SINGAPORE – John Gutteridge, J. Walter Thompson Co.’s Asia Pacific CEO, announced a plan to align the reporting structure of Mirum, the company’s digital agency, in Asia Pacific to facilitate collaboration with the network’s creative agency and to present a cohesive, integrated offering to clients.
As part of this move, Gutteridge has hired Jacco ter Schegget, a seasoned digital transformation leader, to take on the newly-created role of Southeast Asia CEO with responsibility for both the Mirum and J. Walter Thompson operations in ASEAN. Ter Schegget, who starts his new role Sept. 1, served most recently as OgilvyOne China’s President, where he oversaw both OgilvyOne and Neo operations.
Mirum operates in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as in China and Hong Kong. Ter Schegget, in Southeast Asia, and the MDs of Mirum in North Asia will report directly to Gutteridge.
The new reporting structure, and the appointment of Ter Schegget, are both core to Gutteridge’s plan to strengthen the network’s digital capabilities and build out a stronger integrated offering in the Asian region. The alignment will also facilitate Gutteridge’s drive to transform the J. Walter Thompson Company beyond communications solutions to a more holistic creative business that delivers pioneering ideas and products.
“This is not a merger of our two businesses. It’s about transforming both businesses as we recognize synergies in capabilities to deliver more,” said Gutteridge. “While our Mirum leaders in each market will work more closely with their counterparts at J. Walter Thompson, it is vital that Mirum retains its unique identity and culture. The appointment of Jacco in Southeast Asia is key part of this. He thinks digital first, while having a great passion for creativity and technology, and is in a prime position to drive the new agenda at JWT and grow Mirum in Southeast Asia.”
Ter Schegget, who has over 16 years’ experience in digital marketing and transformation, joined OgilvyOne China as President in 2014 and was part of the Ogilvy Group China Leadership team. During his tenure, OgilvyOne successfully underwent a major transformation. Prior to that role, he served as Europe President of Tribal Worldwide and Co-CEO of DDB & Tribal Amsterdam. Under his management, Tribal DDB Amsterdam became one of the most awarded European digital agencies and the first digital agency to win a Cannes Film Grand Prix, in 2009. In addition to his Tribal responsibilities, he also served as Digital Officer for the DDB Group in Europe. Before he joined DDB/Tribal, Ter Schegget led the Amsterdam office of the SATAMA group (now part of DigitasLBi).
“I believe creativity is the most powerful force in the business. And in a world that seems to become only more complex, great ideas that are able to touch people are more important than ever. In a digital first world, the combination of the brand thinking of JWT and the deep digital and data competence of Mirum provide companies a great partnership to activate their consumers on-and offline, across the entire user journey,” said Ter Schegget. “John’s vision for APAC illustrates exactly this combination of art and science and I’m looking forward to supporting him and the rest of the teams.”
The Mirum leadership in Asia will continue to work closely with the Global Mirum leadership team, as a network, and will retain a dotted line into Mirum’s Global CEO, Dan Khabie.
“Mirum’s technical depth, love of design and focus on user experience is critical to the overall agency’s growth in the region. We will stay focused on Business Transformation, Experience Design and Commerce Activation and look forward to bringing these capabilities to all of our clients,” said Khabie.
Ter Schegget’s appointment coincides with the departure of Nanda Ivens, the APAC Mirum CEO.
Ivens, an active investor in Southeast Asia’s startup scene, has retired from his role at Mirum – and from agency life – to pursue his entrepreneurial passion. Ivens was an investor in Magnivate Indonesia, which was acquired by XM Asia in 2012 and later renamed Mirum. He became Mirum Indonesia CEO in 2013, then was promoted to Asia Pacific CEO of Mirum in 2015.
Bob Hekkelman, who has served as both the Bangkok CEO and Southeast Asia CEO for JWT, will now focus on his role as CEO of the JWT Group Bangkok, which is a 300-person agency that’s grown rapidly in the last few years to span creative, digital, design and PR services. Hekkelman will continue to drive both the integration and growth of the agency’s businesses in Thailand and Pakistan, which has been part of his remit.
