PHD Appoints Chris Stephenson as Regional Head of Strategy & Planning

Continuing its focus on being a planning-led agency, PHD today announced the appointment of Chris Stephenson to the newly created position of Regional (APAC) Head of Strategy and Planning. Chris was earlier the Head of Strategy at PHD Australia. 

In his new role, Chris will lead and grow the capabilities of PHD’s Global Communications Planning Unit based out of Singapore - one of the two hubs, the other being based in UK. 

Working very closely with Susana Tsui, APAC CEO PHD, Chris will strengthen PHD’s strategy counsel to clients across the region.

The hire demonstrates PHD’s ambition to continuously raise the bar on thought and strategic leadership across the region and comes on the back of a very successful year, where the agency won key pieces of business and an unprecedented number of awards across global, regional and local award shows. 

In a career spanning over 15 years in media agencies, Chris has actively engaged brands across all verticals, built and nurtured strategy teams, led the industry through thought leadership and collaborated to design SOURCE, PHD’s operating system; a gamified collaboration engine which facilitates idea generation and innovation.

Commenting on the appointment, Susana Tsui. APAC CEO, PHD said, “I am delighted to welcome Chris to the regional team, a stellar talent. A key part of his new role will be to put the spotlight on Asia in the global planning roadmap via the Global Planning Unit (GPU). It’s a planning centre of excellence that helps global and regional clients to break new grounds in consumer engagement. Chris will also work with local markets to elevate our strategic offering and ensure integration across multiple media disciplines. I am confident that with Chris’s hire, PHD will set higher benchmarks in communications planning across the industry.”

“The appointment is a clear sign that PHD is keen to solidify its position as a communications thought leader. PHD has always been known as the “planner’s agency” and appointing senior leadership of Chris’ calibre will only further strengthen the brand’s strategic firepower. This is ultimately what our clients want more of – great thinking and great ideas that transforms businesses and brands. We have no doubt that Chris will only help raise the strategic leadership bar,” said, Cheuk Chiang, APAC CEO, Omnicom Media Group. 

Chris’s appointments will be effective in early March and he will report to Susana Tsui.