Omnicom Media Group agency PHD has appointed Kiron Kesav as the new Chief Strategy Officer for the APAC region. In this role, Kesav will be responsible for leading strategic planning, business growth, innovation, and digital transformation, powered by the Omni open operating system.
With more than 15 years of industry experience, Kesav previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer for OMG Malaysia, where he played a key role in several successful multi-market and local pitches, including OPPO, Warner Bros. Discovery, CelcomDigi, and Dutch Lady. He was also a champion for AI adoption within the agency, further elevating OMG Malaysia’s reputation as a thought leader with initiatives such as the ‘Future Play’ event.
Before transitioning to the group role, Kesav worked as GM of Strategy and Platforms at PHD Malaysia, where he drove strategy, technology platform adoption, and helped scale the use of Omni in the market. Under his leadership, PHD Malaysia became one of the top 10 markets globally in terms of Omni Studio usage. Kesav also helped create key strategy products like the Digital Efficacy Monitoring Framework, PHD Pulse, and OMG OOH Priority Radar.
PHD APAC CEO Eileen Ooi commented, “Kiron is a seasoned strategy expert skilled in navigating the complexities of brand building. Having worked with him during my time at PHD and OMG in Malaysia, I recognised Kiron’s knack for insightful analysis and creative problem-solving that successfully brought clients’ visions to life. His ability to unlock growth opportunities while leveraging OMG’s Agency as a Platform proposition to create inspiring executions will help our clients outthink, outpace, and outgrow their competition, making him a valuable asset to PHD APAC.”
Kesav himself said, “PHD APAC boasts some of the sharpest strategic minds in the industry and for me, it is a fantastic feeling to once again don the PHD colours and work alongside them. I see our strategy teams across markets being the force multipliers in our journey to make our new proposition – Intelligence. Connected. – meaningful in APAC while capitalising on the immense potential of OMG’s capabilities. I am excited to partner with our global and regional teams to deliver transformative growth for our people and our clients with a focus on bringing clarity in complexity.”
Kesav will continue to serve as Chief Strategy Officer at OMG Malaysia in the interim while a search for his successor is underway, ensuring a smooth transition and continued momentum.
