Nominees Category: People Categories

Z has taken on the role of CEO, BBDO Greater China for 5 Years now, and is a member of BBDO’s Global Board of Directors – the first Asian in the firm’s history to have ever achieved this feat.

Z’s leadership and focus has led to results where they matter most – in the work produced for the company’s clients. Under her leadership, BBDO has won Creative Agency of the Year honours multiple times in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

She is an outstanding leader and forward thinker who brings an infectious energy and passion to all she does. Loved and valued by clients and all who work with her, she has been a powerful force in the rapid growth and success of BBDO group in China.

Makiko Imao is the Head of Brand and Innovation in Wunderman Thompson Tokyo. With her many years of experiences with multinational clients and teams, Imao is the best person to direct a paradigm shift in the way Wunderman Thompson conducts its business.

She leads her team with two key objectives: to effectively solve clients’ challenges, and to raise the profile and capabilities of junior staff and create a next generation of multifaceted leaders who can guide and inspire growth in brands. Imao achieves this through a multifaceted approach – providing rigorous and frequent training and development opportunities, while improving the work culture at Wunderman Thompson Tokyo to maximise each team members’ potentials.

Imao is both a hands-on mentor, and also a visionary in implementing structural changes to improve overall staff growth and welfare.