Bala Pomaleh signs on with Dentsu Malaysia as Chief Executive Officer of Media

Dentsu has appointed Bala Pomaleh as CEO, Media, dentsu Malaysia. Effective 3 March 2025, Pomaleh will report to Audrey Chong, CEO, dentsu Malaysia.

A revered media leader in Malaysia with 20 years of management experience under his belt, Pomaleh returns to dentsu after close to nine years at IPG Mediabrands, where he was pivotal in establishing the network as its CEO. Prior to that, he was with Carat Malaysia, part of dentsu media brands, for four years.

Audrey Chong, CEO, Dentsu Malaysia, said: “There is no better leader to take on this elevated role as CEO of our Media business in Malaysia than Bala. As a well-respected and award-winning industry veteran, Bala combines acute business acumen with a grounded passion for talent development. I am therefore delighted to welcome him back to the dentsu network where he will undoubtedly be a transformational force for our clients and our people.”

Pomaleh said: “It is great to be able to come back to the familiar sense of excellence and community that make up the very essence of our dentsu network. This is a winning formula that sets dentsu Malaysia apart as we continue to innovate to impact our clients, our people and our society in an ever-changing landscape. I can’t wait to break new grounds together with our one integrated dentsu team going forward.”

Pomaleh’s appointment comes on the back of a strong 2025 kick off for dentsu Malaysia following a transformative year in 2024. The network is expected to further scale its journey of integration and innovation as it anchors its full leadership bench strength in the market led by CEO, Audrey Chong, and now bolstered by practice leaders, Pomaleh, in his role as CEO, Media, and Uday Desai, with his recent appointment as Managing Director, Creative, dentsu Malaysia.

Chong added: “We are building a future-ready agency of tomorrow so that we can be the game-changing partner for our clients today. As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence, I am excited that we have a reinforced leadership team that will take dentsu Malaysia to new heights for our clients while staying committed to nurturing our talents to be the future of our industry.”

Dentsu Malaysia’s transformation journey in 2024 has been driven by a strategic focus on integrating its best-in-class offerings and talents, to deliver truly client-centric excellence amidst a rapidly evolving landscape. The network has since recorded significant clients wins, including its appointment as Media Agency of Record for Fraser & Neave (F&N) Group in Malaysia. It continues to garner strong industry endorsements as it maintained its position as the #2 Agency Group in Malaysia (COMvergnce) and the Top 3 Media Network in the Malaysia (RECMA), along with prestigious accolades at the Effie Awards, Malaysian Digital Association D’awards, and MSA Festival & Awards.