Under the remit, APRW will oversee integrated communications strategies aimed at strengthening brand visibility and consumer engagement across Singapore for JDE Peet’s portfolio, which includes L’OR, OldTown and Moccona.

The appointment follows a year of collaboration between the two companies, with APRW supporting a series of product launches, influencer engagements, experiential activations and media campaigns across JDE Peet’s coffee brands.

Among the campaigns led by the agency was the launch of L’OR Espresso’s Passione Rossa collection in collaboration with Ferrari Hypercar. 

The campaign introduced limited-edition blends Maranello and Imola, supported by strategic storytelling and targeted outreach designed to position the brand within the premium lifestyle space.

For OldTown White Coffee, APRW worked on campaigns surrounding the launch of coconut-flavoured and pandan coffee variants in Singapore. 

The campaigns aimed to strengthen the brand’s relevance among younger consumers while reinforcing its nostalgic appeal with existing audiences.

More recently, the agency also supported the launch of Moccona Liquid, a ready-to-pour liquid coffee product targeting convenience-focused consumers. 

As part of the rollout, APRW led experiential office takeovers and media seeding initiatives with companies including Vogue Singapore, Mothership, GRVTY Media and Overkill Singapore.

Julie Chiang, Director at APRW, said the partnership had been built on “trust, collaboration, and a shared understanding of how to create meaningful brand storytelling that resonates with consumers.”

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In his new role, Yong will oversee the group’s people, clients, and growth strategy across China, reporting to Chris Reitermann, Chief Executive Officer of WPP Greater China.

His responsibilities include leading the group’s operations across advertising, digital experience, social, influence, and public relations, while strengthening collaboration across its agency portfolio, including Ogilvy and Grey. Both agencies will continue to operate independently while working more closely across capabilities and client engagements.

Chris Reitermann commented,“I have had the privilege of working closely with Yong for 15 years and have seen firsthand the leader he has become. His strategic vision, integrity and unwavering commitment to our clients and people have earned him the trust and respect of colleagues and clients alike. His appointment reflects our long-term commitment to developing leadership from within and empowering proven talent to make an even greater impact. 

He added, “It gives me immense pride to see Yong step into this role, and I have every confidence in his ability to lead The Ogilvy Group China into its next chapter of growth. I look forward to continuing our partnership as we create even greater value for our clients.” 

Yong joined Ogilvy in 2011 and most recently served as president of Ogilvy Advertising China. He brings experience in brand development, client management, and business leadership, having spent more than a decade with the organisation.

He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and has been involved in leading client and agency growth initiatives during his tenure at Ogilvy.

Commenting on his promotion, Yong said, “I’m honoured to take on this expanded role and deeply grateful for the trust placed in me. What has always distinguished Ogilvy is our ability to combine enduring expertise in brand thinking, creativity and integrated capabilities to help clients grow.”

He added, “As I take on this broader group leadership responsibility, I look forward to working closely with our teams across Ogilvy and Grey to strengthen collaboration, unlock new opportunities for our clients, and create an environment where our people can do the best work of their careers.” 

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Under the mandate, Hakuhodo India will oversee brand strategy, creative development, consumer campaigns, and retail communication across television, digital, social, out-of-home, and print platforms.

The appointment comes as Jindal Stainless expands its consumer-facing marketing efforts and looks to strengthen awareness and trust around stainless steel products among broader audiences.

Hakuhodo India recently worked with the company on its “Jindal Saathi Seal Hai, Toh Asli Stainless Steel Hai” campaign featuring Ranveer Singh, which positioned the “Jindal Saathi Seal” as a trust marker for authentic stainless-steel products.

“We are pleased to partner with Hakuhodo as we accelerate our growth journey along with the nation,” said Vijay Sharma, Director – Corporate Affairs at Jindal Stainless.

“Their strategic and creative capabilities, combined with a strong understanding of local consumer insights, will help us deliver impactful brand experiences and build deeper relevance with our core audience across every touchpoint,” he added.

Mohit Taneja, Head of Marketing at Jindal Stainless, said the partnership had already demonstrated strong alignment between the two companies.

“Collaborating with Hakuhodo on one of India’s leading B2B campaigns was an incredibly enriching experience,” he said.

“The campaign has not only redefined the landscape of B2B advertising but has also created a meaningful impact across diverse stakeholder segments,” he added.

For Hakuhodo India, the appointment strengthens its portfolio of large-scale Indian brands seeking integrated creative and communications support across multiple consumer touchpoints.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jindal Stainless at this transformative moment,” said Jayanto Banerjee, Co-Managing Director of Hakuhodo India.

“This creates a unique opportunity to help their consumers recognise genuine quality through innovative storytelling that resonates deeply,” he added.

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Robbins will join the agency in July from M&C Saatchi, bringing more than 30 years of experience working across sectors including healthcare, automotive, finance, government, and sport.

Robbins will work alongside Melbourne lead Michael McEwan and Droga5 ANZ Co-Chief Creative Officers Barbara Humphries and Damon Stapleton.

Barbara Humphries said Melbourne remained a strategically important market for the agency.

“Melbourne is an incredibly important market for us—creatively, culturally and commercially,” Humphries said.

“Emma is exactly the kind of leader we want helping shape what comes next: someone with exceptional creative standards, strong leadership instincts and a deep belief in the power of creativity to drive impact,” she added.

Stapleton said the hire reinforces the agency’s cross-market creative structure.

“What makes Droga5 different is our borderless approach to creativity,” Stapleton said.

“We bring the best people to our clients’ problems, regardless of where they sit, connecting talent across markets in service of our clients’ businesses,” he added.

Robbins has also been active in mentoring and industry development initiatives, including The Aunties Program and AWARD School. She currently serves as a board director at Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.

Speaking on the appointment, Robbins said she was drawn to the agency’s integration of creativity with technology and customer experience.

“At Droga5, creativity sits right at the intersection of tech, data, and experience,” Robbins said.

“It’s that passion for culturally sharp, relevant and super effective work that I’m excited to help build with the team,” she added.

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Dano Kwan joins Zendesk from Amplitude, where she was CMO and led its go-to-market transition into an AI-native analytics platform. During her tenure, she oversaw a 52% year-on-year increase in website traffic and built a global marketing engine that contributed more than a third of the marketing-sourced pipeline.

Prior to Amplitude, she spent nearly a decade at SAP, serving as CMO for SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass, and held senior marketing leadership roles at Collibra and Dropbox.

Commenting on her appointment, Dano Kwan said, “Agentic service is the defining opportunity in CX right now, and there’s no brand better positioned to lead it than Zendesk. Years of category leadership have built a level of trust and credibility with the market that you can’t manufacture overnight, and that equity is exactly what’s needed to take AI from promise to proof.”

She continued, “Our true structural moats lie in our deep industry vertical expertise, our massive knowledge and data foundation, and a platform with trust and governance engineered directly into it. I’m excited about the opportunity to further extend and amplify Zendesk’s category leadership in the AI era.”

The appointment comes as Zendesk reports growing traction for its AI offerings, with AI bookings more than doubling in fiscal year 2026. The company expects this figure to more than double again in FY2027 to over US$400 million, driven by adoption of agentic messaging as well as new voice and email AI agents.

Zendesk is positioning the development within its broader push toward an “Autonomous Service Workforce” as demand rises for outcome-based AI solutions. Dano Kwan’s experience spans multiple global markets, including Singapore, Sydney, Paris and San Francisco, which the company said will support its international growth strategy.

“Tifenn is a disciplined leader who understands how to connect marketing strategy to measurable growth,” said Tom Eggemeier, CEO, Zendesk. “As we reinvent Zendesk for the next generation of customer service, Tifenn’s deep expertise in scaling pipeline, leading AI-driven marketing, and aligning GTM functions will be essential. Her ability to articulate the tangible value of our technology makes her the right person to lead our brand as we move toward an autonomous service workforce.”

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The appointment follows SharkNinja’s transition away from its previous distributor-led structure in ANZ in 2023, a move that gave the company greater direct control over marketing, retail strategy, and customer engagement in one of Asia-Pacific’s most competitive consumer electronics and home appliance markets.

Since then, the company’s two flagship brands—Shark and Ninja—have expanded aggressively across Australian retail shelves and social feeds alike, fuelled by the region’s appetite for premium-but-accessible household technology.

In recent years, products such as air fryers, blenders, coffee machines, and cordless vacuums have evolved from functional appliances into lifestyle status symbols heavily shaped by TikTok demonstrations, creator reviews, and performance-led digital advertising.

Aby Shukla, Managing Director of SharkNinja Pty. Ltd., said the agency stood out for its customer understanding and strategic approach.

“The Howatson+Company team impressed us with their understanding of the customer, full funnel comms planning and creative impact,” Shukla said.

“At each stage of the process, they demonstrated their perfect cultural fit with our business. We’re excited to welcome them to the SharkNinja ANZ family,” he added.

For Howatson+Company, the account marks another significant addition in Australia’s tightly contested independent agency sector, where local firms continue trying to outmanoeuvre global holding groups by positioning themselves as faster-moving and culturally sharper partners.

“We are delighted to partner with Aby, Ben, and the SharkNinja ANZ team,” said Chris Howatson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Howatson+Company.

“Their products are beautiful and functional. They’re solving needs and creating new wants. And their ambition is unmatched in the category,” Howatson said.

“We’re proud to support their next phase of growth,” he added.

Howatson+Company will join SharkNinja’s existing agency roster in the region, working alongside VaynerMedia, Dentsu, and The Haus.

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In the role, Spence will work with teams from both Vero and government relations consultancy Vero Advocacy across Southeast Asia. She will also collaborate with business units on integrated communications and advisory work, drawing on her background as a certified organisational coach.

Spence brings more than 15 years of experience in integrated communications and corporate reputation across the Asia Pacific, having worked with global brands on campaigns spanning PR, stakeholder engagement, and social impact. Her previous work includes Dove Thailand’s Cannes Lion-winning #LetHerGrow campaign.

Commenting on her new role, Spence said, “I’m excited to step into this role and work alongside our incredible teams across Southeast Asia. Vero’s growth trajectory is nothing short of impressive, and with that momentum comes the opportunity to raise the bar on the impact we create for our clients.”

She added that what drew her to Vero is its energy and culture. “I’ve always believed that the best work comes from teams built on curiosity, kindness and trust. With our team’s collective strengths across integrated communications, strategy, creative, influencer marketing and government relations, I can’t wait for what lies ahead.”

The appointment comes as Vero expands its regional footprint, following its acquisition of a majority stake in creative communications agency Mad Hat Asia in Singapore and Malaysia.

Umaporn Whittaker-Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer, ASEAN, said, “Laura is passionate about culture, driving excellence in her work, and helping colleagues grow. Our edge comes from the strength of our people and the quality of the counsel we give clients. Laura is a trusted advisor to clients and mentor to teams, with a rare instinct for connecting innovation and culture with commercial growth. In addition, Laura’s coaching capabilities will help to empower the next generation of leaders, something that has never been more important to our future.”

“Effective advocacy in Southeast Asia demands more than government relations efforts. It requires the ability to shape narratives, build coalitions, and foster better understanding around complex issues among the public,” shared Pongsiri Poorintanachote, Managing Partner at Vero Advocacy. 

“Laura’s experience in corporate affairs and change campaigns strengthens exactly that. For clients operating in markets where business and reputation are interconnected with government and regulatory standing as well as public trust, this integration will add real impact.”

Vero currently operates across Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with teams spanning communications, government relations, and influencer marketing. The consultancy is B Corp-certified across all its offices and has been a signatory to the Clean Creatives pledge since 2022.

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The wins come as the industry shifts from experimenting with AI-generated content to building scalable production systems that can meet commercial, legal, and operational requirements for brand campaigns.

Founded earlier this year by Marie-Céline Merret Wirström and Vinne Schifferstein Vidal, MC&V positions itself as an AI-native production company focused on workflow design, creative direction, and production systems rather than standalone AI-generated visuals.

The appointments build on previous working relationships between the founders and both Canva and Canteen.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the teams at Canva and Canteen again, two organisations we’ve really enjoyed working with and have enormous respect for creatively and culturally,” said Vinne Schifferstein Vidal, MC&V Founder.

“Right now, almost everyone has access to the same AI tools, but what’s becoming more valuable is knowing how to turn those tools into work that holds up creatively and commercially,” he added.

MC&V says it has already delivered AI-led campaigns for brands including Adidas, Uniqlo, KFC, and Afterpay over the past two years.

Alongside the client wins, the company has expanded its creative roster with the addition of AI directors Jodie Heenan, Josef Scholler, and Jagger Waters.

The additions are aimed at strengthening MC&V’s hybrid production capabilities as brands increasingly seek AI-native creative talent with experience across commercial filmmaking, design, motion, and digital storytelling.

Heenan has previously worked with brands including Cadbury and Twinings, while Scholler is known for cinematic AI world-building work and Waters for AI-driven storytelling across film, live events, and digital production.

“Production is becoming less about departments and more about how you design the workflow around the idea and bring the best talent around the brief,” said Marie-Céline Merret Wirström, MC&V Founder.

“Clients are asking different questions now. Not just what AI can do, but how it fits into their process, their approvals and how it scales,” she added.

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Yano brings 28 years of experience with dentsu across Japan and APAC and has a track record in client leadership, cross-market collaboration, and regional connectivity. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening how dentsu integrates capabilities across APAC to support the evolving needs of Japanese clients.

He also joins dentsu’s regional client leader community, an integrated group overseeing the company’s largest clients across APAC, and will work closely with Prerna Mehrotra, Chief Client Officer, dentsu APAC.

Commenting on his new role, Yano said, “I am honoured to step into the role of APAC Chief Client Officer for our Japanese clients. Having worked closely with Japanese clients across the region for many years, I have a deep appreciation for the importance of Gemba – being present on the frontline where the work happens and listening to what clients actually need. 

He added, “By truly understanding our clients’ challenges, their goals and their value chain, we can build solutions genuinely designed around them. That’s how we become a true growth partner, not just a service provider.”

Prerna Mehrotra, Chief Client Officer at dentsu APAC, said, “Kenji’s appointment reflects our commitment to further strengthening how we support Japanese clients across Asia Pacific. He brings deep experience, strong regional understanding and a collaborative leadership style that will help us build even closer connections between our markets and capabilities.”

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Teal, whose career spans Ogilvy & Mather, DigitasLBi, Wunderman Thompson, and most recently VCCP Singapore, joins Koto as Growth Director for APAC at a time when international agencies are racing to secure a foothold in Southeast Asia’s swelling digital economy.

The appointment places a seasoned regional operator at the centre of Koto’s expansion plans. 

Teal has worked across branding, communications, marketing technology, and customer experience for some of Asia-Pacific’s largest companies, including Singtel, Standard Chartered, and Prudential.

“With over 4000 regional headquarters and over 30 unicorns, a digital economy worth $128 billion, Singapore isn’t just a market; it’s where the most ambitious companies make their brand decisions for Southeast Asia,” said Teal. 

He added, “These companies need a partner that can handle the full picture – brand, digital experience and campaigns – not just one piece of it. That’s exactly where we sit, and it’s a space very few studios here can confidently claim.”

Koto’s Singapore office becomes the company’s seventh globally and second in Asia-Pacific after Sydney, which launched in 2023. 

The firm said the new base would anchor its Southeast Asian operations following earlier work in the region with clients including Singapore-based fintech company Coda and Riot Games’ League of Legends franchise.

“Singapore is the natural next step,” said Damian Borchok, Managing Director APAC at Koto. “When we opened Sydney in 2023, Singapore was always part of the plan as it’s one of the most connected cities in ASEAN and the base from which regional ambitions are built. The brands here are increasingly thinking globally, and they need partners who can match that ambition.”

Founded in London in 2015 by James Greenfield, Caroline Matthews, and Jowey Roden, Koto has grown into a global network of more than 160 staff across Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, and Singapore. 

Its client roster includes Amazon, Google, JP Morgan, Lyft, Meta, Mars, Microsoft, Netflix, Tripadvisor, and WhatsApp.

“Koto has always wanted to work with the world’s best brands in the world’s best cities,” said Greenfield, the company’s chief executive. “Singapore has long been one of those cities for us, so opening here is a big moment. Working with brands like Coda and Riot Games showed us there’s a real energy and ambition here that feels very aligned with Koto. Bringing Mark on board is an important step in building Koto’s long-term presence in the region.”

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