Edward Bell takes up the chief executive officer reigns at Draftfcb Greater China

Draftfcb has appointed highly respected industry veteran Edward Bell as Greater China CEO. With more than 20 years industry experience, Bell brings to Draftfcb exceptional client and agency leadership experience from across Asia Pacific to lead the continued momentum and growth of the Draftfcb Greater China business.

Fluent in Mandarin and conversational Cantonese, Bell’s career to date is striking. His strategic vision was responsible for winning a diverse portfolio of local and multinational brands such as Nikon, Chanel and Philips. He has worked on several personal care brands including Dove and various premium beauty brands. Bell is also skilled in developing “world-class” strategic campaigns in terms of creative and effectiveness.

Reporting to global CEO Carter Murray, Bell will start with the agency in March and remain based in Shanghai where he most recently served as head of strategy and planning at Ogilvy & Mather Group. There he led a team in the development of marketing and communications campaigns for both multinational and local clients.

“Strengthening Draftfcb’s talent has been a priority for me since day one and Edward’s decision to join highlights the caliber of people we are bringing into the business. He is one of the region’s top strategic and planning experts with a sharp business sense and excellent client relations, a distinctive package that makes him a talented and strong leader,” said Murray. “Greater China is a major market for Draftfcb and one where clients are asking for strong strategy. Edward’s astute insights, enviable track record delivering successful solutions and the way he has immersed himself into the culture and language makes him the ideal executive for the role”.

Previously he held principal positions such as Global Planning Lead, WPP “Team Dell”, as well as regional planning director, Ogilvy and Mather Asia Pacific. On the client side, Bell has been Director, Marketing Communications for Adidas Greater China.

In his time with Adidas he led a team of 25 marketing professionals and oversaw all aspects of the Adidas 2008 award winning Beijing Olympic marketing campaign including finance, strategy, creative and execution. The campaign went on to win the Grand Effie Grand Prix and Gold at Cannes. He was also the recipient of the first ever IPA Gold Effectiveness Award for China.

Bell worked on Lee jeans since helping win the business in late 2009. He led the marketing and communications strategy for the brand in Asia Pacific, focused on China. During this time Lee doubled its market share.

Bell’s early career was in account management in Australia with Wunderman, before moving to National Australia Bank as marketing strategist. His move to Asia was with Ogilvy Group where he was appointed as head of planning for Hong Kong and then Beijing.

“I’ve completely absorbed myself in the China market for the large majority of my career. I find the brands, clients and cultures fascinating and invigorating,” said Bell. “I’m looking forward to getting started with Draftfcb and helping the agency’s clients and business prosper in Greater China.”