Publicis Malaysia hires Richard Irvine as CCO

Richard Irvine has joined Publicis Kuala Lumpur as Chief Creative Officer. Award-winning Irvine, a Leo Burnett veteran across London, Bangkok, Vietnam, Manila and Japan, joins the sister network’s fastest growing agency in South East Asia in order to push new creative heights.

Said Dean Bramham, CEO of Publicis Malaysia and Indonesia: “Publicis Kuala Lumpur has had spectacular business results over the past 24 months. Building on this positive momentum, our focus is to bolster further the creative product across advertising, digital and shopper marketing. Richard has vast experience across all mediums of creativity and has a track record of building a creative culture of excellence. He is the perfect creative lead for our clients’ brands.”

Irvine started his career as a copywriter at Leo Burnett London. Ten years on he was transferred to Leo Burnett Bangkok and then to Leo Burnett’s start-up in Ho Chi Minh City as Creative Director where highlights include the country’s first ever Cannes, Clio and London International awards for Mercedes and P&G. Next posting was Manila where under his stewardship as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Manila won the country’s first TV Gold at AdFest, seven Ad of the Year Awards, four Best of Show Awards and was named the Philippine 4A’s Agency of the Year Best in Creative. In 2007 Irvine was inducted into the Philippine Advertising Hall of Fame making him the first foreigner to be honoured in such a way.

Irvine was then transferred to Tokyo based Beacon (an amalgam between Leo Burnett, Publicis and Dentsu) in 2008, taking the Executive Creative Director role. During his tenure he helped guide the agency towards a Cannes Grand Prix, Cannes Gold PR Lion, an AdFest Grande Lotus and an AdFest Inova Lotus.