Tag: Agency News

Indonesia – Jackie W.K. Jeong, a marketing professional with 18 years of experience in global retail strategy and brand development, has been appointed as the new head of retail and campaign at Cheil Indonesia.

With experience leading projects across Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East, Jeong brings a global perspective to his new role at Cheil Indonesia.

Jeong has led a range of projects, from overseeing flagship rollouts for Samsung in London and Stockholm to developing Hyundai Motor’s brand exhibition centre in Korea, which received Red Dot and iF design awards. His work reflects a combination of cultural insights and design innovation.

Prior to joining Cheil Indonesia, Jeong has held executive roles at Cheil Worldwide, CJ ENM’s CJ LiveCity, and the Jeju Forum, gaining experience in marketing strategy and brand development. His work spans managing large-scale events and designing themed retail environments, focusing on innovation and strategic execution.

Recently, Jeong has led omni-channel campaigns for Samsung’s Galaxy series and Bespoke appliances, integrating retail, digital, and experiential marketing. He has also worked on enterprise solutions for B2B clients across industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, entertainment, and government.

Commenting on his new role, Jeong said, “I’ve always believed that great marketing doesn’t just sell—it creates moments that matter. Indonesia is a market bursting with energy and potential, and I’m excited to bring my global experience here to craft campaigns and retail strategies that truly resonate with Indonesian consumers.” 

Jeong’s appointment reflects Cheil Indonesia’s focus on combining global insights with local market strategies in Indonesia’s evolving marketing landscape.

Joo Hwan Kim, CEO of Cheil Indonesia, said, “Jackie’s track record is truly remarkable. His ability to navigate cultural nuances while delivering innovative, business-driven solutions makes him uniquely positioned to lead our retail and campaign initiatives. We are confident that his leadership will inspire our team and elevate the experiences we deliver for our clients.” 

Singapore – VML has announced that Audrey Kuah, most recently the co-CEO of VML APAC, has stepped down from her role in pursuit of new opportunities–the agency has confirmed to MARKETECH APAC when reached out to.

“Audrey Kuah, co-CEO of VML APAC has decided to transition out of her role to pursue new opportunities. While we are sad to see her go, we’re excited for her as she embarks on this new chapter,” the agency stated.

They added, “During her tenure as co-CEO, Audrey played a critical role to the success of both Wunderman Thompson and VML. Her leadership, experience, and passion have been invaluable during this period of transformation. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

VML has also noted that moving forward, Yi-Chung Tay, previously co-CEO along with Audrey, will assume the role of CEO, leading VML APAC into its next chapter.

Audrey became the co-CEO of VML APAC following the formation of said agency through the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R by advertising holdings giant WPP in October 2023.

Prior to the merger, Audrey was the CEO of Wunderman Thompson APAC where she oversaw the creative and strategic growth of the business across the APAC region.

She joined the agency following a stint at OCBC Bank as its former head, group marketing, global consumer and financial services, and was responsible for driving business and growth-focused marketing initiatives for the bank.

India – VML has appointed creative leader Kalpesh Patankar as its group chief creative officer for India, marking a significant addition to the agency’s leadership team.

With nearly two decades of award-winning experience, Patankar joins VML from his previous role as chief creative officer at Leo Burnett Dubai.

With nearly two decades of experience across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Patankar brings a global perspective to VML India. His expertise in creative strategy and client relationships is expected to support the agency’s growth in the region.

Throughout his career, Patankar has worked with major global brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Harvey Nichols, Land Rover, and Colgate, creating campaigns that have gained industry recognition. He has also contributed to the creative industry as a jury president at award shows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, Andys, and ADFEST.

Patankar returns to VML after serving as CCO at VMLY&R Dubai, where he transformed agencies into globally recognised creative powerhouses. Under his leadership, both VMLY&R Dubai and Leo Burnett Dubai achieved major success, earning accolades such as “MEA Agency of the Decade” at Cannes Lions and recognition as Advertising Creative Person of the Year.

Speaking on his appointment, Patankar said, “I have been considering returning to India for a long time, but I was waiting for the right moment, agency, and team to do it with. I believe that moment is now, with the team at VML. Creativity has the power to transform businesses, and I’m excited to collaborate with teams across India and APAC to deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

Patankar will be based in VML’s Mumbai office, reporting to global CCO Debbi Vandeven and VML India CEO Babita Baruah. He will also collaborate with APAC CCO Paul Nagy to strengthen the agency’s creative presence in the region and beyond.

“We are looking forward to having Kal back on our global creative team. His extraordinary brand skills—particularly in the area of craft—are second to none. Under his creative leadership, brand building and the level of craft will flourish in India. He has a unique ability to bring humanity and creativity together to deliver solutions for clients that transcend marketing,” said VML global COO Vandeven. 

“Kal is fantastic at shattering boundaries to create phenomenal work for our clients. I am excited to have him on board as he leads our teams across India to new heights,” added VML APAC CCO Nagy.

Sydney, Australia – Media agency Initiative has announced its new strategy team lineup, a combination of well-earned promotions and new appointments, built with the sole purpose to elevate Initiative’s strategy and product offering for client growth.  The announcement follows the recent appointment of Tom Dodd to the national chief strategy officer role.

Ali Coysh takes on Dodds’ previous role of national head of strategy, Coysh was previously Sydney, Head of Strategy; newly appointed Clare Graham joins the agency as Sydney strategy director bringing a creative mindset to the team; Tom Davies takes on an expanded role adding product to his remit, becoming the newly appointed Sydney head of strategy & product (the role previously held by Coysh); following stints at Mutinex and Thinkerbell, Tate Nalen joins in the role of Melbourne strategy director, working alongside Graham plus Charles Dangibeaud, Perth’s head of strategy.

With an immediate remit to design and lead the next evolution of Initiative’s strategy offering the new national team will focus on prioritising adaptive strategies for its clients leveraging data-driven insights and emerging technologies, including AI.  

Dodd said the establishment of the national strategy team reflects Initiative’s commitment to driving growth and transformation for both the agency and its clients; and he was immensely proud to be working with some of Australia’s brightest minds, reflecting the deep bench of strategic talent across the agency.

“In an era defined by rapid transformation and heightened client expectations, Initiative’s strategy team will push the boundaries of what media can achieve. Our new team will focus on building adaptive, insight-led strategies that harness the power of AI, data intelligence, and cultural fluency to unlock growth for brands,” he said.

Dodd continued, “Since taking on the CSO role I have been wholly focussed on finding the right people to drive the business forward that embody the strong strategic culture we have built as an agency. I’ve known Ali for many years, he is an exceptionally talented thinker & brilliant human to work alongside, so I’m delighted to have him helm of our national strategy offering.”

With an agency career spanning 15 years, Coysh has held senior agency roles in both London and Sydney and is renowned for his leadership and business skills. “Ali’s ability to take a brief and challenge it in the right ways to deliver the best client outcomes, has always been his sweet spot,” said Dodd.  “It’s rare to find a person who truly understands audiences and business problems and how they merge for growth like Ali does; watching his brain start to tick when he’s given a new brief is a lesson for us all…he’s the perfect person to help me lead Initiative’s strategy offering.

Coysh said, “Initiative has always been a strategic powerhouse, known setting up its clients for success. I’m excited to have our team take Initiative into a new era, we have such a wealth of talent across all markets it’s a formidable position to be in. With a strengthened strategy and product offering, and a proposition underpinned by market leading technology, tools and talent we are in a unique position to cement our proposition as the Cultural Experience agency. 

Coysh added, “We are laser focused to help our clients navigate a challenging market, putting media at the forefront to deliver business growth with our distinct brand of strategic creativity. It’s an exciting time to be part of a team with a shared ethos to do things differently.”

Dodd concluded “With a deep understanding of audience behaviour and business challenges, Initiative’s strategy offering is built to future-proof client growth and success—connecting brands to culture in meaningful ways while ensuring measurable business impact. This evolution reinforces Initiative’s reputation as a leader in strategic media thinking, ensuring its clients stay ahead in an increasingly complex and competitive landscape.”

These appointments follow recent new business wins including Netflix and Volvo plus recent contract extensions including Goodman Fielder and Fantastic Furniture.

London, United Kingdom – Creative innovation agency R/GA has announced its return to independence as a privately-owned company after 23 years as part of IPG, following a new partnership between R/GA’s global management and private equity firm Truelink Capital. 

R/GA’s Global CEO Robin Forbes and Chair & Global Chief Creative Officer Tiffany Rolfe are two of the global leaders, together with others, who are investing in the company as part of the deal. R/GA’s next chapter will be fueled out of the gate by a $50m Innovation Fund, enabling the company to invest in new skillsets and talent, and acquire new capabilities, emerging tools and platforms. 

Additionally, R/GA has established a Strategic Advisory Council of senior marketing and technology executives to support emerging AI client transformation opportunities across multiple sectors. 

As an independent company, R/GA is activating an AI-enabled model to better serve clients, unburdened by the restrictions and overheads of traditional corporate structures. New remuneration models based on outcomes, agile new team structures, and scaling up its flexible talent model ‘R/GA Associates’, are among the initial changes being implemented. 

Robin Forbes, global CEO at R/GA, said, “Today is a landmark moment for R/GA, as we enter an exciting new chapter as a private company supported by our new partners at Truelink Capital. This announcement also signals a stark contrast to a wider trend towards consolidation in the agency business.”

He added, “Most agencies will struggle to make the pivot in this new age, especially at a time when they’re operating within complex agency structures, saddled with legacy business models. There’s never been a better time and there is no better company than R/GA to implement a new model for this new environment.”

Meanwhile, Tiffany Rolfe, chair and global chief creative officer at R/GA, commented, “At R/GA change is a feature, not a bug, and we believe in the power of brands to transform – which is what we do for clients, and now we’re doing it for ourselves. The dominant industry narrative around AI has focused largely on efficiency gains in the traditional marketing approach, which is only part of the equation.”

She added, “We are leaning into the creative potential to help brands differentiate themselves and exceed rising customer expectations through new kinds of intelligent experiences that haven’t been possible before. To us, it’s an opportunity to accelerate our world-class creative work through technology and design.”

In said partnership, Truelink has earmarked a minimum of $50m to R/GA’s Innovation Fund to enable the company to further build generative technology capabilities that will unlock new growth opportunities for brands. R/GA also plans to leverage this Fund to invest in new kinds of skillsets, talent, product development and future acquisitions. R/GA’s newly established Strategic Advisory Council brings together a select group of high-profile experienced external perspectives across specific sectors to help support transformation opportunities with the greatest returns for clients. 

Luke Myers, co-founder and managing partner at Truelink Capital, said, “We see the growth of AI enabled experiences playing an increasingly important role in unlocking value in marketing services. R/GA is both designed and perfectly positioned to help seize that new opportunity for clients. Which is why we’re so excited to back R/GA’s global leadership team through our strategic investment.”

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisors while Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal representation to IPG and R/GA.

India – Piramal Pharma has appointed OMD India, part of Omnicom Media Group, to manage its integrated media mandate following a competitive multi-round pitch. OMD India will drive brand growth through sharp, creative, and forward-leaning communication strategies.

In this appointment, OMD India will oversee strategic marketing and media efforts for Piramal Pharma’s OTC brands, including Lacto Calamine, Little’s, Tetmosol, Polycrol, and women’s intimate health products such as i-pill and i-activ. The account will be managed from OMD India’s Mumbai office.

OMD will also develop and implement a media strategy aimed at expanding Piramal Pharma’s market presence, increasing brand visibility, driving consumer engagement, and supporting business growth.

Anisha Iyer, CEO of OMD India, shared, “We are excited to embark on this partnership with Piramal Consumer Healthcare, a company that mirrors our commitment to innovation and excellence.”

“This collaboration presents a significant opportunity to leverage our strategic acumen and deep market intelligence to elevate Piramal’s impressive portfolio of brands to new heights. Together, we aim to craft media strategies that go beyond visibility—building lasting trust and loyalty with consumers across India and shaping a future of sustained growth and impact,” Iyer continued.

Australia – Integrated growth agency Claxon has unveiled a new rebrand, marking an important evolution in its agency journey. It also coincides with the final phase of Claxon’s integration of creative and brand agency Embark, following its acquisition in April last year. 

As part of this final transition, James Coulson has been appointed brand strategy director, while Phil Coulson moves into the role of creative director, further strengthening Claxon’s creative offering.

The rebrand, led by Coulson, reflects the agency’s identity as a ‘bold, provocative growth agency that cuts through the noise’. From a striking, modernised visual identity to provocative copywriting, every aspect of the rebrand reflects Claxon’s personality in an industry cluttered with sameness.

“When I took on the role of creative director, I saw an opportunity not just to refresh the brand, but to ensure it truly represented who Claxon is today and where we’re headed,” Phil said.

He added “Claxon is about growth, not just for our clients but for ourselves. The best brands evolve alongside their businesses, and our new identity is an intentional step forward. We didn’t want a full reinvention, but rather an elevation – refining what makes Claxon unique and amplifying it.”

Coulson also noted that Claxon’s homepage imagery, inspired by sound waves, represents how theur disrupt traditional marketing approaches. “The refined colour palette and contrasting typefaces are designed to enhance the brand’s sharp, dynamic presence,” he said.

For Claxon CEO Daniel Willis, the rebrand is more than just a visual refresh – it’s a bold declaration of what Claxon stands for. 

The rebrand builds on the agency’s rapid 2024 momentum when it added Eckersley, Phizz and Sisu Clinics to its burgeoning client roster; boosted its senior leadership team and strategy and creative offerings; achieved Deloitte Tech Fast 50 status for the third consecutive year; and more recently announced a 4-day week for all employees.

“We’ve never been just another marketing agency. We see ourselves as a chainsaw among apples and oranges, and our new brand reflects that sharper edge,” says Willis. 

“Claxon has always been a growth agency, but in the past that aspect of our brand that sat in the background – now, it’s front and centre where it belongs. If a business is only looking for a marketing partner, we’re probably not the right fit, but if they’re seeking commercial performance and sustainable growth, using marketing as the vehicle, then Claxon is the perfect partner.”

India – FCB Group India has secured 14 new clients across its agencies, adding over $2m in business and strengthening its market position.

Recent additions to FCB Group India’s client roster include Mountain Dew (Pakistan), Sanofi-Dulcoflex, Tasty Bite, Wagh Bakri, and Torrent Electricals, spanning sectors such as FMCG, healthcare, food, beverages, and power.

As a full-funnel, new-age agency, FCB Group India is expanding its approach to creativity in business, offering solutions that address diverse brand challenges. These new partnerships reflect the agency’s growing role in the industry and its ability to meet evolving client needs.

Commenting on the agency’s success, Dheeraj Sinha, CEO of FCB Group India, said, “Our approach as a new-age agency is grounded in leveraging the power of data and technology, coupled with creativity, to solve real-world challenges. These new wins highlight the trust brands place in our ability to deliver work that moves the needle and sets industry benchmarks. We look forward to building impactful partnerships with these incredible brands.”

India – After a rigorous multi-agency pitch, OMD India has secured the integrated media mandate for HDFC Life, an India-based life insurance solutions provider.

HDFC Life, with nearly 25 years of innovative products and services, offers 80 solutions across protection, pension, savings, investment, annuity, and health to meet diverse consumer needs. Partnering with OMD India, the brand aims to enhance its customer-centric approach, expand its reach, and drive business growth.

OMD India will oversee HDFC Life’s consolidated media strategy across offline and online channels. Leveraging its strategic expertise and Omnicom’s data and tech orchestration platform, Omni, the agency aims to help the brand deepen audience connections, stand out in India’s competitive insurance market, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Anisha Iyer, CEO of OMD India, said, “We’re excited to partner with HDFC Life and look forward to creating an inspiring journey of driving strong marketing and business outcomes for the brand. Our partnership is designed to deliver real business impact underpinned by OMD India’s strong and future-facing capabilities. We’re excited for what the future holds.”

Vishal Subharwal – group head strategy & CMO at HDFC Life commented, “We are happy to welcome OMD aboard. HDFC Life and OMD have common values that focus on innovation and customer-centricity. OMD’s capabilities, tools and culture are in sync with our expectations and we are confident that this partnership will add value to our brand story with exceptional experiences and strategies to further build on the promise of our proposition.”

Singapore – Stagwell has announced the intent to acquire ADK GLOBAL, an integrated marketing solutions firm and subsidiary of ADK Holdings Inc. Headquartered in Japan and with offices in 10 markets around the world, ADK GLOBAL delivers integrated marketing solutions based on a deep understanding of local markets, media, and consumers, establishing itself as a trusted partner for local businesses.

This acquisition comes as Stagwell expands its global footprint and invests further in AI-enabled solutions at the forefront of digital marketing. By bringing ADK GLOBAL into Stagwell, the network’s regional staff count rises to over 2,000 team members, spanning agencies and affiliates on the ground in Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Moreover, Stagwell and ADK GLOBAL’s complementing suite of AI-powered solutions for digital marketers are set up to help clients, including global and Asian brands such as LG, Shanghai Disney Resort, Google, Dexcom and Adidas, deliver impactful results. 

Furthermore, with the addition of ADK GLOBAL, Stagwell now has a complete offering in APAC of media, creative, and PR for any local, regional or global client opportunity. 

Mark Penn, chairman and CEO of Stagwell, said, “Our vibrant APAC division and its regional coverage are significantly enhanced by the addition of ADK GLOBAL. We’ve been focused on winning local accounts that we can then extend regionally and globally. The ADK GLOBAL team has been pioneers of this strategy and we’re looking forward to introducing their clients to opportunities across borders and to our suite of digital solutions for the modern marketer.”

Meanwhile, Toshiya Oyama, representative director, president & group CEO of ADK Holdings, commented, “ADK GLOBAL has joined Stagwell, a global agency, to collaborate in overseas business. By leveraging Stagwell’s global network, which includes regions in North America, Europe, and Asia, along with their digital-based full services, we will integrate ADK Group’s expertise and personnel to develop our overseas marketing business. This will enable us to provide even more optimal solutions to our client companies, primarily focusing on Japanese clients.”

He added, “Meanwhile, in the content business, including anime and IP, ADK Group will promote the vision of ‘Growing brands and fans,’ and aim to further strengthen its overseas operations by enhancing our business structure.”

Lastly, Yasuyuki Katagi, CEO of ADK GLOBAL, stated, “We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with ADK in Japan while maintaining our current management and account teams to provide our services. By leveraging the strengths of Stagwell, which operates on a global scale, we will further elevate the quality of our expertise in integrated marketing solutions and contribute to the growth of our clients’ businesses.”