COO

THE RECRUITMENT ORCHARD; Singapore; On-site; SGD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A global brand activation agency in Singapore is seeking a Chief Operating Officer for the APAC region. This role will oversee operations, drive growth, and build high-performing teams in diverse markets. The ideal candidate has over 15 years in operational leadership with experience in marketing or media and a strong capacity for strategic thinking and leadership in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in operational leadership roles, ideally within marketing, media, or professional services.
• Proven success managing multi-market operations in APAC.
• Experience in scaling businesses and leading transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations across multiple APAC markets.
• Drive regional growth and operational scalability.
• Build and nurture high-performing teams.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Data-driven decision-making

Cultural adaptability

Job description

Our client is a global brand activation agency; their purpose is to simplify their clients’ below-the-line marketing, build sustainable ROI and engage their customers across the path to purchase . Everything they do is optimised through leading strategic capability and actioned through executional excellence.

Their substantial investment in technology and data science capability, and resource, provide their differentiation in the marketplace. Data insight and marketing technology gives them the ability to measure their work, evidencing ROI as the most critical metric in today’s environment.

They see ROI where others don't. They are the only agency that combines creative, data and technology talent with production and procurement expertise to improve the clients marketing performance and efficiencies. They realise ROI for their clients by enabling them to deliver more engaging, cost-effective and sustainable customer experiences.

About the team

Due to the significant expansion of their APAC business following not only an acquisition but also a major new client win, we are supporting the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer for the APAC region. This newly created role will be pivotal in scaling operations, integrating acquired capabilities, and ensuring consistent delivery excellence across diverse markets.

Purpose of the role

The COO APAC will drive strategic alignment, operational efficiency, and cultural cohesion, enabling the agency to meet growing client demands while maintaining profitability and innovation at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Impact

Oversees operations across multiple APAC markets, aligning regional execution with global strategy.

Drives regional growth, margin improvement, and operational scalability.

Indicators of Success:

• Regional revenue and EBITDA growth
• Successful implementation of global initiatives locally
• Market expansion and client retention

Operational Excellence

Leads business operations and delivery.

Streamlined processes, optimized resource allocation, and improved delivery efficiency.

Indicators of Success:

• Reduction in operational costs
• Improved utilization and productivity metrics
• High-quality service delivery across markets

Leadership & Culture

Builds and nurtures high-performing teams across diverse cultures.

A unified, inclusive, and performance-driven culture.

Indicators of Success:

• Employee engagement and retention
• Leadership development and succession planning
• Cross-market collaboration and knowledge sharing

Client & Market Orientation

Partners with client leads and market heads to ensure operational support for client success.

Enhanced client satisfaction and market responsiveness.

Indicators of Success:

• Client satisfaction scores
• Speed to market for campaigns and initiatives
• Market-specific innovation and adaptability

Governance & Risk Management

Ensures compliance with regional regulations and internal policies.

Risk mitigation and strong governance frameworks.

Indicators of Success:

• Audit and compliance results
• Crisis management effectiveness
• Legal and regulatory adherence

Skills, knowledge, experience and exposure

Experience

• 15+ years in operational leadership roles, ideally within marketing, media, or professional services.
• Proven success managing multi-market operations in APAC.
• Experience in scaling businesses and leading transformation initiatives.

Skills

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management
• Culturally intelligent and adaptable
• Data-driven decision-maker with a bias for action.

Mindset and temperament to navigate the role

The ideal COO APAC must embody a scaling mindset, with the ability to transition from operational stability to dynamic growth. Given the complexity introduced by the recent acquisition and a major new business win, the role demands a leader who is strategically agile, capable of integrating diverse teams, systems, and cultures while maintaining delivery excellence. A calm, decisive temperament is essential—someone who thrives in ambiguity, manages competing priorities with clarity, and fosters trust across markets. The COO should be commercially astute, culturally intelligent, and deeply collaborative, balancing global standards with local nuance. Above all, they must be a resilient change agent, able to lead transformation with empathy, precision, and a relentless focus on outcomes.

Any specific role requirements

Availability and flexibility to work in different timezones.