The regional expansion brings Gate’s capabilities across film, photography, CGI, visual effects, sound and post-production to clients throughout JAPAC. Tag says the model is designed to connect specialist local expertise with its broader international production network—giving brands another option as they seek to produce high-quality campaigns across multiple markets without sacrificing consistency or efficiency.
A veteran producer takes the helm
Kenneally has been named Production Lead, Gate – JAPAC, and will be based in Bangkok. He brings more than three decades of experience spanning agencies, production companies and global brands, with previous senior roles including Publicis Mojo, Lowe and Partners, Nissan United (TBWA) and Plakat Productions.
His appointment comes as the advertising industry grapples with a fundamental production challenge: brands are expected to create more content, for more channels and markets, at greater speed—while maintaining creative quality.
Kenneally has argued that technology should serve the work rather than become the objective itself. His focus, he said, is on bringing together the right creative talent, production expertise and technology to deliver the strongest outcome for each brief.
Why JAPAC—and why now?
According to Gate CEO Simon Lewis, the expansion builds on years of working with clients across the region and responds to growing demand for production partners capable of bridging local knowledge and global capabilities.
That strategy also fits into Tag’s broader regional transformation. Earlier in 2026, the company announced several leadership appointments across ANZ and JAPAC as it sharpened its focus on connected content, digital capability and deeper client relationships.
For brands operating across Asia-Pacific’s highly diverse markets, the challenge is particularly acute. A campaign that works in one market often requires creative adaptation, local production expertise and multiple versions before it can travel effectively across the region. Gate’s JAPAC rollout is positioning itself as a solution to that complexity—offering access to specialist production capabilities while retaining a connection to local markets.
AI and technology enter the production equation
The expansion also links Gate’s regional capabilities with Tag’s wider innovation network, including emerging production technologies and AI-enabled approaches to content creation, according to reports on the launch. However, the company is framing technology as part of a hybrid production model rather than a replacement for creative craft.
That distinction could prove important as agencies and brands increasingly experiment with AI while trying to preserve the human expertise behind premium creative production.
The bigger question now is whether Gate can turn its global production scale into a meaningful competitive advantage in one of the world’s most diverse and demanding creative regions. With Kenneally leading the charge from Bangkok, Tag appears to be betting that the answer lies in combining technology with something AI alone cannot easily replicate: deep local knowledge and world-class creative craft.
The bottom line
Tag’s expansion of Gate into JAPAC is more than a regional leadership appointment. It reflects a broader shift in advertising production, where brands increasingly want global scale without losing local relevance—and technological efficiency without compromising creative quality.
For Tag, the challenge has just begun. The opportunity across JAPAC is enormous, but so is the competition. Can Gate become the production partner that brings the region’s creative talent together at scale? The industry will be watching.
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