Wunderman Thompson lures Kit Ong back to Malaysia as ECD

Wunderman Thompson Malaysia has named Kit Ong as ECD, replacing Paul Lim who joined Grey Group. Ong (pictured) returns to the ad scene in Malaysia after his experiences in Shanghai and Vietnam. According to his LinkedIn, he founded a social impact platform dedicated to children's welfare named UBXED and was partner at two independent creative agencies - The Purpose Group in Vietnam and LogicIllogic in Shanghai. He has also worked at Y&R, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Ogilvy during his career, collaborating with brands including Guinness, Budweiser, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lee Jeans, The North Face, Citibank, HSBC, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola, among others.

Ong told A+M that it has been "a fantastic journey learning and practicing advertising creativity in Vietnam and China", adding that the experience of helping brands thrive in a data-driven eCommerce world as fast-paced as those two countries will be immensely useful back in Malaysia.

"It is a time unlike any other with the pandemic changing the norms of social and business, at Wunderman Thompson, there are four behaviors we all live and work by: In it together, creative bravery, positivity, and listening. These four behaviors form the best offence against the challenges that we face today," Ong explained. 

MD Patrick Yap (pictured below) said he and Ong are looking to deliver growth for its clients that is "generated by great work, rooted in creativity, technology and insight". "We will also be creatively brave so that we can deliver cool/exciting new solutions that the market has not seen so that we are viewed as the innovator, challenging marketing conventions," he said of his plans this year.

"The COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone in 2020 but every situation brings about an opportunity, and it is in our DNA to adapt to the times," Yap said. According to him, there has been a lot of chatter about how COVID has been the catalyst for change, how an ecommerce strategy is essential, and how technology solutions are crucial to brand success. However, he said these have been areas that Wunderman Thompson has been focused on and are experts in. 

Yap took on the MD role in 2019 and has constantly been driving home the importance of its four behaviours. According to him, these behaviours will set the foundation for the agency to continue inspiring growth for brands. When asked what 2021 holds for the ad industry, Yap said eCommerce will thrive in 2021 and in line with this, it will continue exploring and expanding its data and eCommerce capabilities with clients, partners, and centres of excellence across the region.

"The pandemic has driven more Malaysians and small businesses faster into digital adoption. This has led to a more robust eCommerce and social commerce which will only continue to expand and further mature. More micropreneurs will emerge and this can only be good for our economy," he added.

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