# Rhys Taylor
**Company Director & Marketing Leader**
Asia Pacific region · rhystaylor@gmail.com

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/2hy5/) — Professional profile
- [rhystaylor.net](https://rhystaylor.net) — Primary node — current roles and full career history.
- [Applied Creativity](https://appliedcreativity.com) — Hub for current ventures — Marketing Quotient and Cropduster (stealth).
- [Marketing Quotient](https://marketingquotient.com) — An operating system for innovation and building strong brand franchises. Developed 2019, recently revised; used by Dentsu, Mastercard, HSBC, Standard Chartered, NZTE, SAP, HP.
- [Wired Fire](https://wiredfire.com) — Long-form essays on marketing, memory, and culture.
- [NZ Trade & Enterprise](https://www.nzte.govt.nz) — The New Zealand Government's international trade initiative — advisor role.
- [NZ Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong](https://nzcchk.com/About-Us.html) — The network for business into, out-from, and throughout New Zealand — executive committee.

## Summary

Company director and marketing leader. Non-executive advisor to the New Zealand Government's international trade initiative (NZTE), executive committee member of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, and Company Director of Applied Creativity Limited.

Former Managing Director at Publicis Groupe, WPP, and Dentsu; Chief Marketing Officer at Saasu (acquired by ERLY Group); member of the management team at Acclipse technology (acquired by Wolters Kluwer); owner of Caught! Photography (merged with SnapStar).

Author of the Marketing Quotient framework and Wiredfire.

## Experience

### Non Executive Advisor — New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
*2022 — current*

### MD Publicis Groupe HK & Global Lead CathayOne — Publicis Groupe
*Jan 2025 – Aug 2026*

### MD VMLY&R Singapore — WPP
*Jan 2023 – Dec 2024*

### MD Asia Pacific Dentsu B2B — Dentsu
*Jan 2020 – Dec 2022*

Promoted as youngest regional MD. Managed 130 people across AU, HK, India, and SG. Generated . Integrated five agency brands across Research, Strategy, Creative, Media, and Technology.

### Head of Strategy Asia Pacific Dentsu B2B — Dentsu
*Sept 2018 – Dec 2019*

Established consulting business which contributed 20% of revenue within 12 months.

### Head of Strategy Australia — Wunderman
*Jan 2016 – Aug 2018*

First agency role; drove new business and managed global clients across the Asia region.

### Chief Marketing Officer — Saasu
*2012 – 2014*

Managed marketing for an online accounting app. Grew customer base across 30 countries; company later acquired by Erly Software.

### Member of management team — Acclipse Technology
*2010 – 2012*

Responsible for marketing and partnerships across 90 staff in AU, India, NZ, and Singapore. Company acquired by Wolters Kluwer.

### Owner — Caught! photography studio
*2007 – 2010*

Founded photography studio covering weddings and commercial events. Merged with snapstar.co.nz.

## Education

### Canterbury University — B.Com Finance and Marketing
*2007 – 2009*

## Skills

- Brand strategy
- Marketing management
- B2B marketing
- Marketing frameworks & operating systems
- Trade & export advisory
- Company direction & governance
- Long-form essays on marketing
- Photography
- Agency Management
- Strategy
- Creative Direction
- New Business Development
- Corporate Turnaround
- Marketing Strategy
- Brand Culture
- Business Development
- Media Planning
- Consulting
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing
- B2B Strategy
- Customer-led transformation
- Finance
- Business advisory
- Business Strategy
- Strategic Consulting
- Operations Management

## Interests

- Innovation operating systems
- Brand building
- Trade & export growth
- Systems thinking — Cynefin, Pace Layers
- Marketing, memory & culture
- Entrepreneurship
- Photography
- Asia Pacific
- Norway
- New Zealand

## Principles

- What got you where you are now won't get you where you want to go next.
- Pursuing 'best imaginable' leads to remarkable. 'Good enough' leads to ordinary.
- You are what you don't automate.

## Selected writing

### Marketing Quotient
[marketingquotient.com](marketingquotient.com)

A model for building strong brand culture and customer franchises.

## Press coverage

### Publicis Groupe names Hong Hong Managing Director
*Marketing Interactive*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20250212045948/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/publicis-groupe-hk-names-new-md-of-global-client-leader](https://web.archive.org/web/20250212045948/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/publicis-groupe-hk-names-new-md-of-global-client-leader)

Rhys Taylor was appointed as the new Managing Director for Publicis Groupe in Hong Kong.

### VML announces new Asia Pacific leadership
*Campaign Asia*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20231219070953/https://www.campaignasia.com/article/vml-unveils-new-asia-pacific-leadership-lineup/493405](https://web.archive.org/web/20231219070953/https://www.campaignasia.com/article/vml-unveils-new-asia-pacific-leadership-lineup/493405)

Rhys Taylor is included in the new Asia Pacific leadership lineup announced by VML.

### VML appoints Singapore Managing Director
*Marketing Interactive*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230323181514/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/vmly-r-names-new-managing-director-for-singapore-ops](https://web.archive.org/web/20230323181514/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/vmly-r-names-new-managing-director-for-singapore-ops)

Rhys Taylor was appointed as the Managing Director for VML's Singapore operations.

### New leadership as Dentsu forms commercial marketing function
*Campaign Asia*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220208072323/https://www.campaignasia.com/article/dentsus-merkle-b2b-absorbs-gyro-and-merkle-dwa/475676](https://web.archive.org/web/20220208072323/https://www.campaignasia.com/article/dentsus-merkle-b2b-absorbs-gyro-and-merkle-dwa/475676)

Rhys Taylor is identified as part of the new leadership team following Dentsu's commercial marketing restructuring.

### Is B2B Marketing in urgent need of reinvention?
*Campaign*
[https://www.campaignasia.com/article/is-b2b-marketing-in-need-of-an-urgent-re-invention/471074](https://www.campaignasia.com/article/is-b2b-marketing-in-need-of-an-urgent-re-invention/471074)

Rhys Taylor provides professional insights on the necessity of reinventing B2B marketing strategies.

### Mediacorp Executive Insights: Is virtual the new reality?
*Mediacorp*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220521223811/https://www.mediacorp.sg/business/advertising/executive-insights/virtual-new-reality-181981](https://web.archive.org/web/20220521223811/https://www.mediacorp.sg/business/advertising/executive-insights/virtual-new-reality-181981)

Rhys Taylor participated in an executive insights panel regarding the shift to virtual business environments.

### Campaign Connect 2021: Opening Panel
*Campaign*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220630160742/https://www.campaign-connect.com/speakers/rhys-taylor/](https://web.archive.org/web/20220630160742/https://www.campaign-connect.com/speakers/rhys-taylor/)

Rhys Taylor served as a speaker for the opening panel at the Campaign Connect 2021 event.

### How Millennials and Gen Z are framing Customer Experience
*AdAge*
[https://adage.com/article/opinion/opinion-how-millennials-and-gen-z-are-framing-b-b-experience/2305561](https://adage.com/article/opinion/opinion-how-millennials-and-gen-z-are-framing-b-b-experience/2305561)

Rhys Taylor authored an opinion piece on the influence of younger generations on customer experience expectations.

### Dentsu appoints APAC Managing Director B2B
*Marketing Interactive*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20201127084732/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/gyro-apac-names-new-managing-director-for-apac](https://web.archive.org/web/20201127084732/https://www.marketing-interactive.com/gyro-apac-names-new-managing-director-for-apac)

Rhys Taylor was appointed as the APAC Managing Director for Dentsu's B2B division.

### Insights Inside podcast Episode 4: A new framework for strategic planning
*B2B International*
[https://open.spotify.com/episode/0J885SsLYFNtC7peT7y0e8](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0J885SsLYFNtC7peT7y0e8)

Rhys Taylor discusses new frameworks for strategic planning on this podcast episode.

### Mastercard Academy: COVID-19 response framework for Issuers
*Mastercard*
[https://academy.mastercard.com/events/mastercard-academy-mea/event-summary-6e87a2b14ad04619b8986db66e7148a4.aspx?5S,M3,6e87a2b1-4ad0-4619-b898-6db66e7148a4=](https://academy.mastercard.com/events/mastercard-academy-mea/event-summary-6e87a2b14ad04619b8986db66e7148a4.aspx?5S,M3,6e87a2b1-4ad0-4619-b898-6db66e7148a4=)

Rhys Taylor presented a COVID-19 response framework for issuers at the Mastercard Academy.

### OnBrand podcast Episode 27: Lessons in agility from Asia
*Dentsu*
[https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GGnuydZnhnG0hqvD1mH0k](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GGnuydZnhnG0hqvD1mH0k)

Rhys Taylor shares lessons regarding business agility learned from the Asian market on this podcast.

### Three steps for brands to accelerate growth during COVID-19
*Dentsu*
[https://www.dentsu.com/blog/three-vital-steps-for-brands-to-accelerate-growth-during-covid-19](https://www.dentsu.com/blog/three-vital-steps-for-brands-to-accelerate-growth-during-covid-19)

Rhys Taylor outlines three strategic steps for brands to maintain growth during the pandemic.

### Signal vs. Noise: Standing out in a sea of same
*InnovFest Unbound*
[https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6549027792695238656/](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6549027792695238656/)

Rhys Taylor spoke on standing out in competitive markets at the InnovFest Unbound conference.

### Dentsu agency appoints new B2B Strategy lead for Asia Pacific
*Branding in Asia*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20231126011217/https://www.brandinginasia.com/gyro-makes-pair-of-senior-hires-in-asia-pacific-with-rhys-taylor-and-tim-micallef/](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126011217/https://www.brandinginasia.com/gyro-makes-pair-of-senior-hires-in-asia-pacific-with-rhys-taylor-and-tim-micallef/)

Rhys Taylor was appointed to a senior B2B strategy role for Dentsu's agency in Asia Pacific.

### Saasu’s CMO explains: Why data visibility is everything
*Geckoboard*
[https://www.geckoboard.com/blog/rhys-taylor-cmo-at-saasu-on-why-data-visibility-is-everything/](https://www.geckoboard.com/blog/rhys-taylor-cmo-at-saasu-on-why-data-visibility-is-everything/)

In his role as CMO at Saasu, Rhys Taylor explains the critical importance of data visibility for businesses.

### Building more (simplicity) into software
*Saasu*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140709054009/http://blog.saasu.com/2014/03/27/simplifying-software/](https://web.archive.org/web/20140709054009/http://blog.saasu.com/2014/03/27/simplifying-software/)

Rhys Taylor shares insights on integrating simplicity into software product development.

### About Saasu - Chief Marketing Officer
*Saasu*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130610023952/http://blog.saasu.com/2013/05/01/saasu-appoints-chief-marketing-officer](https://web.archive.org/web/20130610023952/http://blog.saasu.com/2013/05/01/saasu-appoints-chief-marketing-officer)

Rhys Taylor was appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer for Saasu.

### Investor news: Wolters Kluwer acquires Acclipse
*Wolters Kluwer*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20210508130516/https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/wolters-kluwer-tax-accounting-plans-to-expand-online-software-solutions-with-agreement-to-acquire-acclipse](https://web.archive.org/web/20210508130516/https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/wolters-kluwer-tax-accounting-plans-to-expand-online-software-solutions-with-agreement-to-acquire-acclipse)

Rhys Taylor was part of the management team at Acclipse when the company was acquired by Wolters Kluwer.

### Meet the Acclipse management teams
*Acclipse technology*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120321075053/http://www.acclipse.co.nz/about/team](https://web.archive.org/web/20120321075053/http://www.acclipse.co.nz/about/team)

Rhys Taylor is featured as a member of the management team at Acclipse technology.

### Publicis Groupe HK nabs VML SG's client lead as MD, global client lead
*Marketing-Interactive*
[https://www.marketing-interactive.com/publicis-groupe-hk-names-new-md-of-global-client-leader](https://www.marketing-interactive.com/publicis-groupe-hk-names-new-md-of-global-client-leader)

Publicis Groupe Hong Kong appointed Rhys Taylor as managing director and global client lead, effective January 20, 2025, to lead the Cathay account.

### Rhys Taylor Joins VMLY&R as Managing Director Singapore
*Little Black Book*
[https://lbbonline.com/news/rhys-taylor-joins-vmlyr-as-managing-director-singapore](https://lbbonline.com/news/rhys-taylor-joins-vmlyr-as-managing-director-singapore)

VMLY&R appointed Rhys Taylor as its new managing director for Singapore to oversee sales and account management.