MUMBAI: In a move to reinforce its presence in the APAC region, DDB Worldwide has announced that chief creative officer Amir Kassaei will be establishing DDB‘s global creative centre in Shanghai. Kassaei was appointed DDB Worldwide’s chief creative officer in February 2011.

This new move complements DDB Group Asia Pacific, India and Japan chairman and CEO John Zeigler’s relocation to Singapore in December 2011. It is believed to be the first time a global Madison Avenue agency has moved its creative headquarters to China.

Patrick Rona, who was earlier Tribal DDB Worldwide Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) president and DDB Group EMEA chief digital officer, has also been relocated to Singapore and will serve as Tribal DDB Asia Pacific‘s new President and chief digital officer for DDB Group Asia Pacific in January 2012.

Zeigler said, "We‘re very honoured to have our global creative centre in Asia. World-class brands are moving here and they deserve world-class creative they have become accustomed to. Amir, with our top creative talent across the region, will deliver just this. I‘m sure of it. DDB Group Asia Pacific now has three core regional hubs – Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Amir‘s move makes China the centre piece for our global creative work."

DDB Worldwide CEO Chuck Brymer said, "This is one of the most significant moves we have made in the history of DDB. The world as we know it is changing and our industry‘s growth market is now without doubt the Asian region. Move over New York, London, Paris. Hello Shanghai, Mumbai, Singapore. With this in mind, there‘s no time better to set up our creative powerhouse in China."

Kassaei joined DDB as chief creative officer and associate partner of DDB Germany, in 2003. As the youngest DDB chief creative officer in Europe, he quickly transformed it into one of the most creative and successful agencies in Germany. Under his leadership, DDB Germany has also been ranked as the most awarded German agency in the Gunn Report. During his tenure at DDB Germany Kassaei founded and established Tribal DDB Germany as a modern, multichannel agency. He is currently based in New York and his move to Shanghai is imminent.

Amir has worked on a range of the world‘s major brands, including Allianz, Apple, Adidas, Bosch, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Nike, Reebok and Volkswagen.