What’s in store for the industry in 2022?  During the first half of our two-part series, we speak to Gordon Domlija from WPP media agency, Wavemaker, about what brands in China need to do to stay relevant, and why client in-housing agency work isn’t necessarily that easy of a task.  Gordon also reflects on his career, why he came to China and the first place, and, despite being the Asia-Pacific leader, chooses to remain in China, despite Covid restrictions.  This episode is sponsored by our good friends at Campaign-Asia.



1.  Gordon’s path to the ad business:  it started in a nightclub and ended up at the Howard Johnson’s



2.  Why Gordon Stays in China as regional CEO



3.  China + Asia:  There’s still a gap (and China is ahead)



4.  How Gordon does his job without being a regional seagull



5.  Working with platforms in the region is about collaboration because you can’t do everything well



6.  What are clients’ expectations for 2022?



7.  Is China too performance-driven?



8.  Marketing predictions:  Are brands now asking brands to drive private audiences or 1P?



9.  What’s the advantage of agencies in the world of corporate in-housing? 



Welcome to Shanghai Zhan, aka. Shanghai Station.  The only station in Shanghai’s world-famous metro that only exists as a podcast. Listen to Bryce Whitwam and Ali Zein Kazmi debate with guests on their experiences and aspirations for marketing in China.  Bryce & Ali are well connected to China for over 20 years and still work in the industry in Shanghai.  They are both fluent Mandarin speakers, with Bryce reading and writing, while Ali gets away with using his thick Beijing accent. 





For everything ShanghaiZhan:  http://zhanstation.com/

Donate & become a ShanghaiZhan Patron:  http://www.patreon.com/shanghaizhan

Campaign Asia:  http://www.campaignasia.com/



Music:  “Bad Cough Syrup by Bryce Whitwam

https://soundcloud.com/bryce-r-whitwam/bad-cough-syrup?si=cfb30a6e0c0e459da78b912bf60825ac

Bryce on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycewhitwam/

Ali on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikazmi/

Gordon on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-domlija-5363692/