VMLY&R Welcomes Chien-Wen Tong as UK Managing Partner

VMLY&R today announced the appointment of Chien-Wen Tong as UK managing partner. Chien-Wen will be responsible for cultivating relationships across VMLY&R's growing portfolio of clients in the UK, focusing on Intel, Danone and Colgate-Palmolive, and helping the agency become their most important partner. She will report to UK CEO Justin Pahl.

"Chien-Wen's hire is a true testament to the agency we've built. Her expertise in how digital and data transform brand experience is crucial as our role continues to evolve into helping our clients transform and grow through a deeper understanding of their audience." – said Justin Pahl, UK CEO – VMLY&R.

Chien-Wen joins the agency at an exciting time as VMLY&R recently retained its place on the coveted CCS roster, was shortlisted twice for the C4 Diversity in Advertising Award and worked as part of the WPP partnership team The Pharm to launch Boots’ Christmas campaign. 

Chien-Wen will initially focus on Content and Commerce to unlock growth for clients in the post-pandemic world. She will partner with VMLY&R client leaders: executive partner Katherine Francis and managing partner Daniel Lipman to build diverse teams that develop transformative and innovative solutions for clients. 

"I couldn't be more excited to join VMLY&R. The convergence of brilliant creativity with world-class digital and experience capabilities has been a dream of mine for a while, and VMLY&R bring these together with deep client relationships. I'm looking forward to unlocking new opportunities and creating sustainable routes for growth," said Chien-Wen Tong, UK managing partner - VMLY&R

Before joining VMLY&R, Chien-Wen was head of client development and managing partner at Wavemaker. Here, as part of the WPP relationship with the WHO, she proudly led the overall media effort to educate people on how to stay safe when the pandemic started. With millions of pro bono media and in a race against time, eight campaigns launched within 12 weeks.

Chien-Wen was also part of the core global team behind the launch of the Wavemaker Content Practice - combining social, SEO, partnerships, and production into one unit - and she was the lead for their international division, winning Effies and Cannes Lions globally in the process.

She has spent the past 11 years building her experience across multiple WPP agencies, including OgilvyOne (now Ogilvy), JWT and POSSIBLE (both now WundermanThompson) and MEC (Wavemaker), working with leading clients from luxury, banking, FMCG and B2B sectors. 

Chien-Wen's career prior to WPP includes start-ups, brand design and retail. Her interdisciplinary expertise and in-depth experience in driving business growth allow her to lead clients in exciting new directions.

Chien-Wen holds an MBA from London Business School and a BSc in Engineering from Stanford University. She is involved in industry panels and enjoys surfing and cooking. A passionate advocate of the industry, Tong holds a fundamental belief in the potential of digital and experience to unleash growth in creativity and business.