Michelle Ong returns to Ogilvy Malaysia in Executive Group Director role

Ogilvy Malaysia has announced the appointment of Michelle Ong as Executive Group Director reporting to Chief Executive Ogilvy Malaysia, Nizwani Shahar. Ong has been tasked with driving the agency’s borderless creativity strategy, approach, and opportunities across key clients as well as elevating the diversity and business leadership capabilities across existing and potential clients.

Ong joins the agency management team and will work closely with Chief Creative Officer Adrian Miller, Strategy Director Paul Gage, Senior Program Director, Edmund Quah and the Ogilvy Leadership Team. While she will focus primarily on account management, Ong’s general management experience will be critical in driving the agency’s goals. Her role will also entail streamlining the agency’s internal processes, managing key department operations, and providing guidance and leadership to agency staff members.

Ong is an experienced and solid communications practitioner with 30 years of experience in building a diverse range of brands strategically and creatively. Ong was recently CEO of Dentsu One Malaysia and prior to that COO of Leo Burnett Malaysia. She has also spent time in Indonesia as the Managing Director of McCann Worldgroup.

Ong has managed clients and brands including Coca-Cola, Nestle (Nescafe, Breakfast Cereal), McDonald’s, Philip Morris, Dutch Lady, Samsung, P&G (Rejoice, Inner Science and SK-II).

Shahar said: “Michelle is someone I deeply admire and respect. With her experience, drive and proven leadership qualities, Michelle brings not only vision and skill but also her wealth of experience in business leadership as well as general management. This is another huge step forward for Ogilvy Malaysia as we move from strength to strength, improving our talent density across all levels and departments, and creating a diverse makeup of senior leadership to chart the path of growth. I am thrilled to have Michelle back in the family and greatly look forward to working alongside her again.”

Ong said: “Ogilvy Malaysia was my jumping off point in this industry and after a great adventure, I am so glad to return home to where it all started. Ogilvy is a strong network agency which has not only great brands, but also powerful, passionate people that drive creativity with the goal of inspiring brands and people for the better. I look forward to working with Niz and the leadership team to scale greater heights together.”