Publicis Groupe HK nabs VML SG's client lead as MD, global client lead

Publicis Groupe Hong Kong has appointed Rhys Taylor (pictured) as managing director, global client lead, effective from 20 January 2025, as confirmed to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE. 

Reporting directly to Tom Kao, CEO, Publicis Groupe Hong Kong, Taylor will lead the Cathay account across creative, media, social, content, and events, drawing on his extensive expertise to develop innovative, client-focused solutions and ensure the delivery of outstanding service.  

This newly created role will strengthen the team leadership servicing Cathay and his experience will boost the team’s ability to deliver greater value for Cathay.

His role is pivotal in addressing the evolving creative needs of the client while driving the agency’s performance to new heights of excellence. He will relocate from Singapore to Hong Kong, where Cathay is based, and will work with the core team based out of Hong Kong. 

Taylor has over 18 years of relevant experience and a wealth of experience in integrated marketing, having most recently served as chief client officer at VML Singapore where he played a pivotal role in the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R.   

His track record includes developing new agency products and managing relationships with prominent clients such as HSBC.  Related to Cathay, he has a strong background in the aviation sector through collaborations with Air New Zealand, SAS, Scoot, and Virgin Australia. 

"We are delighted to welcome Taylor to our leadership team," said Kao. "We are confident that he will join forces with our powerhouse team to drive more dynamic and innovative solutions for our partnership with Cathay." 
 
“Cathay is an iconic business that is famously moving fast to realise ambitions across each unit,” said Taylor. “And the opportunity to bring the full complement of Publicis Groupe’s communications capabilities together via its Power of One offering to support those plans across premium travel, lifestyle, loyalty, and commercial services is as exciting as it is rare.”

Don't miss: Publicis Groupe merges Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide to form Leo

This comes after Publicis Groupe combined Leo Burnett with Publicis Worldwide and called it Leo. According to the company, this comes as global brands and challenges “require outsized creativity” to drive scaled transformation, personalised content and connected brand experiences.

In a statement, Publicis added that the combined entity Leo will see an expansion and redesign of the Leo Burnett logo, and unites the firepower of one of the most iconic first names in advertising with the roar of a lion. It will have a global creative force of 8,000 creative minds from Leo Burnett and 7,000 from PWW.

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