Updated: Ng Tian It quits DDB, returns to McCann to replace Stephen Mui

This will be Ng's second stint with McCann; his first tenure was 13 years ago when he was executive creative director of the agency's Singapore office. 

Ng left DDB Guoan after just 10 months for "a better opportunity" to work with a "seemingly more like-minded team" at McCann. Jimmy Lam also exited DDB's top creative ranks in December 2015. While at DDB, Ng serviced clients such as Qualcomm and Volkswagen.

When Campaign Asia-Pacific reached out to Richard Tan, president and CEO at DDB China Group, he said Ng was instrumental in setting up the Volkswagen team in Beijing, and worked hard until the very last week of his employment. Ng's family preferred Shanghai to Beijing, but unfortunately DDB did not have viable options in that office.

"Tian It left on amicable terms, in good standing with DDB management. I'm now casting for his replacement, though may not be at Tian It's level. ‎Tim Cheng, our Shanghai CCO, will hold the fort in the interim," said Tan.

Singapore-born Ng will now lead McCann's China creative teams while relocating from Beijing to be based in Shanghai. He will report to Jesse Lin, APAC vice chairman and Greater China CEO. 

“There are three things that have drawn me to McCann," Ng said. "Being 'home', being in Shanghai and being with the right team. The phenomenal turnaround [of the agency by Lin] is no fluke as it merely attests to the fact that anything is possible with the right people. I have a niggling feeling that the latest Campaign Asia Agency of the Year accolade is only the beginning.” (McCann won silver in the Greater China Creative Agency of the Year category.)

Another reason for Ng's return to McCann is his romantic notion of sharing a name card with his TV idol Don Draper. A graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Otis/Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles, Ng moved to China in 2007 and led the creative departments of Lowe Shanghai and BBDO Beijing before his most-recent position at DDB Beijing.

Mui was with McCann for two years before his departure at the end of November.