JWT Asia Pacific has formed a new regional executive management committee with Australasia CEO John Gutteridge to represent the agency’s three sub-regions.

Gutteridge (pictured), along with Asia Pacific chief executive Tom Doctoroff and Bangkok CEO Bob Hekkelman, will represent Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar on the new committee.

The changes are the first to be driven by Doctoroff, who is also North Asia director, since he assumed the CEO role on January 1.

“Southeast Asia’s economic star is on the rise, and we are committed to seeking out new opportunities, both in existing markets we operate in, and in the newer, emerging markets of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar,” Doctoroff said.

Hekkelman has been promoted to the newly-created role of Southeast Asia CEO and will now oversee operations in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“Bob’s new role reflects the importance of Southeast Asia to our broader strategy,” added Doctoroff.

North East Asia planning director and 20-year JWT veteran, Ratan Malli, has been elevated to the new role of strategic planning director, Asia Pacific.

A number of changes have also been made to JWT’s APAC creative arrangements.

As a result, Lo Sheung Yan’s role will be expanded to chairman of the Asia Pacific Creative Council.

Shanghai chief creative officer, Yang Yeo, has been promoted to China chairman and North Asia executive creative director. Yeo was instrumental in winning JWT Shanghai’s 2011 Grand Prix – the first for China.

Yan and Yeo will be joined on the council by Tay Guan Hin who is JWT’s Southeast Asia ECD and Global Lux ECD.

Other members of JWT APAC’s new regional committee include Nick Romas, Asia Pacific CFO, Sapna Srivastava, chief talent officer and consultant Mark Webster.

Executives from JWT partner companies who are also members of the new group include Cai Hui, founder and CEO of Always Field Marketing, Pete Rentschler, president of Blue Hive and Paul Soon, CEO of XM Asia Pacific.

“This group of very talented people will work together to shape our business and creative strategy, drive our growth and strengthen the collaboration across our network and office. It’s JWT’s Worldmade ethos, put into action,” said Doctoroff.

“JWT and its partner companies have a long history and strong reputation in Asia, and we are now positioned to push the frontiers of media-neutral idea-centricism, rooted in a spirit of collaboration among like-minded warriors.”