Chris Plowman, Regional Agency Director—Bernard Hodes Group, Asia Pacific

Chris Plowman, Regional Agency Director, Bernard Hodes Group, Asia Pacific

Chris Plowman is an acknowledged expert in the development and implementation of global employer branding and employee communications, with a unique combination of experience across US, European and Asian recruitment markets.

Educated in the UK Chris pursued a career in journalism before beginning his career in the UK recruitment marketing business with Riley Advertising and MSL Advertising. Chris then gained a 10-year background in the business before moving to Hong Kong in 1989. Establishing a new business for MSL Advertising in Hong Kong, Chris introduced the concept of professional recruitment marketing and, latterly, employer branding to Asia Pacific. By 1995 Chris had built a solid business in Hong Kong and this was purchased by Bernard Hodes Group as part of the development of the Hodes Global Network.

Over the past sixteen years, Chris has managed and developed this business, servicing and supporting a portfolio of local, regional and multinational clients, and broadening the agency’s services across recruitment marketing communications, employer branding and internal/employee communications. Clients have included American Express, AIA, ANZ, Cathay Pacific, FedEx, GE, HSBC, Intel, Marks & Spencer, Manulife, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nokia, Philips, and Walt Disney amongst others.

In 1997 Chris opened the Bernard Hodes Group office in Singapore and has built this operation to be a successful business in the Singapore employment market, servicing major corporate clients such as HSBC, Philips and Kelly Services as well as a range of local Singapore organizations including Singapore Power and University of Singapore.

More recently Chris has headed up the development of the Hodes business in China, with the establishment of a client service team in Shanghai that has worked with some of the largest multinationals in China, including Microsoft, Intel, Lee Kum Kee and Yum! Brands.

With a 30-plus year career in the business, including his 17-year career with Hodes, Chris is a proven, senior executive in the business who plays a vital role in the Hodes Global Network, representing the point person for all agency and client activities in the Asia Pacific region.

Sharing session in HR Magazine Conference

• 18 April 2013: Importance of employer branding to graduate recruitment