Former Ogilvy strategist Tim Ho opens startup agency Salt

Salt is a creative agency that operates in Hong Kong, Toronto, and Mexico. The team specialises in storytelling and creating innovative campaign ideas on digital and social media for lifestyle and hospitality brands.

Ho (pictured), who has started his own agency in Canada before moving to Hong Kong, said that his personal goal is to make a change in the creative industry in Hong Kong. “That's to bring a new lifestyle to local creatives—instead of staying at the office 12 hours a day—also to encourage talents to make ideas happen through passion and connect them with art, design, music, and other creative talents.”

Ho explained the concept of his new agency Salt: “Literally like salt, the concept of this new agency is bringing good flavour out of good brands to make good brands better.”

Salt’s first client is Perfume Gallery, a high-end shop from Mexico, where Ho lived for a time. “There are very good opportunities in Mexico as many of their products have connections in Asia," Ho said, naming Tequila as one example. Salt is laying the foundation for Perfume Gallery to expand in Asia.

Another client is Petite Amanda, a new patisserie in IFC, owned by former Hong Kong model and celebrity Amanda Strang. Salt will be handling the company's branding campaigns. 

At Ogilvy & Mather, Ho was one of the earlier members of the 360 Digital Influence team, which was recently rebranded as Social@Ogilvy and is headed by Thomas Cramption. Ho was behind the award-winning Huggies campaign.