SINGAPORE — AKA Asia has hired former Lazada integrated comms VP Julia Wei to a newly-created leadership role at the Singapore consultancy.

Wei joins AKA Asia as managing partner after less than a year at Lazada, which she joined in 2019 following almost four years as GM of TSLA. Before that, she spent almost a decade with Edelman.

The role will see Wei work closely with AKA founding partners Amy Wright and Kate O'Shea, providing creative and strategic insight and driving the firm's work across digital, social and traditional comms. 

“Julia is a rare find," said Wright. "We’ve been searching for someone with her hybrid capabilities for some time and in the words of Rihanna, we found love in a hopeless place, what with the Covid-19 challenges of today. The creation of a new role during this period speaks volumes about the long-term potential and opportunity we see in bringing Julia into our business."

The senior hire comes after AKA Asia was named Asia-Pacific Consumer Consultancy of the Year in 2019. 

“All roads have led me to AKA Asia - an independent, creative communications agency with a strong people-first culture," said Wei. "I’m excited to add a new dimension to this growing team and to be part of its future, albeit at home in athleisure wear for the first few weeks."