Ogilvy PR promotes James Baldwin to head of influence for APAC

Ogilvy PR has promoted James Baldwin to the role of head of influence for the Asia-Pacific region. He will report to Rahul Titus, Ogilvy’s global head of influence, and Emily Poon, president of Ogilvy PR in Asia-Pacific.

In this new role, Baldwin will be based in Singapore and will lead the agency’s influence offerings across the region, leading go-to-market strategy, enhancing capability differentiation, driving business development and innovation, and overseeing the delivery of class influencer and creator-led campaigns, the agency said in a statement. 

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Since joining the agency in 2019, Baldwin has played a key role in building Ogilvy’s influencer proposition, leading its influencer team on work with brands such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, British Airways, Samsung, and the Olympic Games.

Baldwin, most recently, was the business director and B2B influence lead based out of Ogilvy UK, spearheading the conception, launch and rapid expansion of Ogilvy’s business influence offering globally.

Launched in late 2022, the specialised B2B influence service is among the first of its kind in the industry, helping brands enhance their reputation, build awareness, and tap into trusted industry expertise.

“Baldwin's appointment is a true testament to the global mobility and borderless ways of working at Ogilvy. Balwin joins Ogilvy PR Asia-Pacific at a time when influencer marketing is becoming one of the most important platforms for business and communications and an integral part of the public relations, social and eCommerce marketing ecosystem," said Poon. "With his extensive experience in this space, I’m excited to partner with Baldwin to build on our momentum in developing industry-leading Influence-first work that earns conversations, drive conversions and advocacy for our B2B and B2C clients. influencer marketing is a rapidly evolving space, and we will continue our focus in helping clients deliver on brand and business growth via our work, our people and our innovations,” she explained. 

“Baldwin has been at the forefront of Ogilvy’s market leading influencer capability for the last five years and an integral component in its success," added Titus. "His strategic appointment leading our influence practice across Asia-Pacific showcases our belief in the creator economy and its growing importance. Baldwin will work closely with Poon and our offices across the region to elevate local capabilities and grow Asia-Pacific as a global center of excellence for influence,” he said. 

Prior to joining Ogilvy, Baldwin co-founded The Club Media, a hybrid social media influencer and golf media brand. Here, he helmed the role of commercial director where he managed all off-screen commercial elements for Club Media. These included developing and cultivating new brand relationships in a business development capacity, driving revenue through branded commercial and content opportunities and more. 

He has also held leadership roles in companies such as Digital Streamers, Euromoney Institutional Investor, BRIC Group and Marsh Commercial. 

“The opportunity to develop world-class influencer marketing is bigger and more exciting in Asia-Pacific than anywhere else in the world. With the adoption of mass-reach social technology so high, yet such fascinating cultural diversity and community trust so intrinsic to life here, the opportunities to showcase Ogilvy’s borderless creativity through Influence are endless," said Balwin.

"I’m so excited to continue to work with Poon and Titus to build on Ogilvy PR’s outstanding legacy in the region, and work with our diverse bench strength of influencer talent in the region,” he added. 

This comes shortly after Ogilvy unveiled a new global leadership for Ogilvy One and next-generation services for creating more valuable relationships by design. Kent Wertime will lead Ogilvy One as global CEO alongside its current role as co-CEO for Ogilvy APAC.  

Moving forward, Ogilvy One will serve as the global brand for Ogilvy’s current (recently known as Ogilvy Experience) and next-generation customer experience and relationship service offerings to clients.  

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