Leading global brand agency KBS announced recently that it will be opening regional headquarters in Shanghai early next year, formalising its expansion into the Asia region. Douglas Lin and Jonathan Ip have been chosen to lead the Shanghai office, with Lin named partner and CEO and Ip names partner and CCO of the newly formed KBS China. They will be working with global executive chairman Lori Senecal to bring the agency's expertise in delivering market-specific solutions to the region, and helping Chinese companies expand internationally. The agency has its headquarters in New York, and has offices in London, LA, Toronto and Montreal.
Left: Douglas Lin, Right: Jonathan Ip
The appointment of Lin and Ip, who together bring almost 4 decades worth of experience to the agency, is a move that underlines KBS's global expansion strategy. This includes the recent acquisition of UK-based integrated marketing agency Albion, and subsequent formation of KBS London back in August, which now leads the agency's European activity. A statement made by KBS sated that their “Approach to expanding KBS within key global markets has always been rooted in determining the best offering and strategy for the environment at hand.” They believe Lin and Ip to be “World-class partners capable of winning and running global businesses from any location,” and calls them “Two of the most respected talents within the region,” who will together, help build KBS China into a “True invention agency; one that is at the forefront of maker culture.”
KBS announced recently that it will be opening regional headquarters in Shanghai early next year, formalising its expansion into the Asia region
Lin joins KBS China from TBWA's Digital Arts Network, where he served as MD for the region. He's also spent time as MD at BBDO/Proximity China and started his career in San Francisco with Citron Haligman Bedecarre (AKQA), before joining McCann Relationship Marketing. He first moved overseas to lead digital strategy at Clemenger/AIM Proximity New Zealand before finally settling in Singapore. He said “The opportunity to lead KBS in China, especially with Jonathan as a partner,” is a dream role for him, and that “The teams, and Lori Senecal in particular, have been extremely supportive.” He believes that KBS's presence in China “Isn’t a question of simply inserting a foreign agency model into China,” but rather “Working to advance a more modern marketing approach with clients in China to help them grow, both domestically and internationally.”
The appointment of Lin and Ip, is a move that underlines KBS's global expansion strategy
Ip, meanwhile, joins KBS from Saatchi & Saatchi China, where he served as digital executive creative director. He's worked in the US, Hong Kong and China throughout his 14 year career, also spending time as head of digital creative at BBDO/Proximity China and digital creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou, where he specialised in conceptualising and innovating interaction across digital platforms. He said, “As China’s consumers evolve, there is an ever growing desire and appetite to experience new things,” and he feels that “This changing consumer behaviour drives brands and services to innovate.” He believes that the timing is right for them to “Present innovative marketing solutions and build genuine yet unique connections between brands and consumers in China.”
