MUMBAI: Leo Burnett Worldwide chairman and CEO Tom Bernardin announced the  consolidation  of  the agency’s  operations  across  Greater  China  and  Asia Pacific.

Leo  Burnett  Asia  Pacific president Jarek Ziebinski  will  take charge as the chairman and CEO for the consolidated operation including China as of 1 September 2014. The regional chairman and CEO of Greater China, Eddie Booth, will retire after 15 years with the agency. Booth will continue to be with the agency until 31 December to see through the smooth transition of leadership.

Said Bernardin, “Eddie and I have been in talks regarding his plans to retire from the agency over the past year. After more than 20 years in the industry and 15 years of successful leadership at Leo Burnett in Greater China, Eddie has decided it’s time to retire from advertising. We want to thank him for his wonderful  work building  Leo Burnett Greater China to what it is today and wish him every success as he embarks on his new journey in life.”

In his new role, Ziebinski will continue to report directly to Bernardin and will split his time between Shanghai and Singapore.  Leo Burnett China group CEO Donald Chan will be assuming additional duties to oversee Leo Burnett Hong Kong. Both Chan Leo Burnett Taiwan group CEO Margaret Huang will report to Ziebinski.

“The  consolidation  of  Leo  Burnett’s  Asia  Pacific  and  Greater  China  operations  is  a  strategic decision to bring together the best of the network’s resources, talents and capabilities across these two important regions under one proven leader. The scale and efficiencies Leo Burnett will be able to achieve from the consolidation will enable the network to deliver greater value for our clients’ businesses in today’s environment of remarkable change and possibilities,” said Bernardin.

Continued Bernardin, “Jarek’s track record of success across two very different regions - central eastern Europe and Asia Pacific - at Leo Burnett speaks for itself. The growth and momentum  he delivered for Leo Burnett in Asia Pacific over the past five years makes him the ideal candidate to take  over  the  consolidated  leadership  of  Leo  Burnett  in  this  region.  Asia  Pacific  is  a  critically important region for the Leo Burnett global network and I’m confident that with Jarek at the helm, he will be able to help us deliver the best in the world, bar none.”