John Gutteridge succeeds Tom Doctoroff as J. Walter Thompson Asia Pacific CEO
New York, June 30, 2016: After a high-profile career in Asia, J. Walter Thompson APAC CEO Tom Doctoroff is handing leadership of the region over
to John Gutteridge, who’s long been marked as one of the J. Walter Thompson network’s rising stars.
“Tom’s indefatigable passion for building domestic and global brands, and his expertise on China has set him, as a
business leader, and our agency, apart in this critical, high-growth market. He has left a real legacy of robust growth
and thought leadership, not just in China but across Asia, for our network as a whole,” said J. Walter Thompson
Worldwide CEO Tamara Ingram. “I’m confident John will build on that momentum. He is a strategic thinker and a decisive
leader who injects a very infectious energy and passion into everything he does.”
The appointment is part of a long-term succession plan mapped out over the last year by Doctoroff and Gutteridge, who
serves as the J. Walter Thompson’s Australia & New Zealand CEO, and sits on the network’s Asia Pacific Executive Committee.
Gutteridge began his career with J. Walter Thompson in the UK and ascended rapidly through the management ranks. In
2004, at the age of 30, he became Managing Director of J. Walter Thompson New Zealand; four years later was appointed
Managing Director of J. Walter Thompson Melbourne, and in 2011 promoted to CEO of Australia and New Zealand.
Under his watch, J. Walter Thompson ANZ has evolved into diversified, integrated business, with digital and commercial
at the core. The company acquired two digital agencies, Heyday and Webling, launched Colloquial, a new content business,
and took management control of Evo, Australia’s first-ever shopper marketing agency, along with a raft of other new
initiatives and offerings. Gutteridge also set up a new way of working designed to tear down silos, ensure collaboration
and wring more synergies out of an increasingly diverse team of talent. The ANZ business has grown by more than 75%
since he assumed leadership. Last year J. Walter Thompson was Australia’s second most globally-awarded agency, according
to the Gunn Report, and ranked number one in the “All Guns Blazing” award, which rates the leading integrated campaigns.
Gutteridge will continue to oversee the Australian and New Zealand business as part of his expanded role, with Jenny
Willits (Sydney), Michael Godwin (Melbourne), Doni Savvides (Perth), and Simon Lendrum (Auckland) remaining at the helm
of their respective offices.
“The Australian and New Zealand offices of J Walter Thompson have not only had incredible growth in the past 12 to 18
months, but each have also built a culture of collaboration and effectiveness that will ensure their future success. I
have complete confidence that each of these office leaders, with their specific knowledge of each individual market
teamed with the depth and ability to work together across borders where required, will continue this pattern of
outstanding results,” said Gutteridge.
Gutteridge, who is now 42, will work out of the network’s APAC office in Singapore in his role as regional CEO.
"APAC is one of the most exciting places to be right now. We’re continually reminded of its importance in the global
economy, and indeed the immense potential for so many businesses here,” said Gutteridge. “Tom has been an inspiration to
many, and I admire the sense of community he’s worked hard to create across such a diverse group of countries. I’m
looking forward to working with our leadership team to ensure we deliver a future focused model with a best in class
product.”
Doctoroff, who has spent 24 years with the J. Walter Thompson Company, including 22 years in Asia, and 18 in China, is
moving back to the U.S to pursue a new opportunity, which he will announce in due course.
“I feel confident that I’m leaving a team and region I care deeply about in good hands. John has a proven ability to
unify people around a clear philosophy that puts everyone on the same path to the same goal. That’s a quality that is
going to resonate well with staff and clients across the Asia Pacific region,” he said.
J. Walter Thompson is part of WPP, the world’s largest communications services group.
ENDS