R/GA SG promotes Marianne Whitman to GM

R/GA Singapore has promoted Marianne Whitman (pictured right) to the role of general manager. Whitman, who has been at R/GA Singapore for more than six years, will lead the company’s Singapore office effective immediately.

In this role, Whitman will oversee the office’s operations and teams to help drive business and client growth. Most recently, she held the position of group director, production, where she led a group of multidisciplinary producers partnering with clients and teams to design and implement work across branding, product design and build, as well as communication-type programs.

Having started her career with R/GA Singapore as a senior producer to help grow a global FMCG client, she soon took to working on the global Nikon business out of the Singapore office. From there, she was appointed executive producer and then group director of production where she worked across most of the projects in the agency.

Whitman also has experience working with both local and international clients over the years on various types of branding, product design and build, and communication projects and programs.

These include leading a global communication program of work for Nikon, brand transformation for a leading insurtech firm in Singapore, driving through-the-line programs for multiple FMCG brands, future trend casting for an established bank, as well as regional product design work for leading tech companies. 

In her new role, Whitman will continue to work closely with Dorothy Peng (pictured left), who was recently promoted to SVP managing director Asia and oversees R/GA’s Asia region (China, Singapore, Tokyo and Indonesia). Whitman’s promotion comes at a time when R/GA is expanding quickly in Southeast Asia, with the rise of its Indonesia Tech Hub and expansion of the Singapore office over the past year. Peng shared that in her six years at R/GA, Whitman has consistently demonstrated her strengths and capabilities across various industries and has been behind most of the office’s successes, including work, client and talent.

“She brings a level of maturity and thoughtfulness that this fast-paced business needs, and I look forward to working even more closely with her as we build upon our successes as a brand, product and communication company,” Peng said.

Prior to her role in the Singapore office, Whitman was with R/GA London and moved to Singapore in 2016 on a six month contract.  “Rather unexpectedly, I was so taken by the team, the work and the wealth of opportunity those six months quickly turned into over six years,” said Whitman in a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE.

“My career has evolved with the agency and I’ve had the honour of leading a group of multidisciplinary producers, partnered with clients and teams across the region to design and implement some of the office’s best work, across branding, product design and build, as well as communication programs,” she added.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE: What are some of your plans to nurture and grow the agency?

R/GA Singapore has had the privilege of working on exciting projects over the past few years – and credit goes to our incredible team who make up a great office environment. We’ve acknowledged that the way we work over the years has changed hugely, and a huge focus of mine is shifting from the 9-6 grind, hunched over a laptop alone in a home office to one of intentional gatherings and face-to-face collaboration, while still maintaining our culture of hybrid work. 

We’ve also built a great reputation for delivering innovation and technology solutions for our clients, alongside our rich history of great creative work. I look forward to continued partnerships with our clients as a strategic and creative partner, helping them thrive in the new economy.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE: What is your vision for RGA to be an agency of the future?

R/GA is no stranger to evolution, having evolved our business every so often to adapt to changing landscapes. If we’ve learnt anything over the last few years it’s that change comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes happens overnight.

My vision for us as an agency is to continue to draw and grow on our evolutionary DNA and capabilities – ensure that we’re well positioned, nimble and can anticipate our clients’ fast evolving needs, while prioritising our people, culture and creativity.

In June, R /GA restructured its business in Asia and Australia to accelerate growth. The Asia region comprises Indonesia, China, Singapore, Tokyo and the Australia region Sydney and Melbourne.

Meanwhile, in April, R/GA appointed Ed Cheong as ECD, replacing Shing Chew, who joined TikTok as head of creative, Southeast Asia. Cheong was previously ECD at iris Singapore. At the same time, the agency also appointed Joschka Wolf to the newly created role of group creative director, experience design. 

Related articles:
R/GA restructures Asia and Australia business
R/GA SG beefs up creative firepower with Ed Cheong and Joschka Wolf