GroupM moves Thurlow to APAC role, appoints new SG lead

GroupM has moved Singapore CEO Jon Thurlow to the role of chief operating officer of GroupM Asia Pacific, effective immediately.He will be reporting to Mark Patterson, Asia Pacific CEO, GroupM. Patterson confirmed the appointment to Marketing.Replacing Thurlow in Singapore is Puneet Arora, who is currently CEO GroupM Philippines.Thurlow will join GroupM AP Exco. Thurlow’s scope in this role will encompass data and analytics strategy and products, IT/Technology, GroupM Knowledge, Ad Ops; he will also be working with sister WPP group Kantar and a major project around tools and systems.In addition, he will advise and help markets with acquisition strategies and integration. He will work closely with all the leaders and communities/teams in GroupM and WPP in the region and worldwide, and help drive adoption, development, capabilities, leadership and revenues in all these areas.Mark Patterson, GroupM Asia Pacific CEO said: “It’s a big new role and a very important one encompassing several key areas of growth for our group in the region. It’s important we have a senior, experienced and capable leader to champion and manage these connected areas of the business. Jon has done a terrific job in leadership and change management in Singapore, and I am very confident he will be able to drive further change and progress quickly and effectively in these areas too.”Arora will now take responsibility for three SEA markets and be based out of Singapore, relocating there in August. He will manage Singapore, and also have sub regional responsibility as Chairman of The Philippines and Thailand. His successor in The Philipinnes will be announced in due course, and until that time, Arora will retain his market responsibilities as CEO there. Thailand will also now be under Arora's remit and Kevin Clarke CEO GroupM Thailand will report to him.Clarke will expand his remit to be GroupM CEO, Thailand and Myanmar, taking the additional responsibility for GroupM’s development in the emerging Myanmar market.