Diana Marszalek 13 Sep 2021 // 7:21PM GMT
YANGON — Myanmar’s ERA has expanded into a regional operation with the opening of four new offices across Southeast Asia, part of the agency’s effort to keep business strong under military rule in its home country.
ERA’s new operations are in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, each of which is staffed with a managing director. Digital experience director Su Shwe Yee Htun is assuming regional leadership responsibilities.
“With the situation in Myanmar we had a clear choice: wind operations down, or push forward,” said managing director Anthony Larmon. “The country is home to the most resilient people I have ever known. So as a brand who started in Myanmar, we have decided to be resilient in the face of hardship and keep pushing forward to protect our brand and the operations we’ve worked so hard to build.”
The agency also plans to unveil a suite of next-generation communications and technology products designed to more effectively engage with a new kind of consumer emerging in Southeast Asia. The network houses its own technology.
In announcing the expansion, ERA said it launched the new offices with an eye on being able to provide organizations high-quality and cost-effective services to establish or elevate themselves across the diverse region, where there’s room for businesses to grow.
“Our clients in Myanmar, surprised by the level of quality and creativity we offer in a relatively unexpected country, have been asking us for years if we have offices in other markets. Now we think it’s the right time to regionalize our promise of having top local professionals running world-class campaigns, at a reasonable price,” Larmon said.