R/GA Strengthens Regional Creative Leadership in APAC

R/GA today announces that its continued growth in APAC has paved the way for changes to regional creative structure, including the appointment of a VP, chief creative officer. 

Seamus Higgins steps into the newly-created CCO role in April, assuming overarching creative leadership of the agency’s Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, and Melbourne offices.

Higgins has more than 20 years of industry experience across three continents. Throughout his career, he’s been behind campaigns that have won nearly every major award, notably ten D&AD pencils (including two black), three Cannes Lions Grand Prix (including Titanium), and two Grand Clios. Most recently, he served as ECD at Host/Havas, driving a creative resurgence that earned the agency the Spikes Asia Agency of the Year award, and a No.7 ranking in the Cannes Lions 2018 Global Creativity Report.

“Seamus has built his career championing ideas that often don’t feel like advertising, and ensuring uncompromising craft when it comes to their delivery,” said Tuomas Peltoniemi, EVP managing director, APAC. “We’re excited to welcome him to R/GA and to a role which speaks to his talent and passion for driving change, as well as our growth and the opportunities for transformation we’re seeing here.”

Said Higgins: “APAC is a hugely dynamic region where anything is possible, and R/GA is perfectly poised to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation here. I can’t wait to get going with this incredibly talented team.”

R/GA’s regional creative leadership will be further bolstered by two key internal promotions.

R/GA Australia ECD, Robert Chalmers becomes ECD - head of experience design, APAC, charged with deepening XD capability and growing teams across the five offices. R/GA Tokyo ECD, Niklas Lilja becomes ECD - head of stories, APAC, heading up the development and expansion of the region’s creative teams.  

“We are growing at speed in APAC, opening two new offices in as many years, a host of new business wins and organic growth from long-standing relationships, and hitting our stride creatively,” said global CEO, Sean Lyons. “The seamless and extraordinary collaboration between our people in the region is a differentiator sought out by clients, and something the teams in APAC already do so well. By bringing in a talent the calibre of Seamus, and combining his talents with Rob, Niklas, and other regional creative leads, APAC is poised to grow even further.”