Asia Advisory Board
Asia Advisory Board

Asia VP & Chairs
- Rupen Desai Rupen WFA Asia VP & Advisory Board Member Copenhagen CartelRupen is the co-founder of The Shed 28 (TS/28), an organisation which helps build purpose-driven brands, and a Board Member of Copenhagen Cartel, as well as being WFA’s Regional VP for APAC. Previously, he was Global CMO at Dole, stewarding the company’s mission to provide equal access to good nutrition for everyone, delivered in a positive and sustainable manner. Prior to Dole, he was Edelman’s Vice-Chairman across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. During this time, he also led Edelman’s Women’s leadership network. He began his career with Mullen Lowe, where he spent two decades, leading the Asia-Pacific region for the last six. He is a strong advocate of the responsibility purposeful business and creativity have, towards the interdependence between people, planet and prosperity.
- Silas Lewis-Meilus Silas Asia Chair, Media Forum& Global Head of Media Business Units, GSK
Corporate Members
- Shyam Balasubramanian Shyam Castrol head of brands ( cars , bikes , trucks), Castrol
- Edward Bell Edward General Manager Brand, Insights & Marketing Communications, Cathay Pacific
- Juliana Chu Juliana Vice President of Digital & Ecommerce, Asia Pacific, Shiseido
- Chiradeep Gupta Chiradeep VP, Personal Care Head of Media and Global Integrated Media Strategy Lead, Unilever
- Mikimasa Hamamatsu Mikimasa General Manager, Global Marketing, Nissan Motor Corporation
- Josephine Tan Josephine Global Technology - Solutions Readiness Director, Digital/Mobile , McDonald's
Objectives and aims
There are five objectives for this group:
- To help determine the direction for WFA’s regionally-focused work, as it relates to the unique challenges of our markets.
- To identify key global issues that require adaptation and application at a regional level
- To champion the WFA’s priorities within our industry
- To impact regional growth through recruitment and retention efforts
- To provide a platform for leadership board members to share ideas, experiences, best practices and progress made with common challenges.
In the face of on-going COVID-19 challenges, the WFA Asia Advisory Board will also offer strategic counsel in shaping our response as an industry, while providing support and guidance to our network of regional marketers.
Meetings & Commitment
Meetings will be held approximately once per quarter via web conference. This will be a 90-minute session that will provide Board Members with updates on global initiatives and policy updates, discuss upcoming regional meetings as well as identify priorities and areas of focus for the group.
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