Benjamin Li
May 22, 2013

Saatchi's Justin Billingsley tipped to leave China, Michael Lee to take CEO role

SHANGHAI - Justin Billingsley, regional CEO and chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi Greater China, is tipped to be leaving his role for a position in Europe, although Billingsley himself denies any impending change.

Justin Billingsley
Justin Billingsley

A senior source within Publicis Groupe China has confirmed the change, rumours of which have been circulating since February. Billingsley will move to Europe and Michael Lee, currently chief operating officer and president of Saatchi & Saatchi Greater China, will take over the CEO role, according to this source.

Contacted multiple times for comment over the past few months, Billingsley has continued to deny his departure. Talk of executive departures is commonplace in the industry, he indicated by email this morning.

"I expect to stay with Saatchi and in due course this is naturally likely to mean a change in location,” he wrote. “But right now I am China CEO and will certainly be in role well beyond June. No other role or timing has been confirmed amongst the range of options that always exist. Michael is our president and we have a great partnership.”

Lee also declined to comment when contacted this morning, but made reference to an internal annoucement in June. Asked about changes in Greater China leadership, a Saatchi & Saatchi China PR spokersperson also indicated to Campaign Asia-Pacific that the agency will have a formal announcement in June.

Another source within Saatchi & Saatchi China, said that Billingsley, who assumed his role in 2011, has been looking for another role within Publicis Groupe and is expected to leave China in June or July.

Source:
Campaign Asia

Related Articles

Just Published

2 hours ago

'Media isn’t a commodity. Treating it like one is a ...

Ruben Schreurs tells Campaign why litigation, platform volatility, and outdated media models are distorting decision-making—and why advertisers need to focus less on adjacency panic, and more on strategic clarity.

2 hours ago

WPP never seized control of its destiny under Mark ...

Departing CEO had some notable successes, but the company has struggled.

6 hours ago

Mars to switch $1.7 billion media account out of WPP

Review concludes after an eight-month competitive process.

23 hours ago

Yannick Bolloré: ‘AI is a powerful creative partner’

Ahead of Cannes Lions, the chief executives of the 'big six' holding companies and senior leaders give their views on a range of topics relating to creativity and business. Today, it’s the turn of Havas' chief executive and chairman, Yannick Bolloré.