Dear all,
I’m reaching out to you today because we have big and wonderful news coming out of the Philippines. I’m delighted to be able to share with you personally that Dentsu Aegis Network has signed on JaymeSyfu – one of the most awarded and successful creative agencies in Asia Pacific. JaymeSyfu will join forces with Dentsu Philippines to form Dentsu JaymeSyfu.
The media will break this news at 11.30 am today, but before this becomes public, I would like to give you some background behind these developments.
Dentsu Philippines has made enormous progressions over the last years. Just like many other offices in the region the creative capabilities have been upgraded with the arrival of new creative directors and the agency has been winning accounts, winning awards and have been getting on the radar of clients that wouldn’t consider us three years ago.
To combine this already strong operation with the creative powerhouse that is JaymeSyfu, will allow us to supercharge the network in the Philippines. Note that none of these current developments are cost-driven. As a network, we are solely looking at opportunities to strengthen our capabilities to innovate the way brands are built.
JaymeSyfu, for those of you that don’t know, has been one of the most innovative and successful creative agencies in Asia Pacific. It was founded by “Chairmom” Merlee Cruz-Jayme and Chief Client Relations Alex Syfu in 2005, with General Manager Ronald Barreiro joining a little later. The three of them have steered their agency to amazing heights, winning accolades like Cannes and Spikes Grand Prix’s as well as a Yellow Pencil at D&AD.
The leadership team will stay on and join Dentsu JaymeSyfu, and Merlee will be part of Dentsu’s Creative Council for APAC.
This acquisition shows our dedicated commitment to the Philippines. Not just because it is the sixth largest advertising market in APAC, but also because the Philippines have been punching above its weight in the advertising industry. It is a key market for us, one in which we would like to be a strong and powerful as we can possibly be. The creation of Dentsu JaymeSyfu is a huge step in that direction and it is a move that will send waves through the entire advertising industry in APAC.
Dentsu Aegis Network as a whole and Dentsu Aegis Network Philippines specifically took a huge step today. I’m looking forward to many successes to come and I am positive that today’s developments will boost our creativity region-wide.
If anyone of you is approached by the media, please politely provide no comments and redirect all questions to lavinia.rajaram@dentsuaegis.com - who is on the ground in Manila today – or thijs.plug@dentsuaegis.com.
I will be in Manila as well to personally talk to as many of the local employees as possible. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions that you might have, either personally or via email.
Lastly: For those of you that celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very happy Christmas. To the rest of you, I wish you a peaceful end to the year and a happy and prosperous new year. Thank you for all your hard work in 2015.
Best,