WE strengthens APAC leadership team
AGENCY appoints Emma Richards VP, Regional Technology Lead and promotes Shefali Srinivas to VP, Regional Health Lead.
Hong Kong – 9 November 2016 – Leading independent agency WE Communications has boosted its Asia-Pacific technology and health sector leadership through the appointment of Emma Richards as VP, regional technology lead and Shefali Srinivas as VP, regional health lead. This is in response to the agency’s increased regional investment of the two vertical sectors. In their new roles, Richards and Srinivas will drive the agency’s expansion of health and technology client portfolio, partner networks and teams in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India and Australia.
“Emma and Shefali offer our clients experience of more than two decades of communications in this region,” said Matthew Lackie, Executive Vice President, Asia-Pacific. “Their hands-on contributions to the agency’s sectors goes far beyond delivery of award-winning campaigns that deliver results for clients and driving business growth. Both have a keen understanding of intricate regional market dynamics and client needs, and they are pivotal in leading our teams. Their focused and strategic market propositions will bring great value to our clients, partners and teams.”
Emma Richards, VP, Regional Technology Lead
Richards first joined as the Head of Technology for the UK office in 2008 before her transfer to Hong Kong in 2011. In her Asia-Pacific role she established WE+, the agency’s global affiliate network across every major city worldwide. She went on to serve as VP, Hong Kong’s General Manager from 2013-2016, during which she transformed WE Hong Kong’s business performance and go-to-market strategy with high-value integrated communications offerings across technology, corporate and consumer sectors. Based in Hong Kong, she will report into Matthew Lackie, Executive Vice President, Asia-Pacific. Richards has nearly twenty years’ communication experience and she has worked on a range of brands across Europe and Asia, including BMC Software, Bloomberg, Cable & Wireless, CapGemini, EMC, Infosys, MediaTek, Microsoft/MSN, Samsung and ZTE.
“Technology has proven that it has the power to shift entire industries and create new ones. In a world of transformation, it is essential that brands own their communication and not allow their narrative to be driven for them. I’m excited to take on this new role, which will enable me to help technology clients lead their own transformation through effective, strategic and creative communications OR to reach their key stakeholders in meaningful ways across the region,” said Richards. Across APAC, WE’s technology sector works with giants such as Amadeus, Akamai, Aruba, nubia, ZTE and most recently, Comba Telecom.
Shefali Srinivas, VP, Regional Health Lead
Srinivas joined WE Communications in 2012 as the Singapore Health Lead and was promoted to Regional Director role in 2014. She draws from over 15 years’ of experience on both sides of the fence: as a consultant with some of the world’s leading communications firms and as a journalist in Singapore, USA, South Africa and India. In her new role as VP, Regional Health Lead, she will build stronger health capabilities in emerging markets with a view to expanding WE’s footprint in the region. Based in Singapore, she will also report into Matthew Lackie, Executive Vice President, Asia-Pacific. In this newly created position, she will continue to build on WE’s current roster of clients such as Elsevier, Roche and Shire plus a range of health verticals including diagnostics, devices, pharmaceuticals, nutrition and wellness.
“Health is one of the most rapidly transforming industries in the global economy and more so in Asia-Pacific. Clients partner with us to create communications that can drive behaviour change and literally transform lives. As decisions about health are vital, I’m excited to harness our storytelling abilities to decode complexity and help brands deliver information that can impact care decisions,” said Srinivas.
To further support expansion of the regional health practice, WE has appointed a new Director, JJ Lee, who joined this month. JJ brings over a decade of experience in health communications and policy and has an MA in East Asian Public Policy from Harvard University. She has worked as a journalist for The Los Angeles Times and Entrepreneur Magazine. She has also lectured at the Korea Development Institute (KDI School) Graduate School of Public Policy and Management, Korea's economic think tank. In her new role at WE, JJ will lead key creative and marketing strategies for healthcare clients in Singapore and the region and report into Shefali Srinivas, VP, Regional Health Lead.
This appointment further strengthens the agency’s investments in the region after the recent appointments of David Hunt as Managing Director, China and Miranda Cai as Managing Director, Shanghai.
More information on WE Communications is available at https://www.apac.we-worldwide.com/
About WE
WE works with some of the most innovative companies on the planet — those focused on delivering the next big thing. We partner with clients to transform their businesses through storytelling, in many different forms. Our playground is consumer, healthcare, social innovation and technology. Our fiercely independent mindset allows us the freedom to bring together the best talent, partners and ideas to create powerful, persuasive campaigns. That’s the power of WE. Shiny accolades like Cannes Lions, Integrated Communications Agency of the Year, Digital Firm of the Year, Best Large Agency to Work For, Communications Agency of the Year and Technology Agency of the Decade adorn our offices. But it's not about us, it's about our clients, their customers, and sparking a more elemental and immersive conversation. Talk soon.
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James Fearnside
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