JWT Singapore and XM bring in Publicis’ Valerie Cheng as Executive Creative Director

JWT Singapore and XM-Asia have made a joint hire, bringing in Valerie Cheng as Executive Creative Director to lead the digital advancements across both units.

Cheng joins from Publicis Modern where she was ECD of the agency’s Singapore office. Prior to Publicis, she was Creative Director at Leo Burnett/Arc Worldwide, Singapore for six years, during which her passion and achievements earned her a seat on the Leo Burnett Global Creative Board, making her the youngest to be amongst the top 20 creatives in the world.

Cheng is no stranger to XM, having worked with the agency for four years, from 1999-2003, as an art director. She rejoins with an expanded role across the two agencies, reporting in to Jun Fukawa, Executive Creative Director, JWT Singapore.

Her appointment is a direct reflection of today’s evolving business landscape with XM and JWT answering to the market challenges by boosting their multi-disciplinary talent and offerings.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Valerie on board,” said Paul Soon, XM-Asia Regional director and Director, Digital JWT Asia Pacific. “She has the digital and integrated skills that, coupled with her extensive experience working with top-name global and local clients, will help us deliver the best of what both JWT and XM have to offer our clients, both individually and also combined in one package.”

Cheng began her professional career with earth9.com in 1997. In her 12 years experience, Cheng’s talents have been recognized industry-wide– winning more than 50 awards for client Hewlett-Packard over the past three years; making Leo Burnett/Arc Worldwide the biggest winner for Asia Interactive Awards 2008; and serving as a judge for many regional and local award shows such as Media Spikes, Effies, AdFest , The Webbys and most recently, Chairman of The Creative Circle Awards 2010 – the show’s first female chair.

Her new assignment will take effect December 2010.