HONG KONG — Andres Vejarano is exiting DeVries Global after the Interpublic Group firm eliminated its Asia-Pacific MD role, PRovoke Media has learned.

Vejarano departs after four years in charge of DeVries in Asia-Pacific. The firm's local market MDs in China, Taiwan and Singapore will now report directly to new Golin Asia-Pacific president Darren Burns, after DeVries was realigned to operate under Golin last year.

The restructuring of DeVries operations also included last year's elimination of Heidi Hovland's role as DeVries global CEO. Overall responsibility for the firm now lies with Gary Rudnick, who became global president and COO of Golin last year, at the same time that Matt Neale took on sole ownership of the Golin CEO role. 

"Due to a global restructure that sees a change in our regional operational model, Andres Vejarano will be moving on from DeVries, and we are currently working through transitions with staff and clients," Rudnick told PRovoke Media. "We thank Andres for his many contributions — the growth of the agency, its people, and dynamic culture — over the past four years and wish him nothing but the best in the future. His DeVries APAC regional leadership position will not be replaced, as the DeVries brand will be managed by the local managing directors, who will report into Darren Burns, the Golin Group regional president."

Rudnick did not comment on whether other senior DeVries roles are affected by the restructuring. The firm's North American operation is led by Jessica O'Callaghan, while Helena Bloomer has overseen Europe for several years.  

Under Vejarano, DeVries diversified its client base beyond beauty and CPG, growing to around $12m in regional revenue and notching nominations for Consumer and Healthcare Agency of the Year in 2019. The firm numbers around 90 staffers in Asia-Pacific, including more than 50 in China.

Vejarano declined to comment on his departure. Prior to joining DeVries in 2016, he co-led Edelman's Hong Kong office, after a lengthy in-house career that included senior marketing roles at Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation.