Jennifer Chan

Michelle Achuthan

Jennifer Chan to Become Chairman Emeritus; Michelle Achuthan takes on Agency Management 

BBDO announced today management changes at its Malaysian agency.  Effective immediately, Jennifer Chan, currently Group CEO BBDO/Proximity Malaysia will become Chairman Emeritus.  She will be succeeded by Michelle Achuthan, Managing Director.

Over the last 14 years as CEO and later, Group Chief Executive of BBDO/Proximity, Ms. Chan has managed a team that has significantly grown the agency, winning some of the largest accounts in the region including Maxis-Hotlink, KFC, Pepsi, Fonterra, Johnson & Johnson and Mars.  At the same time, she has helped enhance the agency’s creative reputation.  For example, in 2008, BBDO/Proximity Malaysia won the Best of the Best at the Kancil, Malaysia’s Annual Creative Awards, and was named Agency of the Year.  It won Golds and Silvers at Cannes, AdFest and Clios.  And the agency was ranked No.13 worldwide and No. 8 in Asia by the 2008 Gunn Report.

Chris Thomas, CEO & Chairman of BBDO Asia said, "Jennifer exudes the BBDO brand.  Her commitment to The Work, to talent development, and to the industry are second to none.  She has built a world class BBDO agency in Malaysia.  For that, we are extremely grateful and most appreciative."

In her new role as Chairman Emeritus, Ms. Chan will focus on the group’s largest client, KFC, while continuing to play a key mentoring role within the agency.

Effective immediately, Michelle Achuthan will assume leadership of BBDO Malaysia.  Ms. Achuthan has been with BBDO since 2003.  She joined as Business Unit Head where she led several businesses including MARS, Wrigley, FedEx, Fonterra, ICI and Visa.  In 2005, she was promoted to Client Services Director, General Manager of both BBDO and Proximity Malaysia two years later and was named Managing Director in 2011.

Jean-Paul Burge, SEA Regional President for BBDO commented, "Michelle is part of our DNA in Malaysia and well-known throughout the BBDO network.  She has a proven track record and possesses precisely the skills and talent we need to work with our creative and planning leadership in Malaysia to continue our run of creative excellence in that market."