Hampartsoumian will be supported in the 18-person outfit by managing director Christine Ng, who has joined from BBH in Singapore. Peter Heskett, who relocated from London, will head up the strategic planning department, while much awarded creative, Johnny Tan, formerly of BBDO CNUAC, assumes the role of creative director.
BBH China has already developed a client portfolio and the agency will manage campaigns for brands such as Baileys, Bose, Johnnie Walker, Mentos and the World Gold Council.
Hampartsoumian said: "China might be one of the most lucrative markets in the world, but it is also one of the toughest environments. For brands, the key driver of that challenge is the acceleration of change in the lifestyles and attitudes of the Chinese people."
The move follows a slew of agency expansions this year into the Chinese market. In October, digital creative agency AKQA opened an office in China ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather purchased a 70% stake of Beijing Century Harmony Advertising, an internet ad agency, in October. In addition, WPP acquired a 49% stake of Beijing Hua Yang Lian Zhong Advertising, a media investment management agency that specialises in online and interactive media, and a 75% stake in independent marketing communications consultancy, Beyond Communications, in May.
In June, Omnicom, owner of DDB, BBDO and TBWA\Worldwide, joined up with Chinese state-owned advertising giant Citic Guoan, while in March, Publicis Group expanded its presence in Asia with the acquisition of 80% of Betterway Marketing Solutions, a full-service agency that works for Motorola, Gillette and Nestle.
BBH is currently collaborating with research agency Jigsaw to create China Whispers, an ongoing research product designed to reveal change in China's consumer landscape.
John Hegarty, chairman and worldwide creative director for BBH, said: "With a population just above 1.3bn, the potential that China presents to an international ad agency like BBH, as well as what we can offer in terms of pushing the limits of creativity, is phenomenal. The country's ambitious consumers are attracting the world's most ambitious businesses. It is BBH's ambition to be a part of that."
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