Ogilvy Group Singapore has confirmed the appointment of Shirley Tay as its next chief executive officer, with her tenure set to begin on 1 January 2026.

Tay will take over from Kunal Jeswani, who previously served as group CEO for Singapore and Malaysia before assuming the role of CEO for Ogilvy ASEAN in February 2025.

In her new position, Tay will oversee the unified business operations of the group’s agency brands, which include Ogilvy Singapore and Grey Singapore. According to the company, she will work alongside leaders from both agencies to make use of their combined capabilities, while ensuring that each brand remains distinct and serves respective clients independently.

Tay most recently held the role of chief client officer at Ogilvy. Her association with the company dates back to 2000, when she joined Ogilvy Singapore and went on to become managing director of advertising. During that time, she worked on major accounts such as Singapore Tourism Board, BMW Asia and the National Environment Agency.

Beyond her earlier years at Ogilvy, Tay played a key part in establishing a regional hub for Australia-based digital creative agency ZOO Group in 2015. She also contributed to data-driven initiatives for major clients including Unilever, Coty and the Lien Foundation.

She later became CEO of Young & Rubicam Singapore before returning to Ogilvy in 2019.

Alongside Shirley Tay’s appointment to Oglivy Singapore, Oglivy Group has also announced two key appointments at the helm of Oglivy Malaysia. 

Her appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the agency as it continues to align its Singapore operations under a consolidated structure while maintaining the individuality of its major brands.