UPDATE: TBWA considering options after Ideata’s sour internal management breakup

A source close to the story told Campaign Asia-Pacific that TBWA partnered with Ideata in Taiwan to help with its multinational clients. The relationship ran smoothly until three months ago, when Ideata's three partners started to argue and Kuo decided to leave and open his own agency. He talked to TBWA and asked for support to set up a TBWA office in Taiwan, according to the source. The source added that Ideata will split with TBWA.

Alain Rhone, TBWA Asia Pacific's chief operating officer, said, "We have been partnering with Ideata in Taiwan for a long time and it is unfortunate that the Ideata partners have split. TBWA must take care of it's global clients first and foremost, and therefore, we are considering all of our options."

Kuo, nicknamed '郭老師' (Teacher Kuo), took 14 Ideata people with him and was also believed to have taken most of the multinational clients, including Visa, adidas, Abott, Nivea, Brand's and Absolut Vodka.

According to local media, Ideata was formed in 2002, when Jackie Du (杜致成)  left Ogilvy Taiwan and set up the agency with Kuo and Lee Yong Zhe (李永喆). 

Editor's note: This story was edited after its initial publication to include TBWA's comments.