Tag: Advertising agency

California, USA – S4Capital’s operating brand Media.Monks, a digital-first, data-led advertising and marketing services company, has launched ‘Persona.Flow,’ a professional managed service that gives brand marketers the ability to talk to their data. According to the agency, said solution addresses a unique need within enterprise AI workflows by converting owned customer data into dynamic consumer personas. Said transformation then allows marketers to interact in real-time, significantly augmenting their speed to market.

The ‘Persona.Flow’ solution offers a user-friendly interface to help brands streamline strategy workflows, increase their precision, and democratise deep data insights. Its core technology is driven by a robust retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) framework that synergises brand-owned data and factual data from extensive consumer and market research libraries provided in partnership with data-driven marketing firm Claritas. 

Moreover, the solution negates the need for the weeks of planning and deliberation that are commonly associated with building consumer intelligence. The service amplifies speed to market by delivering detailed, granular insights in real-time and in natural language, making it easier than ever to respond to market trends as they emerge.

According to Media.Monks, owning a comprehensive dataset is crucial for brands to future-proof themselves and stay competitive in today’s data-intensive and AI-dominated creative landscape, and with ‘Persona.Flow’, it serves as a reliable, single source of truth for all of a brand’s marketing data, fostering the discovery of new creative concepts that may in turn generate further data based on their performance with real audiences.

“As a consultative AI partner, Media.Monks aids brands in leading the new economy and becoming AI-first through the deployment of customised solutions. Unhindered by traditional agency compartmentalisation, Media.Monks’ in-house team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and creatives boast profound expertise in AI and machine learning technologies. Consistently at the forefront of integrating and applying these technologies, Media.Monks is pioneering a revolutionary commercial model for the marketing and advertising industry that addresses brands’ most urgent commercial requirements,” the agency stated.

Singapore – Virtue APAC, the advertising agency powered by VICE, has appointed Martin Soendergaard as its executive creative director following continued organic and new client growth. 

In his new role, Soendergaard will oversee and guide the agency’s entire creative output across its offices in Singapore and India, in addition to growing and developing a team of creatives working across global and regional clients such as Coca-Cola, Diageo, and Shiseido.

Soendergaard joins Virtue APAC from We Are Social Singapore, where he was ECD for more than two years, delivering global and regional work for brands including Samsung, Activision, Amazon Prime Video, and Bandai Namco.

Originally from Denmark, Soendergaard has worked internationally for the past 16 years at agencies such as CPB, 360i, and BBDO, leading diverse teams responsible for developing global multi-platform campaigns. His extensive portfolio includes iconic brands in culture like Absolut, Volkswagen, Ford, Burger King, Bose, and Porsche. 

Speaking on his own appointment, Soendergaard said, “Virtue APAC is doing really innovative and creatively driven work such as the recent Coca-Cola Creations’ Y3000′ and ‘Soul Blast’ launches and its ‘Walk Beyond’ brand platform for Johnnie Walker that spotlights the progressive creative culture born from the streets of Southeast Asia.” 

“Everything they do is rooted in deep cultural insights, and I’m looking forward to helping our clients think differently while championing and building the brilliant creative talent within the agency. I couldn’t be more excited to join the Virtue family,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Lesley John, managing director at Virtue APAC, commented, “Martin joins Virtue as we partner with more ambitious clients wanting to build their brands inside culture. His extensive experience at leading global agencies, combined with his strong social capabilities and passion for effectively using tech, make him ideally suited to drive our creative offering.” 

“He is a proven leader with a reputation for collaborating and motivating his teams to maximise creative opportunities. His international and regional knowledge will be a major asset, and I’m delighted to welcome him to our growing Virtue APAC team,” she concluded. 

Manila, Philippines – Several advertising creatives have set to launch their own independent agency called Leron Leron Sinta. The new agency was founded by Dionie Tañada and Sajid Guerrero, as well as Varge Pollins Masanque and Joshua Surquia.

The agency’s name is rooted from a popular Filipino folk song of the same name, which tells the tale of a farmer who chose to find another tree to pick fruits after falling over on the first one. For the agency, this represents a metaphor for clients to always choose another agency to work with.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, the new agency described themselves as someone who could foster and champion genuine local grassroots creativity.

“At our core, Leron Leron Sinta is masa (the masses). Our collective grassroots experiences of being one with the masses help us bring out the creativity that is uniquely and truly Pinoy,” the agency said.

Tañada and Guerrero were previously part of the team responsible behind some of most popular local advertising works in recent years, including for RC Cola, GrabUnlimited, Orocan, Julie’s Bakeshop, Mega Tuna, TNT Sim Reg, Cheers, a few successful Netflix titles, amongst others.

For the agency, their former agency has taught them that creative campaign works with passion, and that they intend to bring said spirit to their future clients.

“We were taught to create work with passion. We intend to carry this passion with us and infuse our hearts for the masses. Our creative partners, Dionie and Sajid, are both master storytellers. With their ability to tell stories in an unignorable way, Leron Leron Sinta aims to tell brand stories that not only elevate the brand but also inspire consumers and ultimately drive sales,” they further added.

Being a new independent agency, MARKETECH APAC asked: what’s unique about them compared to local arm of larger ad agencies?

“We’re the only agency that’s 100% founded by people with an attitude and perspective that came from the grassroots, streets, and rural settings. We’re masa, and we’re proud of it,” they explained, further adding, “Leron Leron Sinta specializes in work that is ‘pang-masa’ (for the masses) and is anchored on creative ideas that help businesses sell and grow.”

As they open their doors for future work, they assure future clients that their populace familiarity gives them an advantage to also include them on their future campaigns.

“A more involved market, especially the masses. Being part of the masa gives us an edge in involving these people in creating campaigns. Just like the farmers in the folk song ‘Leron Leron Sinta’, we will channel our relentless spirit in pursuing brave ideas that solve our client’s marketing and advertising problems,” they concluded.

Tokyo, Japan – International advertising agency dentsu has recently announced the launch of its ‘global practices structure’ along with key leadership appointments, led by Jean Lin, group president – global practices, Dentsu Group Inc.

These developments emphasise dentsu’s ambition to build highly integrated, people-centred, end-to-end solutions, as well as its commitment to its enduring global leadership brands including Carat, iProspect, dentsu X, Dentsu Creative, Merkle and Tag.

Moving on to the appointments, Yasuharu Sasaki becomes global chief creative officer, leading dentsu’s global creative practice. In this new role, Sasaki will be responsible for driving expertise to unlock the full potential of Dentsu Creative’s capability and impact across all practice areas. 

On the other hand, Will Swayne becomes global practice president – media, where he will be building a winning media practice community that delivers continued excellence in its offerings, driving client growth and transformation. 

Lastly, Pete Stein becomes global practice president – CXM, in this role, he will partner with all four Regions to ensure the implementation of the dentsu transformation agenda and global CXM practice initiatives in region and market.

Talking about the new global practice structure and appointments, Lin said, “With the creation of our Global Practices, dentsu is making a statement about what the future of integrated, end-to-end client solutions will look like. We’re removing the barriers and that will allow us to do just that in a way which very few others in the industry can match.”

“I’m so proud to bring together this new line-up of global practice leads and, in turn, their leadership teams, to do just that – unlock the potential of dentsu’s integrated capabilities to help our clients not only grow, but answer some of the greatest challenges of our time,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Hiroshi Igarashi, president and CEO, Dentsu Group Inc., said, “Under Jean’s leadership, within our Global Practice structure, we count many of the world’s most respected and historic agency brands, full of deep expertise and differentiated services. By creating a cross-service structure, we are simultaneously integrating those capabilities while ensuring clients can still benefit from distinct knowledge.”

New York, USA – Advertising holding company Omnicom has announced the promotions of Alex Lubar as new global CEO of DDB Worldwide and Glen Lomas as global president and chief operating officer of DDB Worldwide.

Prior to his elevation, Lubar was appointed president and COO of DDB Worldwide in October 2022 after spending 10 years at McCann.

He served several regional leadership roles in his time, including being president of McCann North America, head of McCann’s Asia Pacific region, and CEO of McCann London.

Lubar will succeed the current global CEO, Marty O’Halloran, who will continue as chairman. O’Halloran has been a leader within the DDB network for close to four decades and took over the role of global CEO in 2020.

On the other hand, Lomas was based in London and served as CEO at DDB EMEA before his promotion. He brings with him a strong client experience, building successful client teams across geographies while creating an environment where creativity and effectiveness flourish across the network.

John Wren, chairman and CEO at Omnicom, said, “We are pleased to announce these changes as DDB has reclaimed its title of being one of the top creative agencies in the world, including 2023 Cannes Network of the Year.”

“Marty’s dedication to DDB has made him an integral part of the network’s culture and operations, and we thank him for his strong leadership during the past four years as CEO. With extensive global leadership credentials within the industry, we are confident that Alex, supported by Glen, will continue to elevate the network and build upon its legacy of creative excellence,” he added.

Also speaking on the promotion, O’Halloran said, “It has been my honour to lead DDB over the past 4 years. The talent across our regions is incredible, and together we’ve been able to produce work that has achieved transformative results for our clients and has been awarded as some of the best creativity in the world. As part of this orchestrated succession plan, there is no doubt in my mind that Alex will continue to lead the DDB network to new heights. I look forward to working in a chairman’s capacity with Alex and Glen as they partner in leading the way forward with their global leadership team.”

Meanwhile, in his new role, Lubar shared, “Since its inception, DDB has unlocked the power of human emotion to make millions of different people change how they behave, feel, and transact with brands and businesses around the world. We believe that creativity, in all its modern forms, has the power to profoundly transform our clients’ businesses. I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead Bill Bernbach’s legacy into the future with such a talented global staff and leadership team who all share the same vision.”

Lomas, on his appointment, also added, “It has always been a privilege to work at DDB, and it is a great honour to take on this role. DDB has always been where brilliant, unpretentious people turn up each day to apply their creativity to solving problems. The problems and solutions change, but the culture doesn’t. I love what this network is capable of when it comes together, as demonstrated this year at Cannes, and Alex and I are here to ensure that spirit continues and the network keeps evolving to attract the most ambitious talent and clients.”

Singapore – Maybank Singapore has announced its appointment of advertising agency Arena Media Singapore as its media agency of record. The appointment takes effect immediately.

Following the appointment, Arena Media Singapore will be spearheading Maybank Singapore’s integrated and digital media planning and buying strategies, aiming to enhance brand presence and facilitate meaningful consumer engagement. 

Leroy Lim, general manager of Arena Media Singapore, expressed his team’s excitement on the collaboration with Maybank Singapore. 

“Our team is eager to leverage our digital expertise to support Maybank’s efforts in forging greater consumer connections, and broadening their reach in the local market,” he added.
 
Maybank Singapore’s appointment serves as another addition to Arena Media’s list of clients, as the agency also currently serves as the media agency of record in Singapore for AIA, Dolce and Gabbana, Inchcape, Kaplan, Moomoo, and Far East Organization.

Tokyo, Japan – Global digital advertising platform GumGum announced their reinforcement towards the Japanese market by appointing seasoned digital media executive, Kenzo Selby as GumGum Japan’s managing director to lead its growing business in the area.

In his new role, Selby will be growing GumGum’s brand presence in the market, as well as deepening its relationships with brands, agencies, and publishers to embrace a mindset-first, cookie-less solution.

Notably, Selby and the Japanese team will be spearheading GumGum’s ‘The Mindset Matrix’, a concept that pushes brands to leave behavioural targeting behind by helping to pinpoint environments that drive the most attention and aligning ad creative to capture a consumer’s frame of mind, resulting in brand lift and boosted outcomes.

Selby joins GumGum after more than six years of driving growth for Teads in Japan as head of sales, leading a 14 person strong sales team. Prior to Teads, Kenzo was a sales leader at AOL’s BeOn. He also brings a wealth of business management and financial acumen from experience gathered at Ernst & Young and other accounting firms where he focused on Japanese corporations doing business in Australia.

Selby will replace outgoing managing director, Naokazu Wakaguri, who has driven the growth of the business in Japan for five years. Wakaguri will support Selby in a transition period through the end of the year before leaving GumGum to pursue personal projects at the start of 2024.

Commenting on this, Wakaguri said, “As I embark on my next stage, my belief in GumGum and the future it holds for our industry is strong. With Kenzo as the new leader, I am excited for the next chapter of GumGum in this region and am fully committed to providing my ongoing support during this transition period. We have all the ingredients for success; a compelling vision, amazing products, respectful people, ethics, and great culture.” 

Speaking on his own appointment, Selby said, “There is a huge opportunity for GumGum here in Japan as advertisers are looking for ways to deliver campaigns that demand attention and drive outcomes. GumGum’s Mindset Matrix will give advertisers the ability to understand their campaigns on a deeper level and pinpoint where to optimise for improved ROI. I’m excited to be joining GumGum’s amazing team and will be growing our market presence.”

Meanwhile, Sorrel Osborne, head of media, JAPAC, at GumGum, commented, “Kenzo’s appointment represents GumGum’s continued commitment to strong growth in Japan through bringing best-in-market media, targeting and measurement capabilities to this vibrant and dynamic media landscape. As always, our focus is on delivering outstanding business outcomes for our valued partners in Japan and Kenzo is expertly positioned to do so, with the support of the global business.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – South Korean advertising agency INNOCEAN has established its regional headquarters for Asia-Pacific in the city of Jakarta in Indonesia. The new headquarters is designed to strengthen the integrated marketing services offered to their clients throughout the region.

The regional headquarters embodies 10 specialised departments with over 100 experts in integrated marketing and creative solutions, social & digital communications, data analysis and management, full-funnel media integrations, and brand & space experience. 

The regional management team, led by James SangSeok Lee, APAC regional CEO at INNOCEAN; stands resolutely committed to delivering not only creative excellence but also efficient solutions. This new endeavour signifies the agency’s dedication to providing integrated services that transcend conventional boundaries.

“While we address our clients’ daily marketing needs, we consistently explore beyond conventional communications. Other services, such as targeted marketing, content creation, as well as brand and space experiences, represent just a few of the expertise services we offer,” he said.

Lee added, “At present, we have established 3 entities and 1 office across the region – Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and the Philippines. In the coming year, we plan to open 2 additional entities, specifically in Thailand and Malaysia.”

The INNOCEAN APAC regional headquarters has forged close collaborations with esteemed brands, including Hyundai, Kia, LG, Yong Ma (Rice Cooker), Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), and numerous others across the Asia-Pacific region.

Singapore – Global advertising agency Havas has announced the promotion of Darrell Nelson as the CEO of Havas Japan, and Aga Giedroyc as the CEO of Havas Thailand, taking over former Havas Thailand CEO, Santiphong Pimolsaengsuriya.

These appointments follow Havas’ recent leadership appointments in Malaysia and Cambodia, moving towards its growth plan in the involved regions.

In his new role, Nelson will collaborate closely with his teams to drive new business and local client strategies, focusing on leveraging Havas’ integrated capabilities for growth. He will also continue to serve as the APAC head of cultural strategy.

Meanwhile, Giedroyc is now tasked with leading Havas Thailand’s business operations and implementing comprehensive plans for growth. Her experience with Havas has played a crucial role in catalyzing the agency’s transformation, forging trusted relationships with clients, and spearheading digital capabilities across the network. She will also be continuing her current role as the EVP of corporate development for Havas SEA, Japan, and Korea. 

Speaking on his appointment, Nelson said, “I am thrilled to take on the leadership role and contribute to Havas’ ongoing expansion in Japan. I feel incredibly fortunate to already have an amazing and diverse team in place, dedicated to driving impactful and creative work for a great roster of clients here in Japan.”

“Our integrated Village model, which seamlessly combines creative and media efforts while collaborating with our Vivendi partners, continues to be the driving force for growth. As we continue to expand with new offerings in market, we are in a great place to continue the momentum we have in Japan and across the region right now”, he added. 

Also sharing her thoughts on her promotion, Giedroyc mentioned, I am eagerly anticipating this journey, where I’ll work alongside a remarkable team to infuse Thailand’s unique creativity into Havas’ ethos, ensuring we continue to shape meaningful brands that truly matter through a synergy of creativity, media, and entertainment.”

Meanwhile, Alberto Canteli, CEO/chairman Havas, Nordics, CEE & Middle East, SEA, Korea & Japan, commented, “The new leadership structure aims to accelerate the development of the collaborative Village model and strengthen our position in the crucial Southeast Asian and North Asian markets. Darrell has consistently demonstrated his commercial acumen and ability to grow our business in Japan. Aga’s proven ability to build and enhance capabilities in the region will augment our value proposition in Thailand and reinforce our commitment to creative excellence and smart media accountability for growth and momentum.”

Singapore – In a slew of leadership appointments to expand their presence in APAC, advertising agency OMD has added a head of digital to its Asia Pacific regional leadership team with the hiring of Dileep Raj Singh.

As head of digital, Singh will be accelerating OMD’s digital leadership agenda, rooted in helping clients address their business challenges and digital ambitions. He will be supporting OMD’s local teams in APAC on operational excellence,as well as its digital transformation frameworks and roadmaps.

Singh is a digital native and brings with him a wealth of experience across product, media agency and client side in APAC, North America and the United Kingdom. His last 10 years have been spent building diverse digital marketing teams covering areas like performance marketing, digital media planning, ad/martech, product marketing, branding and measurement.

Speaking on his own appointment, Singh said, “ As we embark on this journey, I want to leverage the strength of the OMD network – people, technology, data, tools and platforms – to help our clients pivot and navigate through all the new and evolved possibilities in digital media. With this, I aim to position OMD as an unrivaled partner for our current and future clients; to dominate and succeed in this incredibly competitive and multifarious digital realm.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte Lee, CEO of OMD APAC, commented, “It is our global ambition to continue our leadership position in digital, data and technology. In line with this ambition, we are excited to have Singh come on board the OMD APAC leadership team. His background of agency, in-house and start-up experience position him perfectly to understand and address our clients’ business needs.”

Singh will be reporting to Lee, and will be working with chief strategy officer, David McCallen, who were both appointed in 2022, and chief client officer, Sadhan Mishra who was appointed in June 2023, to drive and support APAC local markets as well as regional clients on digital, data and technology needs.