MUMBAI: Lowe + Partners has elevated Rupen Desai, currently the network‘s operating director for Unilever‘s worldwide business, to the newly created role of president, South East (SE) Asia.

Desai‘s role will extend to include leadership of the Lowe Singapore agency. 
 
The role will see Desai focus on all SE Asia Pacific territories, including Australia and New Zealand but excluding China and India. He will report to Lowe + Partners chairman Tony Wright and CEO Michael Wall. He will also retain his leadership role on the network‘s Unilever business. Lowe is Unilever‘s biggest agency with approximately 20 plus key Unilever brands across the world.

With over 15 years within Lowe, Desai‘s experience has spanned across large multinational clients, including Unilever, InBev, J&J, HSBC, Columbia Tri-Star and Nokia. He has been based in Lowe offices in India, UAE, Lebanon and Thailand. 
 
Currently based in Singapore, he will continue to direct Lowe teams across the Unilever Asia business, whilst leading their laundry communications globally on brands like OMO, whose ‘Dirt is Good‘ strategy is successful across a number of geographies.

Lowe + Partners chairman Tony Wright said Desai‘s promotion will further strengthen the presence Lowe has in the region.
 
"We are already amongst the top 5 agencies in most countries in this region and this move allows us to continue to deliver the highest standards in Asia - in terms of our product, our talent pool as well as our processes. Lowe has been a well kept secret regionally, for too long," Wright said.

Added Lowe + Partners CEO Michael Wall, "Rupen is a proven leader across the region on behalf of our clients, our agencies and our work. Lowe has a competitive and compelling footprint in Asia and we believe Rupen can help us build on this strong foundation as we look to accelerate our growth and capabilities."