Tag: Appointment

While the importance of a financial safety net is recognised globally, many Filipinos remain reluctant to engage with formal insurance solutions. This hesitation often stems from deeply rooted factors, including perceived high costs and a lack of understanding about policy benefits. 

Modern insurance marketing now demands a strategic blend of technology and culture to truly connect with individuals on a deeper level.

In an exclusive interview with Franchette Chingcuanco-Cardona, the recently appointed chief marketing officer at Singlife Philippines, she shares how she aims to engage more Filipinos with financial planning, enabling them to access relevant financial solutions.

Digital-first, customer-centric approach

At Singlife Philippines, the company’s core purpose is to empower Filipinos on their journey toward financial independence. This mission guides its strategic approach to redefine how individuals engage with financial planning. Chingcuanco-Cardona emphasises this commitment in her new role.

“My focus as CMO is to bring this to life by strengthening our digital-first, customer-centric approach. This means simplifying how we communicate complex financial solutions, making our products relevant to real, everyday needs, and leveraging mobile and data-led platforms to personalise our messaging,” she said.

To achieve this, Singlife Philippines is committed to prioritising customer education through clear and accessible information. They will also focus on storytelling that resonates with Filipino values, aiming to connect with customers on a deeper and more personal level. 

“From scaling fintech startups to building consumer brands, I’ve learned how to combine purpose-led storytelling with performance marketing. I’m bringing those insights to Singlife by building a brand that doesn’t just sell products — we offer financial empowerment,” Chingcuanco-Cardona said.

Her philosophy is rooted in a fundamental principle. She said, “Across my career in fintech and financial services, one thing remains true: trust is earned through consistency, simplicity, and relevance.” 

Breaking misconceptions

A significant hurdle for Singlife Philippines is to dismantle long-held misconceptions about insurance. Chingcuanco-Cardona highlights how the misconceptions that insurance is complicated and expensive are key challenges for the company.

“Many Filipinos remain underserved or uninsured, not due to lack of need, but due to lack of understanding and trust. We will address this through consistent, values-based communications and developing solutions that cater to the needs and budget of Filipinos.”

Another formidable challenge is to distinguish themselves amidst a crowded digital landscape. Singlife Philippines intends to address this by strategically leveraging performance marketing and creating compelling content that resonates with its audience.

“We’ll navigate this by leveraging performance marketing, and content that meets people where they are — on their phones, in their language, and aligned with their priorities,” she said.

“More importantly, we’re committed to designing solutions rooted in real consumer insight — not just selling insurance, but creating products that genuinely solve everyday financial challenges,” she added.

Chingcuanco-Cardona shares how Singlife recently launched the ‘Protect From Funeral Costs’ product, which provides loved ones with a guaranteed cash benefit, ensuring financial support during difficult times.

Revolutionising insurance marketing

At Singlife, the belief is that people should not just purchase insurance; they should genuinely experience its value in their daily lives. This conviction drives Singlife to design solutions that are easy to understand, highly relevant, and immediately usable.

“We need to stop marketing insurance as just a product and start positioning it as an enabler of real-life goals and security. It’s about creating experiences, not transactions,” Chingcuanco-Cardona said.

With the goal of providing customers with instant peace of mind and a tangible sense of financial control through Singlife’s offerings, Chingcuanco-Cardona shares how she aims to leverage her local culture insights to revolutionise customer engagement.

“To truly revolutionise engagement, insurance companies must deeply understand Filipino culture, behaviour, and digital habits. Filipinos are mobile-first, community-oriented, and increasingly driven by content. This means marketing efforts need to speak their language — both literally and culturally — through authentic, localised, and socially driven campaigns,” she said.

This understanding, along with the extended reach and distribution enabled by the Singlife Plan and Protect App, sets the company apart. The app has transformed how insurance is delivered to customers, making it more accessible and convenient.

Looking ahead, Chingcuanco-Cardona envisions a future where insurance marketing is seamlessly integrated.

“The future of marketing in insurance lies in being truly integrated — combining digital precision with emotional connection. I see a shift toward real-time, data-driven engagement that’s still deeply human at its core,” she said.

“At Singlife, we’ll lead by example: using our tech backbone to serve the right message at the right time, while building a brand that stands for trust, empowerment, and progress. Marketing won’t just support the business — it will drive it by helping people see insurance not as an obligation, but as an act of self-care and love for their future,” she concluded.

By embracing a digital-first and customer-centric approach, Chingcuanco-Cardona is ensuring that Singlife Philippines is culturally attuned to the Filipino consumer. Setting a new standard through its marketing efforts, it embodies how insurance can empower individuals and foster a future where financial independence is an accessible reality.

London – Creative solutions company M+C Saatchi Group has appointed Jackie Stevenson as its global chief strategy and innovation officer, effective August 1, 2025. She is set to report directly to Zaid Al-Qassab, global CEO at M+C Saatchi Group.

Stepping into a newly created role, Stevenson will focus on leading M+C Saatchi Group’s business strategy, forging new global partnerships and exploring global revenue growth opportunities.

As she joins the company’s global leadership team, Stevenson will also lead the global marketing and communications function. She will also chair the new global growth council, working closely with CEOs, clients, and partners.

With the appointment, M+C Saatchi Group is reinforcing its belief in ‘cultural power,’ seeing its impact in enabling transformative growth through innovation.

Prior to the appointment, Stevenson held the role of chief growth officer, EMEA at IPG.

Stevenson said, “M+C Saatchi Group is carving out a role at the cutting edge of culture, creativity, and technology where I believe the most powerful ideas are born. Their commitment to independence and relentless drive for innovation that performs for their clients is exciting, and they’re moving at speed. With a new engine built to unleash Cultural Power at every touchpoint and a fast-growing global footprint, the group is primed for the future, and I’m thrilled to join Zaid and the team to help shape the next chapter.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Jackie to M+C Saatchi. Her client-first mindset, strategic expertise, and operational leadership make her the ideal person to shape our future growth—for our clients and our business,” Al-Qassab said.

“Jackie brings a rare blend of entrepreneurial spirit, global experience, and a strong grounding in both creativity and media, which will be invaluable as we evolve our offering, deepen our capabilities, and build a more connected, competitive Group. Her leadership will help us unlock new opportunities and ensure we’re delivering meaningful, culture-driven impact across every touchpoint,” he added.

The branding industry is constantly challenging agencies to innovate their ways of expressing brands’ identity. They are compelled to find the balance between representing brands while crafting unique messages that truly resonate with audiences. 

Design Bridge and Partners, as a brand design agency, built its foundation on its goal of being impactful. For the agency, success in the branding industry means moving people through its work with brands.

As part of this aim, Design Bridge and Partners recently appointed Alexandra Cerruti as its executive vice president, APAC.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Alexandra dives deeper into her own strategy towards Design Bridge and Partner’s growth, leveraging collaboration and creativity to collectively bring impact to brands and their audiences.

Where strategy meets creativity

Design Bridge and Partners is a global brand design agency with 30 years of history in Asia, having studios in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok, among others. This speaks of the agency’s profound experience in the diverse market.

“In our industry, you’re only as good as your last project, but we’re fortunate to have built long-standing client relationships grounded in trust, honesty, and mutual respect. This foundation allows us to partner closely with clients and shape their brands holistically, creating cohesive and distinctive identity systems,” Alexandra shared.

While acknowledging the tough task of needing to stand out, Alexandra shares the agency’s advantage among competitors: blending strategy with creativity.

“Our competitive edge comes from pairing outstanding strategic thinking—defining what brands stand for—with exceptional creativity that ensures they stand out,” she said.

In her leadership, Alexandra values the empowerment of employees, seeing them as vital to sustainable business growth.

“Achieving growth requires balancing an external focus—delivering outstanding work, strengthening client relationships, and driving new business—with an equally strong internal focus on our people and culture,” she said.

“In my new role, I’ll continue to champion both our creative ambitions and our people, ensuring we grow not just in size, but in capability and culture,” she added.

High-performance culture for a powerful future

The brand design agency has a mission to “design brands with the power to move people.” However, this does not come easily for the company. Alexandra shares how the agency faces challenges as it operates in Singapore, a dynamic yet expensive market.

“The challenge is to consistently deliver exceptional work that drives real impact for our clients’ businesses, especially as clients are under increasing pressure to justify every investment,” Alexandra said.

Nonetheless, she reaffirms her goal of helping Design Bridge and Partners’ talents go beyond boundaries in unlocking creativity.

“We address this by ensuring every project delivers measurable value and by nurturing a high-performance culture where our teams are inspired to push creative boundaries while staying commercially focused,” she said.

Looking towards the future, Alexandra is approaching the complex branding industry with powerful ideas, injecting them into the practice of branding as a vital part of the process.

“My vision is to help our clients find and activate that core idea—the one that truly moves people—so their brands can connect emotionally and stand out in today’s crowded attention economy. At Design Bridge and Partners, we’ll continue translating strategy into bold, tangible expressions that resonate with audiences and drive brand growth,” Alexandra said.

In its quest to help brands express themselves across multiple channels, Design Bridge and Partners is prioritising impact. In Alexandra’s new role, she is approaching this wider mission with a simpler yet powerful strategy: the empowerment of employees as they step towards sustainable growth. With Alexandra and its entire team, Design Bridge and Partners is accelerating towards its greater goal: moving people with branding.

Philippines – Communications consultancy Vero has appointed Joana Marie Demore as senior influencer relations specialist. The appointment aims to boost the company’s influencer marketing services in the Philippine market.

In her new role, Demore is set to strengthen influencers’ relationships with brands, expanding the influencer marketing practice. Collaborating with influencer relations specialist Charissa Sevilla, Demore is responsible for contributing to Vero’s campaigns, driving conversions.

Demore brings almost ten years of experience working with media and PR agencies in the Philippines. With her expertise in FMCG, telecommunications, fashion, and F&B, she has planned and executed digital PR campaigns, events, and influencer marketing strategies.

Through the appointment, Vero strengthens its network of influencer relations and specialists across Southeast Asia. It reinforces the company’s mission to elevate content creation in the market. It aims to generate more value for brands while providing influencers with more opportunities.

“Joana’s extensive expertise and sharp strategic instincts make her an exceptional addition to our regional Influencer team,” Umaporn Whittaker-Thompson, Vero’s chief commercial officer and head of influence, said. 

“As the influencer marketing landscape becomes more dynamic and sophisticated, her leadership will not only help us deliver more impactful campaigns for our clients in the Philippines but also strengthen our innovative approach and expand our trusted network of creators across the region. Joana brings the kind of perspective and experience that allows us to stay ahead of trends and build meaningful, long-term partnerships between brands and influencers,” Whittaker-Thompson added.

USA – David Droga will step down as chief executive officer of Accenture Song at the end of the fiscal year, transitioning to a broader strategic role as vice chair of Accenture, the company announced.

The move marks a significant chapter in the career of one of the most influential creative leaders of the 21st century. Known for redefining the intersection of creativity and business, Droga will now focus on shaping Accenture’s global direction beyond day-to-day operations.

Droga took the helm of what was then Accenture Interactive in 2021, leading its transformation into Accenture Song—consolidating over 40 acquisitions into a unified brand and implementing a connected operating model that integrated creativity, technology, design, AI, strategy, and data. Under his leadership, Song grew from $12.5 billion to $19 billion in annual revenue and became the world’s largest tech-powered creative company.

“David Droga has long been a singular force and a once-in-a-generation creative leader and business builder, and he has lived our core value of stewardship and has developed the next generation of leaders who will build an even better Song,” said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture.

“He brings humanity, imagination, clarity, and confidence to everything he touches and helps redefine how businesses grow and connect. His brilliance is matched only by his generosity, integrity, and belief in others. As Accenture’s vice chair, his legacy and impact will continue for our people, our work, and our purpose,” she added.

During Droga’s tenure, Accenture Song’s work earned widespread recognition, including multiple Cannes Lions Grand Prix, I-COM Data Creativity Awards, Red Dot Design Awards, Webbys, and its first Emmy.

Droga’s influence on the industry predates Accenture. As founder of the acclaimed agency Droga5, he helped shape modern advertising with campaigns for The New York Times, the British Army, Meta, UNICEF, JPMorgan Chase, and many others. Following Accenture’s acquisition of Droga5 in 2019, the agency became a foundational part of Accenture Song’s creative engine.

Reflecting on his transition, Droga said, “It has been a privilege to be part of so many missions and cultures around the world. With such extraordinary leadership in place, it felt like the right time. I could not be more confident that Ndidi, Sean, and Nick will continue building on Song’s legacy of innovation, creativity, and performance. I am also deeply grateful for Julie Sweet’s trust, our partnership, and what will be an enduring friendship.”

He continued, “I honestly could not be more grateful for my career and the opportunities I’ve had. The people who believed in me, the talent I’ve worked alongside, the clients we’ve served, the trust, the ambition, the camaraderie – it’s all part of me. After 30-plus years of leaping, I am ready to catch my breath. And being vice chair will allow me to do that but also to contribute in new ways. I am also excited to spend more time suffixing: thinking, daydreaming, advising, investing, giving, mentoring, exploring, learning, playing, appreciating, family-ing, sleeping-in-ing.”

As part of the major leadership transition, Ndidi Oteh will become the new Accenture Song CEO, effective September 1, 2025.

Oteh, currently the Accenture Song Americas lead, joined the company in 2011 and has worked closely with several Fortune 500 companies, overseeing digital transformation initiatives and consumer growth strategies. As part of the leadership transition, she will also join Accenture’s Global Management Committee (GMC).

Nick Law will also join the GMC as he takes on the role of Song’s creative strategist and experience lead. Law has long been regarded as a prominent figure in global design and creative leadership.

China – Zenith China, part of Publicis Groupe, has announced the promotion of three senior leaders to accelerate its business strategy amid a highly competitive market. Emily Xue has been appointed head of Zenith Guangzhou Office, Cindy Wang takes on the dual role of head of Zenith Beijing Office and client business partner, and Riki Li has been named chief strategy officer.

The newly appointed leaders will oversee Zenith China’s integrated marketing strategy hub, with a focus on strengthening media capabilities and improving operational efficiency.

Xue, now leading the Guangzhou office, will prioritise talent development and support a continuous learning culture while driving integrated marketing programmes and cross-regional collaboration. She has played a key role in strengthening client delivery through improved operational efficiency and new business wins, earning recognition for her leadership and team performance.

Wang will lead the growth of Zenith’s Beijing office, with a mandate to enhance talent capabilities and integrate AI-driven approaches into media services. Known for her client-focused leadership, she has consistently promoted innovation in media planning through forward-thinking strategies. Her implementation of the “0-10-100” business approach has helped her team achieve sustained success.

Li, in her new role as chief strategy officer, will guide the company’s strategic planning efforts, focusing on identifying brand-building opportunities and responding to shifts in the media landscape, particularly around AI. She will also lead cross-functional collaboration to support the development of future-ready media frameworks. Her approach combines data-driven insights with integrated brand strategies, and she has been recognised through industry accolades.

These appointments align with Zenith China’s broader efforts to advance its AI capabilities and strengthen internal operations. The company continues to invest in developing talent from within, aiming to build a leadership team equipped to navigate future challenges and support sustained business growth.

Commenting on these appointments, Mickey Zhang, president of Publicis Media China, said, “Moving forward, Publicis Media China will remain steadfast in prioritising client needs, leveraging innovative marketing solutions and high-performing team collaboration to empower brands to seize opportunities in the AI and digital transformation era.”

“The promotions of Riki, Cindy and Emily not only recognise their individual capabilities but also mark a critical step in Zenith China’s ongoing enhancement of client-centric solutions. These three leaders will lead Zenith China in achieving its vision of being a leader in strategic marketing excellence, delivering sustainable business value for clients,” Zhang added. 

These three senior leaders will continue to report to Christina Lu, CEO of Zenith China.

Lu shared. “At Zenith China, our unwavering commitment is to help clients maintain industry leadership by continuously investing in teams and capabilities. Through their exceptional leadership and pioneering spirit, these three leaders have set new benchmarks in business success, team empowerment, and strategic innovations. Their promotions reflect Zenith China’s ongoing investment in developing its talent and leadership to enhance its partnership with clients and to contribute to the growth of the industry.” 

“We look forward to celebrating their success in pioneering new frontiers and elevating mutual value for both our organisation and clients,” she added. 

Australia – Marketing evolution consultancy -lution has appointed Mike Worden as its chief media officer and partner, signalling its media advisory expansion. The appointment is part of its effort to address the demand for brands looking to revolutionise their media models.

Worden brings over two decades of experience in agency and client-side roles. Before the appointment, he led media and effectiveness at Endeavour Group. He also served as managing director at EssenceMediacom.

In his new role at -lution, he is set to lead its media advisory offering, helping brands optimise their in-house and hybrid media models. He aims to enable brands to improve their transparency, performance, and efficiency.

Alongside Worden, -lution has also named Nicola Smith-Cullen as its creative operations consultant and Josh Cave as consulting project lead.

The slew of appointments aims to strengthen -lution’s capabilities across creative, operations, martech, and media. It highlights the company’s philosophy of onboarding client-side talent.

Worden commented, “The media industry is undergoing its biggest shift since the advent of digital and more brands are choosing to in-house some part of their media operations as they look to make their budgets work harder. I’ve seen first-hand how transformative this can be for a business, and I’m really excited to work with the incredible team at -lution to help more CEOs and marketing leaders tap into these solutions.”

Chris Maxwell, founder and CEO of -lution, said, “Mike’s appointment brings firepower and credibility to our growing media practice. His track record across in-house and external agency leadership roles is unmatched, and we’re excited for what this means for our clients as they seek more control, accountability and value from their media investments.”

“Mike has been working with us for a couple of months, supporting our brand partners to redesign their current media models, as well as future-proofing and automating media processes, and he’s made a significant impact already,” Maxwell added.

Singapore – Havas Media Network has launched CSA, its technology, data, and analytics consultancy arm in Southeast Asia (SEA). As part of the launch, the media experience agency has appointed James McNeely as head of CSA in SEA.

In his new role, McNeely is set to spearhead CSA’s growth, strengthening its capabilities and offerings in the region. He brings over 13 years of expertise in data, analytics, and martech.

CSA’s launch in SEA aims to serve its clients better in the region, providing data-driven solutions and technology. Its services include digital and proprietary tools, and strategic insights across its CSA Tech, Science, and Consult offerings.

Having been launched in 2023, CSA has expanded to 20 markets, including the Middle East, Australia, China, and India.

Rana Barua, group CEO at Havas India, SEA & North Asia, said, “Our strategic growth in this region is driven by a bold ambition—to build a future-facing network anchored in strong, differentiated capabilities. With Southeast Asia’s immense potential, CSA’s unique mix of global expertise and local insight puts us in a stronger position to help brands navigate complexity, seize new opportunities, and create lasting impact.”

Pankaj Nayak, CEO of Havas Media Network Singapore and president – SEA at Havas Media, commented, “With data and technology increasingly shaping business transformation, CSA empowers us to reimagine how we use data and technology — not just as tools, but as catalysts for meaningful brand growth. I’m excited to partner with James to shape solutions that are agile, insight-led, and built for the future in this high-potential region.” 

McNeely said, “I’m excited to lead the growth of CSA across Southeast Asia and support our clients in leveraging the full potential of their data and tech assets. In the months ahead, my focus will be on strengthening local capabilities and partnering closely with businesses to deliver smarter, data-led outcomes that drive measurable impact.”

Indonesia – GroupM Indonesia has appointed seasoned marketing leader Sri Widowati as its new chief executive officer, tasking her with spearheading growth and strengthening client-focused innovation.

Widowati joins GroupM Indonesia from Danone, where she spent four years as vice president of marketing. Her career spans leadership roles at global companies including Unilever, Meta, and L’Oréal, giving her a broad perspective on both local and international markets.

Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership style, Widowati is widely respected for her ability to build strong teams and long-term partnerships.

In her new role, she will focus on driving innovation and delivering measurable impact in Indonesia’s fast-evolving media and marketing landscape. Drawing from her experience on the client side, she brings a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and commercial strategy.

This major appointment follows recent media reports that WPP is planning to rebrand GroupM as ‘WPP Media’ and consolidate its agency brands — EssenceMediacom, Wavemaker, and Mindshare — under a unified operating model.

Hong Kong –Uniplan has appointed Eric Chan as executive creative director of its Hong Kong office, reinforcing the agency’s creative leadership across Greater China.

Effective immediately, Chan will report to Judd Christie, CEO of Uniplan Greater China, and will oversee creative direction for all projects under the Hong Kong office, as well as experience design initiatives across the Greater China region.

“We are thrilled to welcome Eric to Uniplan; his skill set will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our team and expand our offerings beyond that of other traditional brand experience agencies,” Christie commented. 

“Our work encompasses a diverse range of projects, including events, experience centres, retail, exhibitions, immersive content and interactive experiences. Meeting these demands requires an increasingly diverse in-house team of specialists, and we believe Eric’s varied skill set uniquely positions him to lead our award-winning Experience Teams in Hong Kong and Greater China,” he added.

Chan brings over 15 years of international experience spanning advertising, branding, content and product design, and experiential marketing. He has worked with a wide range of global brands, including Alibaba, Google, Genesis, Haier, Mercedes-Benz, and Tencent.

Before joining Uniplan, Chan spent eight years at George P Johnson, where he held creative leadership roles in Singapore and later in Shanghai as Group Creative Director.

Speaking about his new role, Chan shared, “I’m thrilled to join Uniplan at a time when brands are pursuing deeper, more meaningful connections with their audiences. Hong Kong’s dynamic creative energy, combined with our talented local team and Greater China network, positions us perfectly to push boundaries and craft unforgettable brand experiences. Together, we’ll merge innovation with storytelling to create impactful moments at every touchpoint.”