OMD APAC names Rochelle Chhaya as COO and Pankaj Nayak as CMO

OMD has added two senior roles to its leadership team in Asia Pacific.  Rochelle Chhaya has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Pankaj Nayak has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Chhaya was most recently Chief Digital Officer at Omnicom Media Group Asia-Pacific. She has previously worked with L’Oreal, HTC and Havas.

As COO, Chhaya will be tasked with mapping out what the future client-centric, digitally powered and data-led agency model looks like for OMD. She will leverage her unique background in both digital and investment to ensure the network is equipped with the right processes, partnerships and infrastructure to deliver on this new reality.

Nayak brings over 20 years of industry knowledge and experience to this role. He was most recently Business Development Director at OMG Asia-Pacific. He has previously worked with Mediacom and Havas.

As CMO, Nayak will be tasked with continuously enhancing the network’s approach in engaging both new clients and existing ones. This will involve developing a strategy for the seamless manifestation of the network’s new brand promise of Better Decisions, Faster throughout the client relationship, ensuring a consistent telling of the OMD story across clients and markets. 

Stephen Li, CEO of OMD APAC, says: “As we return to the top of the charts and scale even greater heights, both globally and in APAC, it is imperative that we have the right leadership in place to ensure our agencies and clients continue to maximise their potential.

“Given her impressive track-record in delivering market-leading digital solutions, Rochelle has earned the trust and respect of our clients and partners over the years. She has also become a well-respected voice in the industry. There is no one with as strong a 360 overview of our business as her, which will be extremely valuable in developing OMD’s agency model for the future,” Li continues.

“Throughout his tenure with both the network and the Group, Pankaj has come to know the organisation inside and out, developed significant relationships internally and externally, and has touched on the development and growth of every single market in the region. He is perfectly suited for the CMO role and I have every confidence that OMD will continue to elevate its new business momentum under his leadership.”

Both appointments are effective immediately.