KBS (kirshenbaum bond senecal + partners) has officially opened its doors in Shanghai, marking its formal entry into the China market. KBS China is led by Douglas Lin, partner and CEO, and Jonathan Ip, partner and chief creative officer.
Though KBS has already begun work in China with existing agency clients, coinciding with international relationships across the US and Europe, the agency will also work to help companies across Asia Pacific to expand regionally and internationally. Lin said, “We believe in the power of invention and the exponential ROI that results from creating true marketing firsts. We have put that philosophy into action and brought a more modern approach to the APAC market, enabling us to help brands grow here at home and around the globe.”
To further the development of the shop, Lin has brought on eight full-time employees who are experts across various fields including creative, technology, social, PR and finance. The leadership will aim to have upwards of 20 employees by the end of 2015, with a strong focus on solidifying the culture and foundation of the agency and growing the client roster within the region.
Guy Hayward, global CEO of KBS, said: “We’ve already discovered that there are a lot of opportunities because clients are demanding our seamless, modern approach to communications in China just as much as they are in other parts of the world.”
KBS also maintains offices in New York, Toronto, Montreal and London. KBS serves a diverse roster of clients around the world, including American Express, BMW, Harman, Jose Cuervo, King (maker of CandyCrush), Skype, TE Connectivity, and Unilever. KBS is a member of the MDC Partners Network.
