40 Under 40 2025: Vibhu Harnvarakiat, Brilliant & Million

Vibhu Harnvarakiat

Head of strategy
Brilliant & Million
Thailand

Joining Brilliant & Million (B&M) as a fresh graduate, Vibhu Harnvarakiat quickly distinguished himself through his intellect, instinct, and grit. By the age of 30, he had ascended to the management team, overseeing a US$6.3 million (200 million Thai baht) business and steering it through a significant transformation. 

His strategic initiatives have led to remarkable achievements, including winning 80% of competitive pitches in the past year and securing major clients such as Unilever, Isuzu, and L’Oréal. Harnvarakiat's campaigns, such as ‘Social Petition’ for KFC and the Spikes-winning ‘Godfluencer’ campaign for Sting energy drink, have earned not merely awards but significant market impact. 

Harnvarakiat's leadership is characterised by his purpose-driven approach, innovation, and commitment to people. He built the strategy department from the ground up, evolving it into a powerhouse team of over 20 talents. Under his guidance, B&M became one of Thailand's most respected and award-winning social-first agencies, setting new industry standards by blending data, culture, and creativity. Harnvarakiat's ability to inspire and lead with vision, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence has earned him the trust of top-tier clients and the admiration of his peers. 

Beyond his strategic prowess, Harnvarakiat is a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). He leads B&M's Skyrocket Program, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture through cultural immersion workshops, foundational skills sessions, and cross-functional campaign labs. His support of DEI was further manifested in the ‘Smile Your Way’ campaign for Lay’s that personalised consumer smiles around cultural moments like Songkran and the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

His dedication to education and mentorship, along with his hands-on role in shaping the industry's future, underscores his commitment to elevating the marketing industry. As co-creator of Skyrocket, B&M’s internal training program, he’s helped deliver 50+ classes in just two years, focused on upskilling over 180 employees with both hard and soft skills—nurturing talent across every level. This past year, he also co-founded Authentech Labs, a creator-first production hub that taps into micro-creators to meet rising content demands with speed and authenticity.

Externally, Harnvarakiat has launched In-Culture Workshops to help brands connect authentically with underrepresented communities, while his Social-First DE&I tools enable brands to engage diverse groups with authenticity and relevance. Harnvarakiat's influence extends beyond B&M, as he advocates for the Social-First movement, speaks at major industry forums, and mentors the next generation of marketers.