ICOM, one of the world's largest global networks of independent agencies offering advertising, marketing communications, media, digital and related services, has appointed Alan Tang to its board of directors to serve as regional director of ICOM Asia-Pacific, with an initial goal of expanding ICOM's presence throughout the vast region.
Tang is CEO-executive creative director of Olomana Loomis ISC, an integrated marketing and business consultancy based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"We believe Alan's unique Asian, American and indigenous island experience in Hawaii is a plus to growing the Asia-Pacific region," said ICOM Executive Director Emma Keenan. "His location in the middle of the Pacific and work he has done in both North America and Asia-Pacific give ICOM a running start to facilitate more cross border opportunities among countries on those two continents."
ICOM's Asia-Pacific region currently includes nine ICOM agency members in eight countries, spanning China, Japan and Korea in the north; Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia in the south, and India in the west.
The opportunities in the region are as diverse culturally as they are geographically," Tang said. “I am fortunate to start in my new role with a roster of strong ICOM member partners, and I am looking forward to collaborating with them to develop a regional strategy that is flexible enough to work in such diverse markets and grow our ICOM business together. Additionally, we plan to add agencies in other countries as well. Certainly, being located in the middle of the Pacific is a huge advantage."
Tang added that brands looking beyond their own national borders benefit from working with ICOM members because of the commitment they receive from independent agency owners, whose entrepreneurial priority is to ably and nimbly advance their clients' brands first and foremost.
Tang joins 11 other directors on ICOM's board, that also includes Reet Ahluwalia who continues as Asia-Pacific director-at-large. Each director is responsible for assisting in developing and leading regional new business initiatives, in recruiting new member agencies, and in organizing regional meetings. Tang succeeds Peter O'Leary, CEO, AMBA Communications, Sydney, Australia, who recently stepped down after serving for a number of years.
ICOM's board members represent all 80-plus partner agencies around the world. "Each agency possesses expert knowledge of their disciplines, local cultures and business environments," said ICOM Chairman Bob Morrison. "These insights enable clients' brands to have a thorough understanding of new markets and to make a big impact as they expand their businesses."
Morrison noted that Tang's breadth of experience and wealth of knowledge in business and strategic consulting, marketing, branding, advertising and related communications services and his success in developing effective strategies, programs and campaigns that deliver results are just the qualities required to lead the region and capitalize on the opportunities that abound.
"We are fortunate to have someone with such a pedigree," Morrison said.