Iris Asia Pacific has appointed Australian Luke Nathans as chief executive after just one year in the role, amid the agency's global expansion plans.
Nathans was promoted to Asia Pacific regional development director in August 2011, following his role as managing director of the region's experiential arm. Prior to this, he worked for agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, OgilvyOne, TBWA Tequila UK and Belgiovane Williams Mackay.
Nathans will transition into the top role this month, taking on multiple blue-chip clients including Diageo, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Lonely Planet and Heineken. He will continue to chair Iris' Asia Pacific board, working with the agency's regional leaders and creative, planning, consulting and digital executives.
He will also be responsible for continuing Iris' local growth, while playing a key role in its forthcoming expansion into the Middle East and North Africa.
Nathans will report to Iris' joint global chief executives Ian Millner and Stewart Shanley.
Iris joint global chief executive said Ian Millner said: “Luke has been at iris for four years now and has been a key part of driving the development of the agency proposition, the agency product, and key client relationships in Australia, Indonesia, India, China and Singapore.
"As the network grows, it will become more important to release more autonomy internationally to enable iris to continue empowering talented and entrepreneurial people in the diverse and exciting markets we now operate in."
Nathans added: "It's an honour to be asked to drive Iris' operations in Asia Pacific. In the last 12 months we've experienced unprecedented growth that has led to us becoming one of the leading creative innovation networks in the region.
“Australia will be a key focus moving forward, the team there have had an incredible run of success in recent months winning 8 from 8 pitches on some of the biggest names in the country. They’ve got some awesome work in development and I think the next 12 months are going to be exceptional for them.
“Our growing success has been due to our ability to create world-class participation brands. We've got a fantastic portfolio of progressive brands that want to be known for more than just the goods and services they offer, brands that want to be part of popular culture. This desire, coupled with some of the best minds in the business, will ensure that we are the agency the most talented people want to work for, and the one clients want to work with."
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