MUMBAI: Havas Media Group has appointed media and marketing specialist, Karl Wu, as the CEO for Greater China. Based in Beijing, Wu will be responsible for Havas's brands -- Havas Media and Arena Media, as well as Havas Group pure player agencies Socialyse, Affiperf, Ecselis and Mobext. The media group currently has five offices in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Wu joins the agency with an impressive track record in integrated marketing and advertising space, having held senior roles both on the agency and the client side. He was most recently the COO of Mediacom China and concurrently the Asia Pacific Managing Director of one of the agency’s largest clients - Volkswagen.

Prior to joining Mediacom, Wu led Digital Marketing for Nokia as Marketing Director for Asia Pacific as well as China. He has also held senior positions at Dentsu Aegis Media and Publicis Vivaki, and his experience on the brand side extends to blue chip companies such as Intel and NBA in China, and Bell Canada in Toronto Canada.

Wu will report to the Global Executive Committee represented by Christophe Cases, who will relinquish his role as CEO of Greater China but continue to be based in China in his global role as Deputy Global Managing Director of Havas Media Group.

Cases said, “We are delighted to have Karl as CEO for Greater China. He is a very important hire for us and integral to our ambition for this market as we strengthen our client-centred collaborative model. Karl brings with him an international mindset and deep knowledge of not only China market but Asia Pacific as a whole. His experience in leadership roles both on the agency and the client side will be a definite asset as we move our business to next level of growth.”

Wu said, “I have been on both sides of the table, and I can see the changes needed for our industry to deliver better customer value. Havas Group not only has the vision and strategy but has also started executing to that vision. The Havas Village integration is an example of the many initiatives that will ultimately re-shape our industry. I am excited about what the future holds and looking forward to my new role.”