Kong.
The return to Hong Kong for M&C Saatchi follows the opening of M&C Saatchi in Indonesia in January, and the acquisition of Scarecrow in Mumbai in April.
M&C Saatchi Spencer HK will offer advertising, digital and social media marketing services.
M&C Saatchi Worldwide chief executive Moray MacLennan: “Identifying Hong Kong as a strategic market was the easy bit, more difficult was finding the top creative talent to partner with. It’s great to have Spencer Wong back at M&C Saatchi.
M&C Saatchi Asia chief executive Richard Morewood added: “Hong Kong’s strategic importance can’t be underestimated as it reclaims its position as a bridge between China and the world.
“This is an opportune time for M&C Saatchi to be returning to Hong Kong and we’re excited to partner with the top person in the territory’s advertising industry.”
“He continued: “Spencer has worked with M&C Saatchi before and is familiar with our beliefs and culture. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.”
Wong said: “The past 30 years in advertising have been incredibly rewarding. I have helped build brands and teams, but returning to M&C Saatchi is like a homecoming and I will hopefully be achieving even more in an agency I can call my own.
“Hong Kong’s resurgence as a regional hub offers the advertising industry a unique opportunity to restate its position as the “Window to China.
“It also allows us to create communication solutions that are shaping our marketing industry, be that ICO, big data, AI or shared economy.
“The possibilities are limitless, and I am excited to be on this journey.”
Wow.
This is not a moan about Spencer (all due credit for his industry contribution past and present).
But I do have to question his decision to align himself with the folks at M&C Saatchi?
Let’s just take a moment to go back in the time machine to May 2013. This was the actual quote that was included in a press release by M&C after they blew up their HK office and credibility in this market:
“There is no real reason to keep Hong Kong, it’s not a very important centre anymore. It’s so small it really doesn’t matter in the scheme of things.” – Chris Jaques, CEO of M&C Saatchi Asia
The entire industry was shocked. They just dumped HK and moved on, claiming the territory wasn’t worth it.
Fast forward to your article today:
Richard Morewood added: “Hong Kong’s strategic importance can’t be underestimated as it reclaims its position as a bridge between China and the world”
Um… where have you been for the last 5 years? And perhaps you should have thought about the slap in the face you gave the Hong Kong business community BEFORE you decided to come back singing our praises with all this nonsense?
Spencer should have gone out on his own. Not given his credibility to these people that have zero interest in Hong Kong, its business community, nor its people.
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