We Are Social has made two senior promotions in its Singapore team, with Nai Yen Wang moving into the role of managing director and Kelson Ong as general manager.
Wang (pictured right), previously head of account management, joined We Are Social in 2022. In her new role she will be responsible for defining and leading We Are Social Singapore’s vision, operational strategy and innovation credentials, while delivering growth and building an inclusive, creative and future-facing culture. Before joining We Are Social, she was regional business director, APAC at DDB, where she led regional network clients such as J&J and Unilever and was integral in setting up new operating models for these clients to drive growth.
Ong (pictured left) was previously business director, having joined We Are Social in 2021 from Netflix. He will now be responsible for overseeing business development and team management at We Are Social Singapore, ensuring the delivery of innovative and effective solutions for clients. Since joining We Are Social, Ong has been part of the leadership team focused on growing its offerings such as Gaming, Influence and .XYZ, as well as bringing in new clients to the business.
We Are Social Singapore, which was recently awarded Campaign’s Southeast Asia Social Media Agency of the Year, has a team of 80 people and works with brands including Samsung, Bandai Namco Entertainment and TikTok. It is highly regarded for its innovation expertise, from virtual influencer creation to specialist production capabilities, as well as developing AI and XR (extended reality) products.
Wang and Ong have taken over the leadership of We Are Social’s Singapore office from Chris Chong, who has left to explore other opportunities. Wang reports to We Are Social’s group chief operating officer, Chris Adamson, and Ong reports to Wang.
Wang commented: “Since joining We Are Social Singapore, I have been impressed with how deeply embedded innovation is in our culture. We’re globally focused and deliver innovation focused and social-first work for our clients that evolves the way marketing is done. I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead and work alongside this talented team. Together we will continue to build a culture that focuses on our people, deliver game-changing work and offerings inspired by data and enabled by technology to unlock new areas of growth in Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond.”
Ong said: “Innovation is in We Are Social’s DNA. As the world of marketing continues to evolve and rapid advancement in technology is made, we have already built a robust service offering that supports the needs of clients both today and tomorrow. I’m excited to be given the opportunity to work with Nai Yen and our leadership team to further amplify these capabilities to drive growth and unlock new opportunities for both the agency and clients.”
Nathan McDonald, co-founder and group CEO of We Are Social, said: “Chris has done an incredible job in leading and growing We Are Social Singapore since she joined us in 2016. She’s been particularly committed to innovation, and bolstering our future strategy arm, .XYZ. Nai Yen and Kelson’s promotions are both well-deserved, and I’m confident that the team will continue to thrive with their leadership, guidance and support.”
Chong said: “Nai Yen and Kelson are both talented and effective leaders who have been instrumental in building We Are Social Singapore into the successful business it is today. They’ve helped build an enviable client base and establish a first reputation for innovation. I’m pleased to be leaving the team in safe hands.”
