Publicis Groupe Hong Kong has appointed Martin Smith as chief strategy officer, who relocates from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong to take on the new role. 

Martin brings over 20 years of strategic expertise to Publicis Groupe Hong Kong and a passion for innovative approaches to creating great work, with provable results. With an ‘everything is interesting’ mindset and a best-in-class approach to brand strategy, he will lead the planning function at Publicis Groupe Hong Kong for clients including Cathay, AXA, Standard Chartered, and New World Development. 

“I was looking for two big things with this move: an exciting overseas opportunity and the chance to bring every communications channel together in fresh and innovative ways. Publicis Hong Kong has both of those in a big way, plus great clients and a huge appetite for great work,” Martin said.

Martin will drive business transformation and integrated solutions by putting data, creative, media, commerce, CRM and technology together, reporting to Tom Kao, CEO of Publicis Groupe Hong Kong.

“In the past year, we’ve enjoyed unstoppable growth and momentum at Publicis Groupe Hong Kong by developing work that delivers business impacts. With his strategic smarts, and an integrated approach to the brand, advertising, digital and retail disciplines, Martin is the perfect person to continue this momentum into 2024,” Tom said.

Publicis Groupe Hong Kong has enjoyed a succession of wins over the past year, from winning Agency of the Year at the Kam Fan Awards 2022 and Markies 2023 to winning the Grand Effie at the Hong Kong Effies in 2022.

Martin joins Publicis Groupe Hong Kong after six years as group strategy director at Twelve, a start-up marketing and creative agency, and its parent company Communisis. Previous roles include chief strategy officer at Geometry Global and Havas Media Group. He returns to the Publicis fold having worked at Saatchi & Saatchi and BBH in the UK.