Publicis Groupe elevates Heidi Zhang and Sandy Wu in China

Publicis Groupe recently announced the promotion of Heidi Zhang (pictured right) as Chief Strategy Officer of Publicis Communications China. The Groupe also promoted Sandy Wu (pictured left) as Managing Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai.

These two promotions will further strengthen Publicis Communications China’s capabilities in the areas of overall brand strategy, integrated marketing and creative communication.

Zhang will lead the integration of all strategic capabilities of all creative agencies under Publicis Communications China into the Power of One. She will be spearheading the transformational “end-to-end performance-driven planning and creativity” that orchestrates the interplay of data, insight, creative and media.

Zhang comes with 25 years of strategic planning experience, boasting her international experience and local expertise. She joined Publicis Groupe China in 2010 and has been leading strategy planning in Publicis Communications China and Saatchi & Saatchi China. Over the years, Zhang has won utmost trust and respect from the widest range of clientele from most international to most local, from top luxury to mass, from auto to personal care.

Under her leadership, Publicis Communications China has embarked on the journey of paradigm shift that makes creativity live in the new platform world in a way that is personal and direct. She was recognized as one of the Women to Watch Greater China 2021 by Campaign.

Zhang is based in Shanghai and reports directly to Arto Hampartsoumian, Managing Partner and Executive Chairman of Publicis Groupe China.

Hampartsoumian said: “Heidi boasts an extensive experience in strategic planning, she has strengthened the Power of One by bringing three agency brands and different business entities under Publicis Communications China. I firmly believe, that with the evolving landscape of how consumer engage with Brands across the multitude of platforms, our strategic thinking as to how we interact with them on behalf of the Brands we partner with, will become all the more relevant under Heidi’s leadership.”

Zhang said: “I am honored to be promoted, and I will continue to strengthen Publicis Communications China Strategy, to empower the one common platform for resources, knowledge sharing and skill-training, to drive continuous change of the organization, break the mold and win in this changing market. ”

Wu brings over 15 years of working experience in advertising industry. She boasts extensive experience and strength in integrated marketing, consumer insights, communication plans, team management and training for both international and Chinese local brands. One of Wu’s many skills is adapting to the evolving requirements of clients, by customizing and optimizing resources to provide the most creative, efficient solutions to address their needs. She joined Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai as Business Director in 2016 and was promoted as General Manager in 2019. She took up the account leading role mainly overseeing global brands’ operation management and team resources coordination, and she successfully transformed Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai from brand strategy and traditional advertising business to a multi-dimensional brand marketing partner with digital marketing, online and offline channels integration and social communications.

Wu is based in Shanghai and reports directly to Irene Shum, Managing Partner of Publicis Communications Shanghai and CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai.

Shum said: “We feel very lucky to have Sandy. She has a wealth of management experience, acute understanding of the market and great passion for the creative industry. I believe that under her leadership, Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai will continue to their impressive performance and reach a new height.”

Wu said: “I am honored to start this new chapter in my career. We will continue to collaborate with clients to uplift brand value and sales growth, digging deep into the market and consumer insights, and providing outstanding creative solutions to confront market challenges and uncertainties. I look forward to keep working with the team to create more and more brilliant works and bring Saatchi & Saatchi Shanghai to the next level. ”