Joseph Tan forms creative hot-shop ROMP after vacating CEO seat at MullenLowe

Former CEO of MullenLowe Indonesia Joseph Tan (pictured) has started an independent creative agency named The ROMP Group. Tan recently left MullenLowe Indonesia in August along with chief creative officer Roy Wisnu and chief operating officer Daniel Siswandi to start the agency.

Marketing Interactive also understands that ROMP is not only focusing on creative agency business but also involved in other  business ventures such as owning and managing tech startups and entertainment companies as well as other innovative marketing services. It offers services across numerous other communication, media, design and digital capabilities.

According to its website, ROMP will be based in Jakarta and claims to have"glocal clients" for which it produces work that "infuses and influences local culture". The website also stated that it is looking out for collaboration opportunities, "with special interest in deep local knowledge, new thinking methods and approaches". The company boasts to be a local agency with global experiences, and have a "play" culture beyond writing and thinking. Beyond building business value, ROMP carries a mission of helping clients build strong and long-lasting relationships with their customers.

Meanwhile, Marketing Interactive understands that Tan will be leading the shop as of now. Tan held the role as CEO of MullenLowe Indonesia for close to 12 years. Born in Singapore, he has accumulated regional experience at various agencies such as Dentsu, TBWA and Ogilvy before that. He has declined to comment on Marketing Interactive's queries.

Marketing Interactive first reported on Tan's departure in August. During his departure, MullenLowe confirmed to Marketing Interactive that it had seen resignations from “less than 30%” of the workforce in Indonesia. Currently, MullenLowe Indonesia has put in place a transitional management team, working closely with APAC CEO Vincent Digonnet, to strengthen ties with its teams in Singapore. This includes sharing skills and talent to ensure that the agency’s Indonesia clients continue to receive the very best service while working on building up the team in Indonesia to full strength.

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In January 2018, MullenLowe Group underwent a major restructure, integrating its operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to create MullenLowe Group Southeast Asia. Paul Soon was appointed as CEO of MullenLowe Group SEA and currently reports to Vincent Digonnet, CEO MullenLowe Group APAC.

Meanwhile, MullenLowe Malaysia also changed its ownership, following a management buyout which sees CEO Adrian Sng obtaining full ownership of the business. The agency will be known as MullenLowe Sng & Partners Malaysia, effective immediately. The move provides greater agility for the operation in Malaysia to be more responsive to the needs of its clients and the local market.