Advertising
Layoffs in Adland: Omnicom's acquisition of IPG nears finish line. But at what human cost?
R/GA to shut Singapore office as part of global strategy shift
Months after regaining independence from IPG, the creative agency is closing its Singapore operations, with a renewed focus on AI, technology, and production hubs.
The development comes as R/GA seeks to reposition itself in a rapidly changing creative services landscape.
Creative agency R/GA will close its Singapore office in November 2025, just six months after regaining independence from parent company Interpublic Group (IPG). The move will affect nearly all of the office’s 20 employees, who were informed of the decision earlier this month, as per media reports.
The Singapore office, led by general manager Marianne Whitman and Southeast Asia managing director Krishnan Menon, counted KFC Singapore among its flagship clients.
In a statement to the media, R/GA CEO Michael Tishall said the closure was part of a broader strategic shift to consolidate resources and double down on areas of higher client demand. “As part of our renewed business strategy, we carefully reviewed the Singapore operations and made the decision to pivot its role and refocus our efforts in Southeast Asia on our Technology & Creative Production Hub, where demand is strongest,” Tishall reportedly said.
Read more: Layoffs in Adland: Omnicom's acquisition of IPG nears finish line. But at what human cost?
The development comes as R/GA seeks to reposition itself in a rapidly changing creative services landscape. Since separating from IPG in May 2025, the agency has been expanding its global footprint with a focus on AI-driven products, technology, and design. In July, R/GA made its first acquisition as an independent company, buying AI system design and development studio Addition. The London-based firm has delivered AI solutions for leading global brands including Google, NBCUniversal, Unilever, Prudential, Amazon, and The New York Times.
While the closure marks the end of R/GA’s direct presence in Singapore, the agency is expected to continue serving Southeast Asian clients through its technology and production hubs, signaling a shift away from traditional office-led operations towards more centralized, tech-driven models.
SPOTLIGHT
According to LinkedIn’s research with over 1,700 B2B tech buyers, video storytelling has emerged as the most trusted, engaging, and effective format for B2B marketers. But what’s driving this shift towards video in B2B? (Image Source: Unsplash)
Read MoreExplained: Standing Committee’s draft report on India’s fight against Fake News
India’s parliamentary panel warns fake news threatens democracy, markets and media credibility, urging stronger regulation, fact-checking, AI oversight and global cooperation.