Ogilvy Singapore has announced the promotion of Sharon Ooi as chief talent officer for Singapore and Malaysia.

Ooi, who has been with Ogilvy for four years, served as the agency’s talent director. She will now report to Sue Olivier, chief people officer of Ogilvy Asia Pacific, and Kunal Jeswani, CEO of Ogilvy ASEAN.

In this expanded role, Ooi will oversee all talent-related functions, shape Ogilvy’s culture and ensure the agency remains a destination for top talent.

A seasoned HR leader with over two decades of experience across industries – including advertising, IT, logistics, and brand creative design – Ooi has been instrumental in elevating Ogilvy’s talent function.

Championing people and culture

With her work in enhancing employee experience, Ooi is set to partner closely with business leaders to foster an engaging and high-performance work environment.

Her leadership will focus on attracting, retaining, and developing talent to ensure employees feel valued and motivated to deliver their best work.

Olivier praised Ooi’s impact on Ogilvy’s culture, stating: “The promotion of Sharon to Chief Talent Officer for Singapore and Malaysia recognises her outstanding leadership, unwavering commitment to our talent team, and her transformative impact on our Ogilvy culture.”

Jeswani echoed these sentiments, highlighting Ooi’s ability to shape leadership and drive a culture of excellence.

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“Sharon’s promotion is a testament to her dedication, and the impact she has had on both our culture as well as our talent strategy,” Jeswani said.

“She has an exceptional ability to lead leaders. And her passion for building positive, engaging work environments, will spread across everything we do in Singapore and Malaysia.”

A career built on talent strategy and leadership

Prior to joining Ogilvy, Ooi was HR director at Design Bridge. She also held similar leadership roles at Publicis Communication and Leo Burnett previously.

Looking ahead, Ooi said she is excited about shaping Ogilvy’s talent landscape and reinforcing its reputation as an employer of choice. She envisions a workplace where employees not only build fulfilling careers but also become brand champions who grow alongside the agency.

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“As I step into this new role, I am grateful to Sue and Kunal for recognising my contributions and for their confidence in me,” Ooi said.

“Exciting times lie ahead, as I look forward to further enhancing the employee experience, ensuring our workplace is not only a long-term career destination but also an employer of choice for top talent, where our people can thrive and become our strongest advocates to grow with us.”

Ooi said she appreciates the diverse range of people she encounters in her line of work.

“The joy of that is getting to meet and work with different types of people. Each industry comes with its own set of people, challenges and cultures, and I feel fortunate that I am in a career that allows me to experience this all,” she said.

“My 15 years of history will show you my tenacity to adapt to changes, and my ambition to reach for the stars and grow my career.”