Tag: Leadership

Sydney, Australia – Adform has announced that it is strengthening the leadership team in APAC to support continued growth in the region. Amy Jansen-Flynn has been promoted to vice president for APAC, while Juozas Petravicius and Finley Matheson step into the roles of director of technical solutions and regional account director respectively.

With these strategic appointments, Adform marks the next phase of its growth in APAC, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for regional brands, agencies, retailers and publishers eager to scale performance.

Petravicius will lead Adform’s technical consulting for APAC, delivering the design and implementation of tailored solutions, ensuring growth and success for Adform customers. He brings extensive experience in technical consulting and solutions architecture across the full programmatic supply chain, along with a deep understanding of the Adform platform. His expertise in identity ecosystems and significant experience working with customers across APAC will be invaluable to Adform’s growth in the region. 

Meanwhile, Matheson will lead strategic growth of Adform’s key accounts in the region and strengthen relationships with global agency holding groups. Prior to Adform, he spent nearly four years at MediaMath, where he led agency development across Europe. His expertise in digital strategy and business development will be instrumental in expanding Adform’s market share and fostering long-term client success in APAC.

Speaking on the appointed, Jansen-Flynn, commented, “I’m excited to take on the role of VP and continue driving Adform’s success in APAC. I couldn’t be happier to have Finley and JP stepping into their new roles, it’s a privilege to have such impressive talent in the team. I’m looking forward to continuing our great work with clients in the region and delivering ongoing growth for Adform.”

She added, “This year will be a big one with some game-changing releases, a focussed effort on retail media solutions, and our ongoing delivery of the world’s most powerful and safe media buying platform.”

Meanwhile, Bartosz Malinowski, regional president, CEE, MEA & APAC, commented, “Adform remains committed to recognising and nurturing outstanding talent within the organisation. Amy’s promotion is a testament to her significant contributions and strategic vision, as well as her ongoing commitment to innovation. Her leadership, combined with Juozas and Finley’s technical and commercial expertise, will be pivotal as we continue to accelerate growth in the APAC region and support clients to optimise their advertising in a post-cookie world.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – Leverate Group is doubling down on its commitment to innovation and client success with the appointment of Fauza Istighfareva as client partnership officer (CPO) and the promotion of Dylan Setiawan to chief operations officer (COO).

Fauza brings extensive experience in account management and sales excellence, and a renowned name in Leverate Group. Having held key roles at Leverate for more than 7 years, she has grown with the company not only in the business but also in company’s management. 

Prior to coming back to Leverate, she worked in Tokopedia and Tiptip for Sales excellence and business partnership. Known for spearheading large account teams and ensuring consistent revenue growth, she will oversee strategic partnerships and client engagement at Leverate Group. 

In her new role, Fauza will focus on elevating the agency’s offerings and delivering high-impact solutions that address evolving market demands.

Meanwhile, Dylan’s promotion to COO reflects a proven track record in operations, account management, and integrated strategy. He honed his operational expertise at one of Southeast Asia’s largest retail groups (MAP). He also expanded his account and strategy proficiency at agencies managing clients across finance, FMCG, luxury, and pharmaceuticals. 

During the past five years at Leverate Group, Dylan served as head of account strategy and was part of the management team, gaining a holistic view of the agency’s capabilities. This experience equips him to seamlessly oversee Leverate’s operations, drive cross-departmental collaboration, and maintain the agency’s momentum in a competitive market.

These leadership appointments reflect Leverate Group’s continued evolution as a strategic marketing innovation & consultancy partner. Both Fauza and Dylan will work closely with the executive team to maintain Leverate’s momentum in Southeast Asia and beyond. 

Marlina Lim, CEO at Leverate Group, said, “With Fauza’s client-first mindset and Dylan’s operational expertise, we’re confident that Leverate Group will continue to thrive and grow in today’s highly competitive market.”

Hong Kong – VML Hong Kong has elevated Sandra Gin and Edward Ha to executive directors, entrusting them with spearheading regional and local market growth, respectively.

Gin, who joined the former Wunderman Thompson in 2020 as client services director, has been involved in expanding the regional and global business from the Hong Kong office. She has worked closely with major clients such as HSBC, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Nikon. 

Originally from Canada, Gin has experience at agencies including BBDO Toronto, FCB Toronto, Digitas Hong Kong, and Golin Hong Kong, with expertise across industries such as gaming, telecommunications, healthcare, hospitality, and finance.

Commenting on her new role, Gin said, “I’m incredibly excited to step into this expanded role at VML to further ignite our growth across Asia and beyond. We have the depth and breadth of capabilities to help our clients succeed and a brilliant team at VML ready to make it happen. I’m energised by the opportunity to further shape the future of our agency.”

Meanwhile, Ha brings two decades of advertising experience, blending entrepreneurial insight with multinational agency expertise. Before joining VML, he co-founded and led a boutique agency for eight years.

Ha’s experience across Hong Kong and mainland China has contributed to VML’s work with clients such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Endowus, and HSBC.

Talking about his new role, Ha said, The agency landscape is evolving rapidly with ongoing technological and societal changes. Leveraging my experience running a boutique agency, I aim to foster greater agility and maintain a sharp focus on clients’ needs, driving the agency forward alongside the VML leadership team.”

Both Gin and Ha will remain part of the leadership team, reporting directly to Maggie Wong, CEO of VML Hong Kong.

Commenting on the promotions, Wong shared, “Sandra and Edward are invaluable members of our management team. Their passion, commitment, and leadership have been crucial to our success, and I am thrilled to see them advance within the company. They have both laid a robust foundation for our growth in 2025 and beyond.”

Singapore – Edelman has strengthened its leadership in Southeast Asia with the appointment of Delicia Tan as CEO for Singapore, expanding her current role overseeing Hong Kong and Taiwan, and Vorasit (Gigg) Turongsomboon as the new managing director for Edelman Thailand.

Currently serving as CEO for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Tan will now expand her leadership to include Singapore, succeeding Julia Wei, who is leaving the firm at the end of the month to pursue a new venture.

Tan, who joined Edelman Singapore in 2006, has extensive experience leading integrated teams across Asia Pacific. She has worked on diversified communications strategies and served as regional and global client leader for several of the firm’s major clients.

During her two and a half years as CEO of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, Tan has led the business through the post-pandemic period and developed an integrated communications team serving clients across the region.

Turongsomboon, who has over 16 years of experience in strategic public relations and communications, also joins Tan as the new managing director for Edelman Thailand.

Turongsomboon will lead Edelman’s Thailand office, which has expanded in response to growing client demand. The office has worked on notable campaigns, including the Cannes Lions-winning Dove #LetHerGrow campaign in 2023 and the Vaseline Transition Body Lotion campaign in 2024.

Before joining Edelman, Turongsomboon was managing director at MSL, overseeing clients in the tourism, automotive, and consumer products sectors. His experience also includes a decade-long tenure at Procter & Gamble.

Speaking on the leadership appointments, Rakesh Thukral, Edelman’s CEO for Asia Pacific, said, “Delicia’s new role is an acknowledgement of her experience and contribution to our firm. We have a strong team and a great set of clients in Singapore. With Delicia’s leadership, I am confident that we will continue to do impressive work in that market. I would like to thank Julia for her contribution to the Edelman business in APAC.” 

Thukral added, “We are also very pleased to have Gigg onboard to lead our business in Thailand. Through these appointments, we are strengthening our ability to deliver the best communications advisory solutions for our clients across Asia Pacific. I am confident both Gigg and Delicia will make a positive impact in their new positions.” 

Tan and Turongsomboon’s appointments are effective immediately.

Singapore – Snigdha Nandan, most recently the director of B2C and digital marketing for APAC at Mastercard, has taken a new role as the executive director and global head of digital marketing at Standard Chartered. In a conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Snigdha mentioned that she will lead all digital marketing initiatives for the brand’s top markets in the Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) space.

“This includes driving global marketing campaigns at scale, optimising performance marketing efforts for our key consumer segments and driving a digital transformation initiative that enables us to champion personalised marketing campaigns across the consumer lifecycle. I also lead marketing analytics and effectiveness in my role,” she explained.

In her recent role at Mastercard, she played a pivotal role in shaping brand marketing, paid media, performance marketing, and social media strategy across Asia-Pacific. She spearheaded strategic B2C marketing programs to expand consumer engagement in key passion areas such as travel, culinary, sports, music, and gaming.

Moreover, she also played a key role in the global launch of Mastercard Gamer Xchange and introduced AI/ML-powered solutions like the Digital Engine in Asia.

Prior to Mastercard, Snigdha spent 10 years with PayPal, and held several key leadership roles across consumer and B2B marketing, driving strategic initiatives in international and regional markets. Moreover, her expertise in strategic partnerships, performance marketing, and cross-border commerce played a crucial role in strengthening PayPal’s market presence across diverse regions in APAC.

Speaking on how her past experiences will play out in her new role at Standard Chartered, Snigdha said, “With my almost 14 years of marketing experience in the fintech and payments space, I have a lot of learnings to take to my new role at Standard Chartered. I have worked across different players in the financial services ecosystem now–from a wallet, to a card network to now an issuer/bank.”

She added, “These organisations often work in partnership to meet a consumer’s financial needs. For example, the affluent customer segment has been a common one across various roles and I have seen these segments’ digital behaviours over the years. That, in my opinion, is definitely an advantage. I also carry my 14 years of experience in digital marketing to drive excellence as a subject matter expert.”

She joins Standard Chartered ahead of the rollout of the brand’s ‘Now’s your time for wealth’ campaign, which she was a part of. The campaign, done in collaboration with Publicis Groupe Hong Kong and Singapore, delivers a compelling message: “The cost of waiting could mean falling short of one’s wealth ambitions.”

When asked about what lies ahead for her role at Standard Chartered, she stated, “One month into my role,  I am amazed to see the innovation that is happening in the bank and in the financial services space. The way Standard Chartered is innovating with its products to provide more tailored solutions, creating seamless onboarding journeys for customers, driving personalisation across channels, and quickly adopting tools and technology backed by AI to drive this personalisation is impressive.”

She added, “The Digital Transformation initiative that I will lead will be another step in future-proofing our marketing campaigns. There’s a lot more to come.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Omnicom Media Group has appointed Winnie Chen-Head as CEO for Malaysia. In her new role, Chen-Head will lead strategy, operations, and the development and adoption of transformative capabilities that will drive the next chapter of growth for OMG Malaysia. She succeeds Eileen Ooi, who was named CEO of PHD Asia-Pacific last year.

Chen-Head joins OMG from her role as managing director of media at dentsu Malaysia, overseeing its agency brands. Over the course of her more than two decades in marketing, she has held leadership roles across multiple business categories – including e-commerce, aviation, telecommunications, and software – and built a reputation for delivering high impact strategies that drive results for clients and organisational growth.

She takes the helm as OMG is enjoying its most significant year ever. Powered by Omnicom’s industry-leading Omni open operating system that drives business outcomes for brands, OMG Malaysia’s recent wins and retentions include OPPO, Wipro Unza, CelcomDigi, Vinda, and Friesland Campina. 

Reporting directly to Tony Harradine, CEO for APAC at Omnicom Media Group, Chen-Head will join OMG Malaysia officially on 19 March 2025.

Speaking on her appointment, Chen-Head said, “I am honoured to join OMG Malaysia as CEO and capitalise on the strong momentum to drive further success. A key goal of mine is to leverage innovative and strategic thinking to help clients deliver on their business ambitions. This will be achieved with the talented teams at OMG Malaysia, where a culture of open communication and collaboration empowers everyone to contribute their best ideas. The opportunities ahead are immense, and I’m excited to lead the new era of transformation and growth.”

Meanwhile, Harradine commented, “Winnie steps into this role at a pivotal time, building on a strong foundation of success. As one of the most respected, tested, and proven leaders in the market, Winnie has the experience and expertise to take OMG Malaysia into its next phase of growth, leveraging our Agency as a Platform proposition to deliver transformative experiences for our clients, their customers and our people.”

United Kingdom – VIOOH has announced Ludovic Menard as its new chief product officer (CPO). Menard returns to VIOOH after almost three years, succeeding former CPO Jon Block, who left the business at the end of 2024 after nearly five years in the role. 

In his new role, Menard will be responsible for driving the vision, strategic direction and roadmap for all products and data within VIOOH’s ecosystem. Reporting into VIOOH’s CEO Jean-Christophe Conti, Menard will collaborate closely with VIOOH’s leadership team to understand customer needs and market demands. 

Moreover, he is tasked with developing features and products that deliver value to users and are aligned to long-term business objectives.

A seasoned adtech and product management professional, with extensive experience across out-of-home advertising, Menard joins from Teads where he held the position of VP Product, prior to which he worked at VIOOH for four years as vice president of products and spearheaded the build and launch of both programmatic and direct sales products. 

His knowledge extends across ad tech, not only in supply side platforms, but also DSP and DMP technology, products, business and operating models. 

Throughout his 19-year career, Menard has also held positions at JCDecaux, InovenAltenor (Orange Consulting), Criteo and Mereo. Beyond media and tech, his expertise includes machine learning and AI, CRM and sales & marketing automation, yield management and business intelligence, finance operations, privacy and compliance.

Speaking on his appointment, Menard said, “It’s a privilege to return to VIOOH at this thrilling new phase in its lifecycle. The company has evolved from an exciting start-up to a scale-up, offering innovative and diversified monetisation paths for media owners, and a raft of international programmatic DOOH opportunities for advertisers and agencies. I’m excited to begin this next chapter.”

Meanwhile, Jean-Christophe Conti, CEO at VIOOH, commented, “We’re pleased to welcome Ludo back into the VIOOH family. An experienced pair of hands, he was with us at the very beginning and it’s great to once again tap into his expertise at this next exciting stage of VIOOH’s evolution.”

He added, “With even more ambitious plans for international growth and product development this year, I’m confident Ludo is just the person to help VIOOH accelerate its strategic agenda, unlock future opportunities and add innovative features to our platform to enable digital media buyers to embrace the benefits and growth potential of programmatic DOOH.”

Mumbai, India – Netcore Cloud has announced the appointment of Nishant Arora as senior vice president of marketing. He brings close to two decades of industry experience, fueling hyper growth SaaS companies to multi-billion dollar companies. 

In his role, Nishant will play a pivotal role in Netcore Cloud’s next phase of growth, leading the company’s marketing strategy worldwide. Moreover, he will focus on enhancing Netcore Cloud’s marketing efforts, driving demand generation, and creating compelling narratives that resonate with businesses across sectors.

Nishant joins Netcore Cloud from Sprinklr, where he served as senior director in the marketing team. His tenure at Freshworks saw him lead product marketing in IT, turning it into the fastest-growing product in the company’s portfolio. Prior to this, Nishant honed his expertise in growth marketing during his tenure at IBM, where he led marketing for Data and AI software.

Speaking on his appointment, Nishant said, “With more than 6,500 customers leveraging our AI-powered, and intuitive products, Netcore Cloud has been quietly disrupting the customer engagement market. I look forward to helping Netcore Cloud unlock profitable growth by strengthening our brand and accelerating demand with our innovative products. I am honored to join this incredible team.”

Meanwhile, Siddharth Gopalkrishnan, chief operating officer at Netcore Cloud, commented,  “Nishant’s impressive experience in launching and scaling high-growth SaaS products aligns perfectly with Netcore Cloud’s vision. His expertise in growth marketing and product positioning will be invaluable in helping us position Netcore Cloud as a leading MarTech SaaS player, competing with the best globally. We’re excited to have Nishant on board.”

Singapore – In a significant reshuffling of its leadership team, Manulife Asia has announced key strategic changes across its operations in emerging markets, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and its finance division.

As part of the leadership changes, Manulife Asia has appointed Dr. Kah Siang Khoo, currently the CEO of Singapore, as the new CEO of Emerging Markets. In this expanded role, he will oversee operations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

Dr Khoo, who joined Manulife in 2018, has played a key role in driving growth and enhancing the company’s position in the region. He has also contributed to digital initiatives and new distribution strategies while overseeing a successful bancassurance partnership with DBS. Prior to his new role, Dr. Khoo served as the president of the Life Insurance Association of Singapore.

During the transition, Dr. Khoo will remain CEO of Singapore until he officially hands over the role to Benoit Meslet on June 1. Meslet, who is currently CEO of Japan, will assume the position pending regulatory approval.

Benoit has been with Manulife since 2020, driving four years of core earnings growth, doubling new business value since 2022, and leading a fast-paced digital transformation that boosted customer satisfaction and employee engagement. With over 20 years of leadership experience in Asia’s life insurance sector, he is well-equipped for his new role.

Following this change, Ryan Charland, currently CEO of Indonesia, will succeed Meslet as CEO of Japan, effective May 1, 2025. He will join Meslet in Japan in April to facilitate a smooth transition.

Since taking the helm in 2019, Charland has led Manulife Indonesia to expand its market share and achieve a strong Net Promoter Score. He also launched a new Syariah-compliant company to serve Indonesia’s underpenetrated Muslim population. His extensive experience in product development, distribution, operations, finance, and risk management is expected to support ongoing growth in Manulife Japan.

Meanwhile, Lauren Sulistiawati will succeed Charland as CEO of Indonesia, starting February 24, 2025, pending regulatory approval. She will collaborate closely with Charland to ensure a smooth transition and will report to Dr Khoo.

Sulistiawati joins from Commonwealth Bank, where she led the transition to OCBC while maintaining customer satisfaction. She has held leadership roles in Indonesian and multinational banks, with a focus on transformation, Syariah business, and regional insurance partnerships.

Last on the roster of leadership changes, Adrienne O’Neill, currently global controller and group chief accounting officer, has been appointed Asia chief financial officer, reporting to Colin Simpson, global CFO, and Phil Witherington, president and CEO of Manulife Asia.

O’Neill has been with Manulife for over 17 years, holding various key finance roles, including global controller and group chief accounting officer. She also served as global head of investor relations from 2018 to 2021.

Speaking on the appointments, Witherington said, “These changes showcase the depth and strength of our leadership across Asia and position us to continue delivering high-quality sustainable growth and be the number one choice for customers.”

“We are well on track to achieve our goal of contributing half of Manulife’s core earnings by 2027, and these leaders have consistently executed our strategy. Their leadership in these new roles will help define the next chapter for Manulife Asia,” he added.

Phil Witherington will assume the role of president and CEO of Manulife on May 9, 2025. Until his successor is appointed, members of the Manulife Asia senior leadership team will report directly to him.

Manulife has also announced the departure of Michael Thomssen, chief financial officer for Asia, and Sachin Shah, head of emerging markets. The company thanked both for their contributions and wished them success in their future endeavours.

India – Jobs and talent platform foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), a Quess company, has appointed V Suresh as its new chief executive officer to spearhead growth and innovation across its AI-driven platform.

Suresh brings more than 20 years of experience in the e-recruitment, internet, and digital transformation sectors. He has a track record of driving growth, expanding market presence, and developing digital platforms across various industries.

In his new role, Suresh brings extensive strategic experience and a focus on long-term growth. His strong understanding of customer needs and operational efficiency will guide foundit as it continues to develop its AI-powered platform, aiming to improve job search, hiring precision, and connections between employers and candidates.

Speaking on his appointment, Suresh commented, “I am privileged to lead foundit at this exciting stage in its journey. With a strong legacy and an advanced AI-driven platform, foundit is uniquely positioned to transform how talent and opportunity connect. Throughout my career, I have focused on harnessing technology to create impactful, customer-centric solutions, and I look forward to building on this foundation to drive innovation, growth, and excellence across APAC and the Middle East.”

Previously known as Monster (APAC & ME), the company rebranded to foundit in 2022 to reflect its evolution into a leading jobs and talent platform.

Ajit Isaac, managing director of Quess Corp, also shared, “Suresh’s deep understanding of the digital talent ecosystem and proven ability to scale businesses will help us strengthen our leadership position in the market. Under his stewardship, we aim to further refine our platform, enhance our services, and continue bridging the talent gap across industries and geographies.”