SINGAPORE – Initiative, the culturally-driven media agency within IPG Mediabrands, has today announced the appointment of Jeff Franco to the position of Head of Initiative Singapore & Regional Managing Partner Initiative APAC.
Franco, formerly Regional Growth Director Initiative APAC, first joined the IPG Mediabrands network in the Philippines in 2004. In 2010 Franco moved to the regional headquarters in Singapore to manage key regional clients including the MasterCard and Sony Pictures business spanning ten countries.
Franco later transitioned to a growth role, protracting business development success for IPG Mediabrands across the Asia Pacific region, before joining Initiative as Regional Growth Director where he was recognized as Campaign Asia’s New Business Person/Team of The Year 2018.
In his new role Jeff will be responsible for driving the growth agenda for the Initiative Singapore office, as well as driving world class account management across the region for the agencies blue chip client base which includes LEGO, Carlsberg and Amazon.
“Jeff is one of the best in the business. Not only a solid team player, he possesses a rare blend of business acumen, ingenuity, and natural leadership ability that give him the established credentials to step into this dual leadership role”, said Will Anstee, President Initiative APAC.
“The creation of this role signals our desire to grow Initiative Singapore from both a business and capabilities perspective” said David Haddad, CEO IPG Mediabrands Singapore.
Haddad continues, “In Jeff we have the perfect leader, his contagiously can-do attitude is coupled with a proven track record of delivering growth solutions for our Initiative network across APAC. I’m incredibly excited to welcome Jeff to the Singapore leadership team and work with him to take Initiative Singapore to the next level.”
Jeff Franco commented, “After more than three years driving our new business projects across APAC, I am thrilled to partner with our local and regional clients to deliver Initiative’s unique proposition of Cultural Velocity. Initiative Singapore saw great momentum in 2019 and I hope to continue that.”
Franco will report to Will Anstee & David Haddad. Based in the Initiative regional headquarters in Singapore, his new role is effective April 2020.
