Edelman Names Jesse Lin Chief Executive Officer, APAC

Edelman has named Jesse Lin president and chief executive officer of Edelman’s Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, effective January 15th, 2018. In this role, Lin will oversee the region’s 24 offices and more than 1,500 employees. Based in Shanghai, Lin will join the firm’s global executive committee and report to Global Chief Operating Officer Matthew Harrington.

“Jesse is one of the strongest creative agency leaders in the region and has a clear vision for integration, which will help us further advance our communications marketing ambition in Asia Pacific,” said Harrington. “Having lived and worked across Asia Pacific for more than 20 years he has a superior understanding of the region’s markets and opportunities.”

Lin joins Edelman from McCann Worldgroup where he was most recently vice chairman of APAC and CEO of Greater China. While leading McCann’s China operation the agency consistently experienced double-digit growth. He also helped lead the effort to make digital a larger driver of revenue, growing it from 5 percent to 30 percent of the business.

Edelman’s APACMEA region has been responsible for a number of groundbreaking campaigns that have cut across brand and reputation this past year resulting in a number of awards, including six Cannes Lions. It was also named The Holmes Report’s 2016 APAC Digital Consultancy and North Asia Consultancy of the Year as well as Campaign’s Japan/Korea PR Agency of the Year.

“I’m incredibly excited to join a firm that has pushed the envelope since it was founded 65 years ago and continues to redefine the practice of communications and marketing,” said Lin. “I have long admired the ground-breaking campaigns Edelman brings to life for clients not just in the region but across the globe. I’m looking forward to working with their talented teams in-region and across the network.”

Before McCann, Lin was president of DDB China Group. Prior to that he held executive roles at Weiden+Kennedy Shanghai, serving as managing director, and Leo Burnett Hong Kong, where he was a group brand director.

Bob Grove, who has been overseeing the region as chief operating officer since April, will continue in his role after Lin joins the firm. 

“Jesse’s marketing expertise is a perfect complement to Bob Grove’s deep communications experience,” Harrington said. “Together, they lead a world-class team who is re-shaping communications and marketing for our clients, as well as for the region.”