SINGAPORE – Chris Willingham has joined the management team of BBDO Singapore, with the specific remit of boosting regional agency growth. Reporting to BBDO Asia, Middle East and Africa chairman and CEO Chris Thomas and BBDO Southeast Asia president and Singapore CEO Jean-Paul Burge, Willingham will also take on the responsibility of overseeing the agency’s key Visa account as Regional Business Director.
Willingham brings with him over 20 years’ experience at some of the world’s top agencies and is best known for trail-blazing work such as Sony ‘Balls’ and Cadbury ‘Gorilla’ during his time as Partner at Fallon London.
Willingham has won three Cannes Grand Prix, a D&AD Black Pencil and an IPA Effectiveness Gold, amongst many other industry awards.
Most recently he was CEO, Asia at pioneering data science business Starcount, which uses proprietary methods to help brands to connect with, and harness the power of, key influencers across the global social media landscape.
Burge said of Willingham’s appointment, “I’ve wanted to work with Chris for some time. He is a great all-rounder that brings with him a wealth of experience and an unwavering focus on creating great work. We are constantly looking for the best people to build on our creative and effectiveness success and in Chris I believe we have found the very best”.
Willingham remarked “I’m very excited to be joining BBDO at such a pivotal time. The team across Asia is highly ambitious and I look forward to working with them, and a very impressive group of clients, to deliver ground-breaking ideas that solve real business problems.”
