FCB SHOUT picks new creative group head amongst slew of hires

FCB SHOUT, the advertising arm of creative services company THE SHOUT GROUP, has picked Chung Ru Zen as its new creative group head.

Chung is FCB SHOUT’s newest addition to the agency’s creative leadership. Having previously worked in Grab Malaysia, VMLY&R Commerce, Leo Burnett and Ensemble Worldwide, Ru Zen’s sterling track record in producing not only great campaigns, but also strategically sound work that have delivered real, measurable results for some of the biggest brands in Malaysia and beyond.

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Chung is expected to further elevate FCB SHOUT’s creative output and standards, the agency said in a statement. 

In tandem, FCB SHOUT named Loong Sheng Mae as its new group business director. 

An experienced brand manager who has spent the last 15 years in both local agencies and international networks working with brands such as Perodua, Nissan, RHB and Kao, Loong brings with her a strong understanding of the automotive, FMCG and banking industries.

As the group brand director of FCB SHOUT, Loong has been tasked to lead and nurture multiple brand management teams to deliver greater growth for several of the agency’s key clients. Prior to joining FCB SHOUT, Mae spent nine years with Spin Communications.

Finally, FCB SHOUT has also named Caryl Tan as its new associate brand director.

Tan joins FCB SHOUT after having spent nine years in both agency and client-side roles. Her strong background in FMCG and corporate sectors, combined with her recent tenure at Manulife, makes her an invaluable addition to the team, it said. 

At FCB SHOUT, Tan will be working closely with Loong to spearhead the management of the agency’s clients both locally and regionally.

"With the addition of Loong and Tan, we are confident that our brand management team is now even better equipped to continue delivering unparalleled results for our clients," said Syahriza Badron, the general manager of FCB SHOUT

"Having nurtured his skills in both agencies and a creatively progressive organisation such as Grab Malaysia, Chung is a unicorn creative who is able to conceptualise really creative solutions while still being grounded in the strategy that guides a business. Things are looking really exciting for us in the agency,” Badron added.

Aside from these new additions, the agency has also promoted Raphael Castellano to creative group head and Jane Leong to senior brand manager.

Castellano marks the completion of his first year with the agency with a well-deserved promotion. Since his arrival from the Philippines in 2023, Castellano has been instrumental in providing a cross-border perspective for the creative work that FCB SHOUT delivers for its clients and inspiring his team with his unique brand of bold and unorthodox approach to creativity, it said. 

Leong on the other hand has been an integral part of FCB SHOUT’s brand management team over the past four years and has been rewarded for her efforts in growing the stature of her clients and driving greater results for the agency. With her new role as senior brand manager, Leong is now expected to play an even bigger role in nurturing her brand management team as well as delivering greater results to the brands that are in her portfolio.

“I’m extremely proud to have young and dynamic creative talents like Chung and Castellano with us. Not only are they extremely experienced and skilled creatives who are able to consistently tell amazing stories for brands in fresh, exciting ways, they are also natural leaders who have earned the respect of their teams through their aptitude and patience in nurturing the next generation of creative talents," said Tjer, head of creative of FCB SHOUT.

"Supported by a strengthened brand management team, the creatives of FCB SHOUT will achieve even greater things for the agency and our clients very soon, I’m sure of that,” he added.

“These new hires and promotions are part of our plan to stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry. By strengthening our teams with talented individuals and giving the well-deserved team members their due recognition, we are not only enhancing our creative capabilities but also ensuring that we continue to be a partner of choice for our clients," said Shaun Tay, co-owner and chief executive officer of The Shout Group and FCB SHOUT.

"These are key moves were making to ensure that The Shout Group and our agency brands are poised for even greater success for years ahead,” he added.

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