Wunderman Thompson expands recruitment programme The Catalyst Academy to APAC

Wunderman Thompson has launched the Catalyst Academy in Asia Pacific, an industry-defining programme that aims to bring together talent from different backgrounds to build brilliant experiences for consumers.

The future of communications is changing rapidly. For brands to succeed they need to have access to a range of experts and a diverse meeting of minds. Integrated marketing agency Wunderman Thompson offers their clients the full range of disciplines, from creative, to consulting, to data and customer experience, and hopes to develop a new breed of future marketeers who can understand, communicate, and deliver across the entire range of capabilities. The Catalyst Academy is designed to do exactly that – develop future marketers and equip them with the experience and skills to thrive in a competitive industry.

Building on the success of the Catalyst Academy in EMEA since 2021, in 2022 the programme has officially opened for applications in Asia Pacific for Australia (Perth), China (Shanghai), Japan (Tokyo), India (New Delhi) and Singapore.

Ewen Sturgeon, International CEO for Wunderman Thompson is a passionate sponsor of the program. Sturgeon said: “Inspiring growth for ambitious brands is at the heart of everything we do. The Catalyst Academy is perfect for growing our talent, connecting our capabilities and bringing fresh perspectives to our clients. We’re so excited to bring this to APAC as we continue to bring new people, new talent and new voices to Wunderman Thompson.”

Lindsay Shirley, Chief People Officer at Wunderman Thompson APAC, said: “Following the success of the Catalyst programme in EMEA, we are excited to bring this excellent initiate to APAC. This programme enables individuals to dive headfirst into our industry and experience the breadth of the Wunderman Thompson capabilities in a structured and supportive framework. For me personally, I can’t wait to meet successful applicants and see the value and energy they’ll bring to the APAC region.”

To prepare successful applicants for the challenges of today and what’s next in the industry, the Catalyst Academy will accelerate career development, engaging candidates with clients and responsibilities from day one. Each successful candidate will be offered a competitive salary for their eighteen months with the agency, where they will rotate through different specialisms and be assigned a mentor who will be there to support, guide and advise throughout. Each location offers a unique combination of four rotations during the 18 months of the program.

In addition to the in-depth training curriculum, Catalysts will gain essential industry qualifications from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) and other WPP Academies to accelerate their professional development. Catalysts also have access to a wide range of personal development opportunities and can join Wunderman Thompson’s Business Employee Resource Groups (B-ERG’s) including Ladybird (Women’s Network), Unite APAC (LGBTQIA+ and Allies) and The Green People (Sustainability B-ERG).

Inclusion and diversity are a fundamental part of Wunderman Thompson, and the agency recognises that talent comes in a variety of forms and from different backgrounds. It’s committed to making sure that their people that come into the Catalyst Academy reflect the diversity of the region and to continually creating an inclusive environment where all people feel welcomed, valued and heard.

Applications for April 2023 are now open until December 22, 2022. Apply here.