Publicis Groupe has announced three new creative hires in the APAC region. Laurent Thevenet joins as Head of Creative Technology for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, based in Singapore. Anna Tomasetti joins as Creative Community Manager, APAC & MEA, while Barbara Messer joins as Head of Creative PR, APAC & MEA.
All three report to Natalie Lam, Chief Creative Officer, APAC & MEA, and will work with her to strengthen the creative community and creative product across the region.
Thevenet joins from Publicis Groupe from R/GA Singapore where he was Executive Technology Director, overseeing work across Southeast Asia and having led projects across China, India, the Middle East and Australia. He founded the APAC R/GA Prototype Studio in 2016 which developed prototypes for clients such as Nike, Uber, Google, Siemens and Nikon.
“Laurent is many things: a thinker, maker, musician and coder who knows the latest about all things tech and brand values. Having him in the Groupe will bring firepower and magic to help our clients connect with their audience in a region full of rich traditions and big ambitions for the future,” said Lam.
“He joins a team of integrated thinkers and technologists, where he will add to our Power of One belief and collaborate across borders. I’m thrilled he’s joining us.”
Thevenet joins Publicis Groupe this month and will remain based in Singapore.
“Joining Publicis Groupe was an obvious choice for me. I’m an engineer by training but have always worked at the intersection of music, art, creativity and technology, which makes the role a perfect fit. The scale of Publicis Groupe, the spectrum of its skills and capabilities, and the opportunity to impact work across so many offices was irresistible. I’m fascinated by the possibilities in a region that’s home to some of the world’s most populous and technologically advanced markets,” said Thevenet.
Tomasetti joins Publicis Groupe with 10 years of experience in the film and advertising industries.
“Building a connective tissue between creative teams across three continents and eight time zones is certainly a challenge, but also a very exciting journey ahead. I truly believe in the power of connections that help us thrive in both work and life, and I can only try my hardest to inspire our regional creative community to be a part of that vision,” said Tomasetti.
Meanwhile, Messer joins Publicis Groupe with almost 20 years of journalism, communications and awards experience. As Global Editor for AD STARS and ADFEST, she has helped to raise the profile of creative brands, agencies, and leaders across the Asia Pacific, and remains a passionate advocate for the creative industries globally.
“I’ve always loved telling other people’s stories and seeing the world through their eyes, which makes this a dream role for me: there are so many talented creatives at Publicis Groupe with incredible stories to share about their process, inspirations and ideas,” said Messer.
