Tag: APAC

Singapore – WPP’s media investment group GroupM and commerce media company Criteo have announced their partnership to strengthen omnichannel commerce media capabilities in the Asia Pacific region.

This is a first-in-APAC partnership that unifies product sales data and the proprietary media solutions of GroupM with Criteo’s proximity-based insights to enable omnichannel commerce through in-store and retail media integration.

GroupM’s clients will be able to access Criteo’s insights technology to further enhance media planning, budget allocation, and best-in-class activation, enabling new levels of relevance, optimisation, and conversion.

The partnership will also expand access for GroupM’s clients to Criteo’s holistic omnichannel monetization solution, allowing retailers to manage their entire media inventory across both ecommerce and physical retail while enabling brands and agencies to seamlessly discover and purchase omnichannel media from leading retailers.

The tools now available to GroupM clients include 360° media asset activation, ranging from in-store activations such as point-of-sale displays to out-of-store activations like inbox sampling and online activations such as email and social.

Criteo and GroupM are also planning to evolve the partnership by looking at strategic opportunities across media-buying capabilities and insights to drive predictive decision-making. Their collaborative efforts to develop best practices in the area aim to unlock many exciting possibilities as a response to the continuous acceleration of commerce media.

Anita Munro, chief investment officer at GroupM APAC, said, “The innovation in commerce that will be made possible through this collaboration with Criteo is a significant and hugely exciting development for advertisers in APAC and for our industry as a whole.”

She added, “Combining Criteo’s commerce media capabilities with our own not only strengthens our commerce offering in the region but also allows us to set a new standard for what’s possible in advertising by bringing products, media, clients, and consumers closer than ever before.”

Speaking on the partnership, Taranjeet Singh, managing director of enterprise at Criteo APAC, also shared, “Together with GroupM, we are honoured to usher in the next era of omnichannel marketing in the region. This partnership represents a union of industry leadership, and we are optimistic that it will drive greater integration across omnichannel campaigns and elevate success for brands and advertisers.”

Hong Kong – Performance marketing agency NP Digital has made new senior hires, with Gary Cheung appointed as general manager for Hong Kong and Taiwan and Melissa Cheng as country manager for Malaysia, to fuel enterprise growth across its APAC markets.

The new hires will lead the expansion of NP Digital in their respective countries, collaborating closely with the agency’s APAC team, made up of recent hires Manuel Denoual, general manager of NP Digital Singapore, and Kris Casey, senior SEO lead.

In his new role as general manager for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Cheung brings with him over 15 years of performance marketing agency experience, unique skills, and valuable regional and global expertise to NP Digital. He has worked with APAC’s key growth sectors and has served previous roles at Publicis Media, SearchGuru, and iProspect.

Cheung’s extensive experience in digital performance marketing, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of Asia’s marketing landscape, will be valuable in leading the expansion of the agency.

On the other hand, Cheng, in her appointment as country manager, brings with her an extensive background in paid media expertise, having worked at ADA, AdColony, and Yahoo. Malaysia. She has a strong data analytics background relevant to NP Digital’s data-driven APAC clients.

The new hires will report to Dan Kalinski, the managing director of NP Digital for APAC.

Commenting on the new hires, Kalinski said, “In the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape, NP Digital is dedicated to reshaping success metrics, prioritising outcomes that drive profitability and scalability over vanity metrics. The addition of Gary and Melissa underscores our commitment to the APAC region. Gary’s extensive regional and global experience and Melissa’s media expertise align perfectly with our mission to deliver unparalleled results for our clients in Asia. They are poised to lead NP Digital’s expansion and innovation in the region in tandem with our strong APAC team.”

Singapore – Global business transformation agency Valtech has announced significant additions to its leadership team in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (APMENA) region to drive growth, with Ralf Zink as the new chief operating officer and Shannon Dix as managing director for Southeast Asia and China.

The new additions to the leadership team are expected to strengthen the agency’s value proposition and growth ambitions as it continues to be a strategic business transformation partner to new and existing clients, like L’Oréal, Audi, Capital Land, and Mars.

The new hires will further aid Valtech in delivering its commitment to helping clients connect with their customers and generate value through technology and innovation, guiding them as they undergo a digital transformation journey. They will drive growth for both Valtech and its clients as they take advantage of the digital acceleration in the region.

In his new role as chief operating officer for APMENA, Zink is tasked with integrating and optimising operations across Valtech’s offices in the region. He will couple human-centric leadership with sustainable operational ecosystems to manage and build accountability, transparency, and collaboration across high-performing teams.

Previously serving as a COO for Publicis Sapient, Zink brings with him more than 15 years of experience as a commercially driven senior operations executive. He has a well-established history of successfully developing and implementing profitable growth strategies, having driven strategic market expansion for digital transformation organisations in the APAC region.

He will be vital in supporting the agency’s ambitions to scale capabilities and align with clients’ needs, giving clients access to the best people, consulting, technology, and experience expertise in the region.

Meanwhile, Dix, in his new role as managing director for SEA and China, will focus on expanding the agency’s client roster, capabilities, and talent in his assigned regions. He lends his growth-oriented leadership to ensure the agency continues to operate at the forefront of innovation as it continues to help brands keep pace with changing consumer needs in APAC’s fast-moving digital-first mobile economy.

He will also leverage business growth and talent to elevate Valtech’s position as the go-to business partner across Asia, which enables brands to realise their digital transformation ambitions, deliver customer-centric experiences, and navigate the region’s increasing adoption of digital technologies.

Dix has over 20 years’ experience within marketing transformation and has held various global and regional leadership roles both on the agency, consulting, and client sides. He has worked for Accenture, Publicis Sapient, and Wunderman, all of which are in the Asian market.

Zink and Dix’s appointment follows the opening of Valtech’s Thailand office and the hire of Patrick de Moustier as EVP and regional managing director for APMENA.

On the new hires, Patrick de Moustier said, “When you look at Valtech’s work globally and in the region, we have a strong foundation to build upon—thanks to our client work, partnerships, and in-house industry expertise.”

He added, “We’re embarking on a bold mission to unite the dynamic superregions of APAC and MENA, recognising their immense potential for economic growth and business success. The strategic move to fortify our leadership team is a clear reflection of our commitment. With the addition of Shannon and Ralf, we’re in a great position to deliver exceptional value to clients.”

In his new role, Zink said, “Valtech is a powerhouse in people-centred digital transformation, so I’m incredibly excited to begin my journey with the agency. People and culture create the perfect recipe for driving growth and client value when undergoing a digital transformation. I see huge potential in fostering our unique culture and cultivating enhanced skill sets to unlock business opportunities for Valtech in APMENA.” 

Also speaking in his appointment, Dix shared, “APAC is a strategic growth market for us, presenting an amazing opportunity for our business to evolve alongside our ambitious clients who are all experiencing a need to adapt to changing market conditions.”

“Our work speaks for itself. Whether it’s our multi-market work for L’Oreal, our connected mobility experience work for Audi, or our commerce tech for Mars, we help businesses overcome their transformation challenges and set themselves up for success now and into the future. I couldn’t be more excited to lead the next wave of growth alongside our incredible team,” he added.

Sydney, Australia – Brand and digital studio Koto has announced the appointment of Melissa Baillache as executive creative director for APAC to expand the studio’s presence in key regional markets.

In her new appointment, Baillache will be based at the Sydney studio and will spearhead Koto APAC’s creative efforts, working closely with Damian Borchok, Koto APAC managing director, and Gerald Torto, senior strategy director, as integral members of the studio’s senior leadership team.

Baillache brings with her over 15 years of experience with branding, digital, and advertising, allowing her to focus on turning challenges into transformative solutions that prioritise human experiences. She has a firm belief in a design’s capacity to challenge conventional thinking and drive meaningful change.

Prior to her appointment, she had several collaborations with a wide range of domestic and international clients, such as Culture Amp, Macau Grand Prix Museum, the NSW Government, and the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre. Some of her recent and notable clients are Netflix, Tech Central, Sydney Film Festival, Blue Mountains Council, and The U Group.

Her work encompasses the creation of new brands, the design of immersive physical experiences, and the reimagining of products. She has garnered various recognitions from international award bodies and is committed to design education, serving as a mentor and guest lecturer for D&AD New Blood, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creatives.

Baillache also reunites with Damian Borchock, with whom she had a successful eight-year collaboration when she formerly served as executive creative director at For The People.

Koto’s appointment of Baillache comes as the studio aims to expand its presence in key regional markets, including Australia, India, Singapore, and South Korea.

Speaking of the new hire, Damian Borchok said, “It’s great to be working with Mel again. We both see so much potential to build on Koto’s reputation for collaborating with startups and scaleups looking for breakthrough success. APAC is home to some of the most dynamic economies in the world. We’re keen to be part of making it equally one of the most dynamic regions for brands. ”

Also commenting on her new role, Baillache shared, “Koto is that rare type of business that chooses to lean all the way into an optimistic and creative culture to create brands that better serve both clients and the people they exist for. And the work is world-class. So, the opportunity to build on their already impressive track record with a distinctive APAC flavour is a very compelling one, if you ask me. One impossible to say no to. I couldn’t be more excited to join Koto in this new chapter, partnering with the brilliant leadership team of Damian and G.”

Australia – Digital marketing and automation platform Constant Contact has announced its appointment of Renee Chaplin as its new vice president of Asia-Pacific. 

In her new role, Chaplin will be responsible for leading Constant Contact’s growth in the APAC region and will be scaling its operations. 

Based in the company’s APAC headquarters in Brisbane, Chaplin brings over 20 years of experience growing B2B brands. Prior to joining Constant Contact, Chaplin also worked for a variety of technology companies, from Australian start-ups to multinational SaaS organisations specialising in AI, automation, customer experience and billing technology.

This strategic hire represents Constant Contact’s continued investment into growing its presence in Australia following the acquisition of Vision6 in 2022, as Chaplin will help drive broader awareness and adoption of Constant Contact’s digital marketing platform in APAC and deliver value to customers in that region. 

Speaking on her appointment, Chaplin said, “Constant Contact is well known globally for being a pioneer of digital marketing innovation in the small business space, and the company’s recent advancements in AI and marketing automation make this an exciting time to join the organisation.”

“Our Vision6 product is already Australia’s most reliable email marketing and SMS platform with sovereign onshore data storage and local customer support. I look forward to growing Constant Contact’s APAC business and helping our customers and agency partners develop stronger relationships with their customers”, she added. 

Meanwhile, Frank Vella, CEO at Constant Contact, commented, “We’ve invested in APAC through our acquisition of Vision6, and we see an opportunity to build on that momentum to deliver even more value to our global customers and partners. I am confident that Renée’s experience and local presence will help accelerate our efforts in APAC and make an immediate impact on our business and our customers’ businesses within the region.”

Singapore – Marketers in APAC are ready to embrace AI with a majority of them feeling confident about using the technology, according to new research from global business and employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn. 

LinkedIn’s study with over 700 respondents in APAC revealed that 76% of marketers in the region believe that AI will change the way they work in the next year, with 46% hoping it will improve their efficiency.

The research also found that 87% of respondents also believe AI will support their work and help create space for teams to think innovatively, freeing up time for marketers to build impactful creative campaigns. 

Notably, 6 in 10 marketers in APAC are using the technology today, with 1 in 2 in the region experimenting with tools such as ChatGPT. The report also finds that nearly 82% of B2B marketing leaders in Singapore plan to increase their use of generative AI in the next year.

Furthermore, marketers in APAC plan to use AI for day-to-day tasks, such as summarising lengthy articles and videos (82%), creating first drafts of written content and presentations (78%), and helping them problem solve (77%).

Talking about the results, Matt Tindale, head of enterprise, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, Asia Pacific, said, “AI is permeating all aspects of work, including marketing. It is now more crucial than ever to create campaigns that enhance brand value. However, many B2B CMOs say they’re pressured to drive results with limited resources, which often leads marketers to favour short-term business needs over long-term strategic efforts.”

“As the landscape of B2B marketing continues to evolve, AI tools will enable marketers to dedicate more time to crafting creative campaigns that drive engagement, establish connections with customers, and yield positive results,” he added.

Singapore – On-demand delivery platform Lalamove launches the ‘Make a Pawfect Move’ campaign to allow users in Asia and Latin America to help abandoned pets by donating their loyalty points.

Lalamove also partnered with SOSD, an animal shelter based in Singapore that rescues, rehabilitates, and finds new homes for stray dogs, granting them a renewed chance for a better life.

Through this new campaign, users can send their love to furry friends at SOSD by registering as members of Lalamove Rewards and accumulating LalaPoints. With a minimum of 1,250 LalaPoints, SDG5 will be donated to SOSD to provide two nourishing meals for a furry companion.

Lalamove’s ‘Make a Pawfect Move’ campaign is an extension of its ‘Deliver Care’ initiative. The campaign aims to better the lives of abandoned dogs through donations while also helping to support their shelter ‘paw-rents’ who pour their hearts into keeping the group running at SOSD.

Joining hands with pet lovers, Lalamove is encouraging everyone to join the cause and spread the word to paws-itively donate their LalaPoints to create a tail-wagging, paw-fect world for furry companions.

Alex Lin, managing director at Lalamove, said, “In recent years, the number of pet owners, particularly for dogs, in Singapore has surged from 70,000 in 2019 to 87,000 in 2022. This growing affection for pets signifies a shift in how people perceive their furry companions, treating them as beloved family members. We, like many Singaporeans, share this love. That’s why a ‘Pawfect Move’ is exciting, as it brings together our Lalamove users with a passion of ours to help pets in need. Lalamove consistently supports various aspects of pet life, including delivering essentials to our vast partner network of pet suppliers.”

“With the collective support of 57,207 active Singaporeans in our Lalamove Rewards Programme and our partnership with SOSD, we hope to raise awareness about animal welfare and create a positive impact in the lives of our beloved furry friends,” he added.

Meanwhile, Magdalene Eng, head of outreach and fundraising at SOSD, also commented, “Lalamove’s generous support will empower us with essential resources and supplies to enhance the living conditions and medical care for our rescued pets, ensuring they receive the highest level of care during their journey to adoption.”

Singapore – Tyroo Technologies and CJ have announced a multi-year global expansion partnership to offer international tech capabilities with localised solutions via the new ‘Tyroo | CJ’ platform in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Through this strategic alliance, advertisers and supply partners in APAC can gain access to an inventory from outcome-centric publishers worldwide through the new advertising platform,  ‘Tyroo | CJ’. 

With a monthly reach of over 1 billion shoppers and 14+ billion shopping interactions annually, the platform boasts universal shopper event tracking, integrations with top e-commerce platforms, end-to-end programme management and optimisation toolsets, and actionable insights and data analytics capabilities, including incrementality measurement.

The ‘Tyroo | CJ’ platform can streamline local finance processes, offer localised optimisation solutions, and ensure a smooth and efficient experience for advertisers and publishers seeking to amplify their reach and impact on a global scale.

The alliance is also expected to synergize both companies’ strengths. The business will leverage CJ’s technology, partnership network, performance marketing experts, workflows, processes, and operations. Meanwhile, Tyroo’s market experience, depth of infrastructure, and relationships will accelerate customer acquisition and growth in the region. 

The business partnership will be headquartered in Singapore and India and launch with expert teams in many locations across Asia.

Siddharth Puri, CEO at Tyroo Technologies, said, “This partnership is driven by our organisational mission of empowering brands in APAC to scale. APAC is on the cusp of becoming the largest digital advertising market, and yet we find a lot of brands struggling to build outcome-based profitable growth channels due to the lack of unified tech and tools to leverage quality publishers.” 

“Globally, we found that in over 15% of brand media plans, tech has been deployed to solve for profitable growth via media partnerships. With this alliance, we will aid advertisers in building performance-centric programs with a tech-first approach by leveraging CJ’s technology and methodology in concert with our legacy and deep knowledge of Asia,” he added. 

Speaking on the partnership, Mayur Kshetramade, CEO at CJ, also shared, “Tyroo | CJ is a partnership of trusted market leaders united in a commitment to transform every aspect of performance and partnership marketing across Asia. This unprecedented strategic and commercial collaboration marks a turning point for advertisers, agencies, publishers, and the 4.7 billion consumers across the region. In so many Asian nations, incredible opportunities have emerged in affiliate, influencer marketing, lead generation, shopper marketing, conversion optimisation, and a host of next-gen channels. From this day forward, there’s an integrated solution to unlock the full scope and scale of commerce across Asia.”

APAC – Tinder and its parent company, Match Group have released their latest ad campaign featuring Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett to help remind users how to avoid online financial scams and toxic behaviours. 

The campaign follows Tinder’s recent in-app safety messages that rolled out across Southeast Asia as well as the public awareness campaign Match Group launched in January to help remind users of ways everyone can protect themselves from online scams.

In the campaign, Bennett reminds audiences to be aware of how the people you meet through the app can sometimes be romance scammers and toxic manipulators, portraying examples such as ‘love-bombers’, ‘money seekers’, and ‘posturers’. 

Talking about the campaign, Bennett said, “Fans have a lot of fun celebrating all their favourite memes and quotes every October 3, but it’s also important that we can take this day to acknowledge some important lessons about how we interact with others online. We want everyone to continue to recognise this day, while also being more aware of the types of common behaviours of online scammers to watch out for.”

Stephanie Danzi, SVP of global marketing at Tinder, also mentioned,  “At Tinder, we are proud to lead on safety efforts and create campaigns that are both beneficial and culturally relevant that can help drive more awareness and make dating safer on our app and across online platforms.”

“On World Romance Scam Prevention Day, we are educating our users of all ages on ways to protect themselves, so they do not fall victim to online fraudulent scams,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Kathy Waters, executive director, Advocating Against Romance Scammers, commented, “Advocating Against Romance Scammers created this day to help bring together every global entity affected by the scams to increase awareness and help others understand the severity of the controlled manipulation in order for the fraud to succeed. We appreciate that Match Group and Tinder have joined our efforts and are doing their part to help raise awareness for their users on their platforms.”

Singapore – Almost 60% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments amid economic uncertainty and perceived financial crises, a report from dentsu revealed. 

The report by dentsu explored the evolving consumer financial behaviour across APAC markets against the backdrop of an economic crisis.

The key findings of dentsu’s report showed that 55% of APAC consumers now sense a looming risk of financial hardship over the next five years due to economic uncertainty and rising costs of living. The perceived financial crisis is also driving consumers to actively seek financial service providers that are capable of delivering swift, personalised, and empathetic solutions to address their financial needs.

The report highlighted that almost 45% of millennials are now looking to save up as concerns over government debt and pension support are escalating, a significant shift in numbers as compared to the 31% results from 2020.

And with consumers looking to prepare for challenging economic times, many are still leaning towards human-led financial services despite the growth of digital banking.

The report revealed that 77% of people ages 25–34 currently use the internet for banking purposes on a weekly basis, and most are open to purchasing more banking services through digital channels.

However, 6 out of 10 APAC consumers still prefer human interaction when making complaints about a product or service. This shows that there is an enduring value to human-led financial services despite the rise of digital banking, as empathetic support remains important in ensuring customers receive assistance during financial difficulties.

It is worth noting, however, that dentsu’s report also revealed a growing interest in AI-powered financial services. Almost 60% of APAC consumers have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments.

This part of the results shows that balancing technological advancement with human empathy can be the key to a business’ success. By harnessing the evolving capabilities of AI, it can improve the capabilities of insurance and finance brands to provide automated, personalised, and speedy services that can help consumers be more resilient to financial and climate-related risks.

Prerna Mehrotra, chief client officer and CEO of media at dentsu APAC, said, “Across the APAC region, consumers are focused on securing their financial futures, and they’re turning to brands that not only provide convenience through cutting-edge technology but also prioritise emotional responsiveness and empathy. In this era of uncertainty, financial wellness is seen as part and parcel of overall wellness. People are in search of providers that go beyond merely offering financial solutions; banks, insurers, and fintech are responding by building guidance on investments and good financial habits into their offerings.”