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Ogilvy CCO Eugene Cheong exits agency on ‘gardening leave’ after 22 years with the ‘Red House’

Stalwart Ogilvy Asia-Pacific chief creative officer Eugene Cheong left the agency on Friday to go on ‘gardening leave’, following a 22-year stint with the firm.

It was announced in January that Sonal Dabral and Reed Collins would become the creative leaders for the APAC region.

Back then, it was said that Dabral would lead the agency’s South East Asia offices, while Collins would focus on North Asia – leaving Cheong somewhat in limbo before “transitioning to a new role that is being finalised in joint conversations with Ogilvy and WPP”.

The plan was dumped at the eleventh hour, it seems, although it remains unclear whether Ogilvy or Cheong himself decided that the strategy was not going to work out.

In his farewell email to staff on Friday, seen by Mumbrella, the multi award-winning Cheong said he was “officially checking out of the Red House”.

He celebrated the highs at Ogilvy though, stating: “I have to pinch myself to believe my good fortune.”

And he told his colleagues: “In all candour, I could never have done what I did without your voluntary conspiracy. I want to thank you for collaborating to let me to live the dream.

“I will be leaving all my heavy trophies behind. That’s because, I am going out there to get myself some new ones.

“Adios for now, good people.”

Neither Ogilvy nor Cheong wanted to make further comment on the development.

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