Derek Kwok, ZenithOptimedia's China MD, resigns after 15 years

Steven Chang, CEO of ZenithOptimedia Greater China added that Kwok (pictured) won't be joining a competitor but a digital media company in China. A replacement for Kwok has been confirmed and will be annouced soon, he added.

Kwok was one of the founding members of ZenithOptimedia Hong Kong and China, which was established in 1996.

He was media manager at Saatchi & Saatchi before joining ZenithOptimedia as media planning director and has worked its in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing offices over the last 15 years.

“I have grown and built a strong bond with ZenithOptimedia over the years, and am leaving with a heavy heart," Kwok said, "as the media industry is becoming more digitalised, I would like to try a new direction and move to the new media sector."

There have been a number of senior management positions and staff shuffled at ZenithOptimedia's China and Hong Kong offices over the past year.

Reported in June, Florence Wong, most recently GM of Optimedia Beijng, was promoted to the Hong Kong MD role for ZenithOptimedia, as Ada Wong, its incumbent GM resigned in July after seven years with the company.

Ching Ian Wee, MD of Zenith China's Equinox resigned last April after being with the company since 2008. Optimedia North China MD Polun Ip resigned last Feburary after joining the company in 2000.

Earlier in January, another media veteran, Ada Wong, joined its Guangzhou office as MD for South China. This followed the departure of its ex GM Steffanie Lee,who moved  to join Maxus Guangzhou as MD.

Reported last November, Gary Sin joined ZenithOptimedia as its new Shanghai MD to replace Alan Yau, who resigned last September and joined to Modern Media Group.

The Group also hired Kenjie Wong as GM of its non traditional communicatins specialist division Newcast last May, and Clement Tsang as the head of Performics China this month.