Cheil Worldwide has named marketing veteran Sungkyoon Kim as President and CEO of Cheil South West Asia, signalling a strategic leadership shift for the Samsung-backed network. Kim will lead growth, strengthen integrated capabilities, and deepen client partnerships as the region emerges as a key global growth engine.
Cheil Worldwide has appointed marketing veteran Sungkyoon Kim as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cheil South West Asia (SWA), marking a significant leadership transition at the Samsung-backed advertising and marketing network’s regional operations. The move comes at a time when the South West Asia market—anchored by India but extending across a fast-evolving cluster of emerging economies—is undergoing rapid change driven by digital acceleration, data-led marketing, and increasingly complex consumer behaviour.
Kim’s appointment underscores Cheil Worldwide’s intent to sharpen its strategic focus in the region and strengthen alignment with the network’s global priorities. As President and CEO of Cheil SWA, Kim will be responsible for steering growth across markets, deepening client relationships, and expanding the agency’s integrated capabilities spanning creative, digital transformation, performance marketing, retail experience, and data intelligence. He will also play a critical role in nurturing talent and building leadership depth across the region.
A seasoned marketing professional, Kim brings with him decades of experience within the Cheil and Samsung ecosystem, having worked across diverse geographies and business contexts. Known internally as a leader who combines strategic rigour with operational discipline, Kim has built a reputation for driving growth by aligning creativity with business outcomes. His elevation to lead South West Asia reflects both his track record and the region’s growing importance within Cheil Worldwide’s global network.
South West Asia has emerged as one of the most dynamic territories for global advertising and marketing firms. India, in particular, has become a focal point for multinational brands seeking scale, speed, and innovation. With its massive digital-first population, rapidly maturing e-commerce ecosystem, and rising demand for omnichannel brand experiences, the market presents both immense opportunity and intense competition. For Cheil, which has built a strong presence in the region through long-standing relationships with Samsung and a widening roster of local and global clients, the next phase of growth will depend on its ability to deliver integrated solutions at scale while remaining culturally nuanced and locally relevant.
Kim steps into the role at a time when agency leadership is being redefined. Clients are no longer looking at advertising partners purely as creative vendors; instead, they expect strategic collaborators who can navigate technology, data, and storytelling in equal measure. Cheil’s global positioning as a marketing solutions company—rather than a conventional agency—has been central to its pitch, and Kim is expected to further embed this approach across the SWA operations.
Internally, his mandate will include strengthening collaboration across offices, breaking down silos between creative, media, digital, and experiential teams, and ensuring that Cheil’s offerings remain future-ready. The emphasis is likely to be on building capabilities in areas such as AI-driven marketing, commerce, content automation, and customer experience design—domains that are increasingly shaping how brands engage with consumers in South West Asia.
Kim’s leadership style is often described as methodical yet adaptive, a balance that will be tested in a region as diverse as SWA. From metropolitan India to emerging South Asian markets, consumer realities vary widely, requiring agencies to operate with both scale and sensitivity. Industry observers note that Cheil’s ability to leverage its global tools and frameworks while empowering local teams will be key to sustaining momentum. Kim’s experience working across multiple markets positions him well to manage this complexity.
The appointment also signals continuity alongside change. Cheil South West Asia has, over the years, evolved from being perceived primarily as Samsung’s in-house agency partner to a full-fledged marketing network serving a broad client base. While Samsung remains a cornerstone relationship, the agency has steadily expanded its portfolio across categories such as consumer electronics, FMCG, fintech, automotive, and start-ups. Kim is expected to accelerate this diversification while reinforcing Cheil’s strength in retail and technology-led marketing—areas where the network has traditionally excelled.
From a people perspective, leadership development and talent retention are likely to feature prominently on Kim’s agenda. The advertising and marketing industry in South West Asia faces a persistent challenge of attracting and retaining skilled professionals, particularly in digital and data roles. By fostering a culture that values learning, innovation, and cross-market exposure, Cheil aims to position itself as an employer of choice in a competitive talent landscape.
Kim’s appointment has been welcomed within the industry as a vote of confidence in experienced, globally oriented leadership at a time of flux. As agencies grapple with margin pressures, shifting client expectations, and the disruptive impact of technology, steady leadership with a clear strategic vision is seen as critical. Cheil Worldwide’s decision to entrust the SWA region to a seasoned insider reflects its belief in continuity, alignment, and long-term value creation.
For Cheil Worldwide, South West Asia is not just a high-growth region but also a strategic testbed for innovation. Many of the solutions being developed for markets like India—whether in mobile-first content, commerce-linked marketing, or data-driven personalisation—have relevance far beyond the region. Under Kim’s leadership, Cheil SWA is expected to play a more prominent role in shaping global best practices within the network.
As Kim takes on his new role, the focus will be firmly on execution. Translating vision into measurable growth, strengthening client trust, and building resilient teams will define the early phase of his tenure. In a region marked by rapid change and fierce competition, his ability to balance global consistency with local agility will determine how effectively Cheil South West Asia navigates its next chapter.
Ultimately, Kim’s appointment represents more than a routine leadership change. It signals Cheil Worldwide’s intent to double down on South West Asia as a strategic growth engine and to equip the region with leadership capable of steering it through the complexities of modern marketing. For clients, employees, and industry peers alike, the coming months will offer a clearer view of how Kim’s experience and vision translate into impact on the ground.
Discover more from Creative Brands
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
