Valerie Madon resurfaces at VMLY&R as Asia chief creative officer

Global marketing agency VMLY&R has appointed former chief creative officer Southeast Asia and chairwoman of Havas Group Singapore Valerie Madon (pictured) as chief creative officer, Asia. Based in Singapore, Madon will be a part of VMLY&R’s Global Creative Council, led by global chief creative officer Debbi Vandeven, tasked to drive the agency’s creative vision in Asia. She will report to Asia co-CEO Tripti Lochan and Vandeven.

According to VMLY&R, Madon's role will help to support the agency's go-to-market strategy to provide its clients with the most relevant and contemporary agency offering in the market today, focused on six key pillars which are commerce, advisory, experience & technology, data & insights as well as brand stewardship, content & media innovation.

A creative powerhouse, Madon has spent the past 23 years developing digital and creative solutions for blue chip brands such as Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Hewlett-Packard, Singapore Airlines, HSBC, Burger King, Shell, Changi Airport and VISA. With Madon at the helm of the creative team in Asia, she will be responsible for enhancing and developing further creative capabilities across the agency’s Asia network in line with its positioning of creating connected brands that drive value for clients and impact the world by harnessing creativity, technology, and culture.

She first joined Havas in 2017 and was initially hired with the agency to take on the dual role of chief creative officer for Southeast Asia and creative lead for GSK business for APAC. She was also responsible for the creative output of all Havas agencies in Southeast Asia. A year ago, Havas Group promoted Madon to the role of chairperson of Havas Group Singapore, and Jacqui Lim to the role of group CEO, overseeing both creative and media units.

Lochan said Madon's deep digital experience knowledge within the overarching brand umbrella is the perfect spot where VMLY&R operates. "Madon is the kind of inspiring leader that defines agencies of the future. She is a perfect fit culturally – collaborative, humble, talented, a role model for young creatives who we need to fall in love with the industry. She is a perfect fit for us and I am very excited about having her at the helm of our creative offering in Asia,” she added.

Meanwhile, Vandeven said Madon has so much to offer VMLY&R — a reputation for creative excellence, extensive digital experience, and the proven ability to build world-class teams. "I’m confident she will be an exceptional CCO in one of our most exciting and rapidly growing markets," she said.

According to newly appointed Asia CCO Madon, she resurfaced at the agency-world due to the creative work and is inspired by VMLY&R which embodies the way that agencies of today need to think.

"While many agencies may be known for creativity, very few are pushing the envelope when it comes to embracing media to deliver creative experiences - rather than just communications, and few are truly ready for what’s needed today and in the future. Having digital-at-the-core is not just a catchphrase at VMLY&R. It is its foundation. Hence it is my privilege to get the opportunity to work some magic alongside digital experts such as Yi-Chung Tay, Keith Timimi and of course Lochan, a leader I highly respect and trust," she said.