Ogilvy PR promotes James Baldwin as Head of Influence, Asia-Pacific

Ogilvy PR has elevated James Baldwin as Head of Influence, Asia-Pacific. In this new role, Baldwin will be based in Singapore and lead the agency’s fast-growing Influence offering across the region, leading go-to-market strategy, enhancing capability differentiation, driving business development and innovation, and overseeing the delivery of best-in-class influencer and creator-led campaigns.

Since joining the agency in 2019, he has played a key role in building Ogilvy’s cutting-edge Influencer proposition, leading a multi-market award-winning Influencer team on some of the world’s biggest consumer brands including Coca-Cola, Unilever, British Airways, Samsung, and the Olympic Games. He has also been an integral contributor to Ogilvy’s Annual Influencer Trends since its inception, held by many in the industry as the leading source of insight for Influence.

Baldwin, most recently, was the Business Director and B2B Influence Lead based out of Ogilvy UK, spearheading the conception, launch and rapid expansion of Ogilvy’s Business Influence offering globally. Launched in late 2022, the specialized B2B influence service is among the first of its kind in the industry, helping brands enhance their reputation, build awareness, and tap into trusted industry expertise. He also led the launch of the industry’s first global thought-leadership research in B2B Influence, Influencing Business: The Global Rise of B2B Influencer Marketing—surveying 550 CMOs and marketing leaders across 11 global markets—last September.

Prior to joining Ogilvy, Baldwin was Client Director at Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. He brings over 10 years of experience in B2B & Influencer marketing.

Baldwin will report to Rahul Titus, Ogilvy’s Global Head of Influence, and Emily Poon, President of Ogilvy PR in Asia-Pacific.

Rahul Titus, Ogilvy Global Head of Influence, said: “James has been at the forefront of Ogilvy’s market leading influencer capability for the last 5 years and an integral component in its success. His strategic appointment leading our Influence practice across Asia-Pacific showcases our belief in the creator economy and its growing importance. James will work closely with Emily and our offices across the region to elevate local capabilities, and grow Asia-Pacific as a global center of excellence for influence as we build on our strengths as the world’s largest and most awarded influencer network agency.”

Emily Poon, President of Ogilvy PR in Asia-Pacific, added: “James’ appointment is a true testament to the global mobility and borderless ways of working at Ogilvy. James joins Ogilvy PR Asia-Pacific at a time when Influencer Marketing is becoming one of the most important platforms for business and communications and an integral part of the Public Relations, Social and E-commerce Marketing ecosystem. With his extensive experience in this space, I’m excited to partner with James to build on our momentum in developing industry-leading Influence-first work that earns conversations, drive conversions and advocacy for our B2B and B2C clients. Influencer marketing is a rapidly evolving space and we will continue our focus in helping clients deliver on brand and business growth via our work, our people and our innovations.”

Baldwin said: “The opportunity to develop world-class influencer marketing is bigger and more exciting in Asia-Pacific than anywhere else in the world. With the adoption of mass-reach social technology so high, yet such fascinating cultural diversity and community trust so intrinsic to life here, the opportunities to showcase Ogilvy’s borderless creativity through Influence are endless. I’m so excited to continue to work with Emily and Rahul to build on Ogilvy PR’s outstanding legacy in the region, and work with our diverse bench strength of Influencer talent in the region.”

Ogilvy has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in the Influencer Marketing space, and with Baldwin joining Ogilvy PR Asia-Pacific at a time of tremendous momentum—having recently earned the Global Digital Agency of the Year and APAC Regional Consultancy of the Year at the 2023 SABRE awards, and being named Campaign Asia-Pacific’s PR Network of the Year for third consecutive year—2024 looks set to be an exciting year ahead for the advertising and PR giant.