SINGAPORE – PHD, a leading agency under Omnicom Media Group, has announced the appointment of Kiron Kesav as Chief Strategy Officer for the Asia-Pacific region. In this role, Kesav will spearhead strategic planning, innovation, business growth, and digital transformation, all underpinned by the Omni open operating system.
A seasoned industry leader with over 15 years of experience, Kesav steps into his new position after serving as Chief Strategy Officer at OMG Malaysia. During his tenure, he successfully led multi-market and local pitches for marquee brands like OPPO, Warner Bros. Discovery, CelcomDigi, and Dutch Lady. His leadership extended beyond strategy, championing AI adoption across the agency and solidifying OMG Malaysia’s thought leadership through flagship initiatives, including the much-lauded ‘Future Play’ event.
Prior to his group role, Kesav made significant strides at PHD Malaysia as General Manager, Strategy and Platforms. His focus on technology-driven strategies and the implementation of Omni in the market saw PHD Malaysia rank among the top 10 global markets in Omni Studio adoption. He was also the driving force behind key strategic tools such as the Digital Efficacy Monitoring Framework, PHD Pulse, and OMG OOH Priority Radar.
He reports into PHD APAC CEO Eileen Ooi, effectively immediately. Together with PHD’s regional leadership team, Kesav will drive better business outcomes for clients by leveraging intelligence that connects businesses to the next generation of consumers.
“Kiron is a seasoned strategy expert who is skilled in navigating the complexities of brand building. Having worked with him during my time at PHD and OMG in Malaysia, I recognised Kiron’s knack for insightful analysis and creative problem-solving that successfully brought clients’ visions to life. His ability to unlock growth opportunities while leveraging OMG’s Agency as a Platform proposition to create inspiring executions will help our clients outthink, outpace, and outgrow their competition, making him a valuable asset to PHD APAC,” Ooi said.
Commenting his appointment, Kesav said, “PHD APAC boasts of some of the sharpest strategic minds in the industry and for me, it is a fantastic feeling to once again to don the PHD colours and work alongside them. I see our strategy teams across markets being the force multipliers in our journey to make our new proposition – Intelligence. Connected. – meaningful in APAC while capitalising on the immense potential of OMG’s capabilities. I am excited to partner with our global and regional teams to deliver transformative growth for our people and our clients with a focus on bringing clarity in complexity.”
Kesav will continue as OMG Malaysia’s Chief Strategy Officer in the interim while a search for his successor is underway, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained momentum.
