BBDO announces leadership change in Asia

Andrew Robertson, President, and CEO, BBDO Worldwide, today announced immediate regional management changes in the Asia region. Jean-Paul Burge (JP) Chairman and CEO of BBDO Asia has made the decision to relocate his family to Europe and will leave BBDO after eighteen years with the agency in the region. Greater China CEO Tze Kiat Tan will succeed him in the role of regional Chairman and CEO.

Tze, who is and will be based in Shanghai, has also been with BBDO for eighteen years. She joined as a Group Account director in BBDO Shanghai , then ran that agency and was promoted to CEO of BBDO Greater China in 2015. She joined the Board of BBDO Worldwide in 2019. Under her leadership , BBDO Greater China has been an important strategic component of the BBDO network : servicing multinational-clients whilst building an impressive roster of local clients, expanding its service offerings, and hiring and developing excellent local talent.

Tze has been recognized as one of Campaign’s annual ‘Woman to Watch’, Greater China Agency Head of the Year, and APAC CEO of the Year – Women leading Change.  

“I’m excited about the tenacity and energy Tze will bring to her new responsibilities.” said Robertson. “I’d also like to thank JP for his dedication and commitment to our business during his time at BBDO , especially in the last two challenging years under Covid.”

On her appointment, Tze said, “I am delighted to be taking on this new and exciting role. I know our colleagues in Asia and most of our regional clients well. My first order of business is to get to know the region even better, engage with our teams and clients, and listen, learn, and figure out how I can help. BBDO Asia is delivering a solid performance, and we have strong in-country leadership.  My task will be about building an even stronger culture, capability, performance, and consistency.” 

Further to Tze’s appointment, Hans Lopez-Vito is promoted from Chief Operating Officer Greater China to Chief Operating Officer Asia. During his more than a decade tenure at the firm, Hans established the renowned planning function in BBDO China and has been the architect of much of the agency’s new business success . In his new role, he will be developing our planning capability, driving plans for transformation and growth, and cementing multi-country client relationships.  

Finally Beck You has been promoted from Managing Director, Beijing to CEO, Greater China.  Under his leadership BBDO Beijing has doubled over the past three years on the back of local client wins, has attracted exceptional talent to the agency, and has redefined what a future-facing agency in China should look like.