HONG KONG — Zeno has hired Paul Mottram to lead its Asia-Pacific operations, the Holmes Report can reveal, filling the vacancy left by the recent departure of Margaret Key to MSL. 

Mottram arrives in February as Asia-Pacific president of Zeno, reporting to global CEO Barby Siegel. The DJE firm's regional operations include more than 125 staffers across China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Mottram joins from Allison+Partners, where he spent almost four years leading the firm's All Told creative and digital unit in Asia. 

Mottram's industry experience also includes more than five years leading Bite Asia-Pacific as EVP, following the sale of Upstream Asia to Next15. Mottram joined Upstream in 2001 and served as the independent firm's chief operating officer. 

In addition, Zeno has hired MSL's Rekha Rao as India MD, a role that was previously held by Papri Dev, who has left the firm after six years, including a stint as regional chief client officer since 2018. Rao departs 20:20 MSL following more than six years to join Zeno.

David Lian, meanwhile, has taken on the newly created role of MD of growth and innovation for Zeno Asia-Pacific. For the past six years, Lian served as MD of Zeno Malaysia; in his new position, he will focus on regional growth initiatives across talent and business development, as well as innovation and new capabilities. Amanda Leong, who has been with Zeno for five years, and for the last two has served as director, is promoted to GM of Zeno Malaysia.

"Paul brings to the region the experience and perspective we need as our largest client relationships continue to expand into Asia, while we also focus on growing our business regionally and locally," said Siegel. "In addition, and as importantly, we all felt great alignment with both Paul and Rekha from a cultural point of view in terms of the values that drive our business and the fearless spirit that imbues all we do."