Tag: Appointment

Indonesia – Gupshup has appointed Trisnia Anchali Kardia as its new country head for Indonesia, marking a strategic move to expand its footprint in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets for conversational AI and business messaging.

Backed by a strong track record in business messaging, e-commerce, and technology adoption, Anchali will lead efforts to expand Gupshup’s enterprise business in Indonesia, aiming to establish the company as a market leader in conversational AI engagement.

Prior to Gupshup, Anchali served as country head at Graas, driving 120% revenue growth and significantly expanding the client base. 

Anchali began her career at Telkomsel, leading the launch of its digital and location-based advertising business. Her career then took her to Zomato Indonesia, where she headed sales. 

She later joined Line as chief commercial officer, overseeing marketing, product initiatives, and business development for its enterprise messaging product, solidifying her reputation as a messaging ecosystem expert.

Commenting on her appointment, Anchali said, “The Indonesian market is at a fascinating intersection of rapid digital growth and evolving consumer behaviours, where conversational engagement and commerce have become central to business success. With Gupshup’s cutting-edge conversational cloud, AI agents, and personalisation capabilities and a proven track record of enabling over 45,000 customers, we have an incredible opportunity to help Indonesian businesses scale and transform their customer engagement strategies.” 

“I’m thrilled to lead Gupshup’s next phase of growth in Indonesia and work alongside businesses as they harness the full potential of conversational commerce to drive their digital transformation journey,” she added. 

Indonesia’s growing tech landscape is a key market for Gupshup, with clients like Gojek, SuperIndo, and Tokopedia. The company is ensuring that they are well-positioned to help businesses transform customer engagement through messaging.

Beerud Sheth, co-founder and CEO of Gupshup, said, “With Anchali at the helm, we are excited to help more Indonesian businesses leverage conversational messaging to drive growth and innovation. Her extensive experience in business messaging, driving adoption of innovative offerings, and strong connections within Indonesia’s tech ecosystem make her an invaluable asset as we expand our presence in the region.”.

Indonesia – Ogilvy Indonesia has appointed Lisa Putri, a seasoned digital leader with a decade of experience in content and social media strategy, as its new head of content.

In her new role, Putri will lead a dynamic team of over 30 content strategists, designers, and writers, with a mission to craft and implement high-impact content strategies at scale, enhancing the creative output for Ogilvy Indonesia’s diverse client portfolio.

With a decade of experience across platform, marketing, and agency roles, Putri brings a unique perspective, having developed strategic roadmaps and standout content for diverse brands in Indonesia.

Putri has also worked with a wide range of brands across sectors like technology, FMCG, e-commerce, and banking, including global names such as OCBC Indonesia, Savoria, Mitsubishi Fuso, Signify Philips, and KAO.

Commenting on her new role, Putri said, “With an impressive array of clients and a strong body of work, Ogilvy’s content portfolio really impressed me over the last few years. So naturally, I am thrilled to lead Ogilvy’s content service into its next phase of evolution—an era of impactful and personalised experiences.”

“By harnessing the power of creativity and technology, we will deliver experiences that resonate deeply and drive meaningful impact for our clients,” Putri added. 

Ogilvy’s Content Team excels in creating engaging digital strategies, trend-jacking, and integrating KOLs, using consumer insights to forge meaningful audience connections. Its collaborative approach with platforms and creative partners allows Ogilvy to deliver standout content across its diverse client base.

Kapil Arora, chief operating officer at Ogilvy Indonesia, shared, “At Ogilvy Indonesia, we believe an exceptional new phase of growth is opening up for our clients—one at the intersections of culture, context, commerce, and community. And we can help them unlock it with the power of creativity and technology.”

“Lisa’s proven expertise and her shared belief of making creativity our clients’ unfair advantage in the market make her the ideal person to spearhead our content offering in this new world order. Watch this space for many more big things to come, from her and the team,” Arora continued. 

Meanwhile, Sieg Penaverde, group CEO of Ogilvy Indonesia, commented, “I am thrilled to have Lisa join our leadership team. Her experience and expertise around a social-first approach to business are critical for brand and business growth. It is key for content to be infused with strategic creativity for it to matter, be memorable, and ultimately allow it to travel.”

“Lisa’s leadership is invaluable in mapping a strategic path for the brands we manage to have a content approach that is impactful and not only participates in culture but ignites it,” Penaverde added. 

Singapore – Creative studio Heckler Singapore has promoted Xinhui Zheng as head of production to boost its production team.

Zheng was previously the senior VFX producer at the company. She joined the company in 2019 as one of the first employees of Heckler Singapore.

Bringing more than a decade of experience, Zheng helped the company in leading VFX projects. She was at the helm of producing 2D and 3D animation for a global skincare brand, solidifying her position as a trusted partner.

Zheng has produced campaigns for Forsman & Bodenfors Singapore, BBH Singapore, Digitas, Prodigious, Media Arts Lab, Ogilvy WW, and Studio Birthplace. This includes campaigns for brands such as Riot Games, Nike, Samsung, Apple, Fanta, Greenpeace, Jeshi and SK-II.

“Xin’s promotion to head of production is a no-brainer. Our producers really trust and look up to her and she is someone I can always rely on to step up and dig deep when needed. With Heckler Singapore all grown up now (we turned five this year!), I’m grateful to have Xin at the helm overseeing the department. In her new role, Xin will work closely with myself and the artists to manage workflow, plan resources and streamline production,” Charu Menon, managing director at Heckler Singapore, said.

“She has always fostered great client relationships because she goes above and beyond to deliver top-notch, quality work. In some agencies, that has earned her the nickname ‘Amay-Xin!’” Menon added.

Zheng commented, “It’s a massive honour to take on this new role, especially when I think about the calibre of talent we have in Heckler SG. I guess I’m just going to have to put on my big boy pants and try not to mess it up!”

Australia – OpenX Technologies, Inc. has appointed Emma Gronow as its new buyer development director for the ANZ, bringing her extensive experience in digital, mobile, and TV to strengthen OpenX’s programmatic and data-driven solutions across the region. 

Gronow joins OpenX from Little Dot Studios and will collaborate closely with the company’s brand advertisers and agency partners to showcase OpenX’s programmatic and data-driven solutions, including its advanced TV by OpenX offering.

She will report directly to Clay Gill, who also recently joined OpenX from IPG.

Speaking on the appointment, Mitch Greenway, managing director for APAC at OpenX, said, “Emma’s expertise across CTV and digital experience is a welcome addition to the OpenX ANZ team. Her appointment reinforces our commitment to expanding TV by OpenX in the region, and we look forward to her support in strengthening partnerships and driving growth across ANZ.”

Auckland, New Zealand – Accenture Song, a tech-powered creative group, has appointed Storm Day as its New Zealand lead and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Monkeys Aotearoa ahead of its rebranding to Droga5 in December.

Since joining the company in 2022, Day has been leading The Monkeys Aotearoa’s marketing operations, contributing to the team’s growth.

With over two decades of experience in the marketing and consulting industry, Day has worked with brands such as Tourism New Zealand, ASB, New Zealand Story, Fonterra, Mazda, and Asahi.

Accenture Song recently appointed Bronwyn van der Merwe as Accenture Song lead for Australia and New Zealand and Matt Michael as CEO of Droga5.

Justin Mowday, country managing director at Accenture New Zealand, said, “Storm has been instrumental in expanding the team at The Monkeys Aotearoa and making Accenture Song’s global expertise relevant to the New Zealand market.”

“She is a formidable leader with unbeatable local knowledge and experience and is the best person to help steer us into the future as we continue to champion purpose-led growth for our clients in New Zealand,” Mowday added.

“I am extremely excited to be leading this very talented team and working with our clients to join up purpose and customer experience. We help Kiwi organisations put a meaningful purpose at the heart of their culture, operations and experiences to drive growth,” Day commented.

“Combined with the Droga5 name and our incredible creative leader, Damon Stapleton, we will continue to build and sustain Aotearoa’s most influential brands,” Day added.

Sydney, Australia – Independent agency Apparent has named Hamish Stewart as the chief creative and experience officer, a new role in the agency that aims to enhance its integrated offering.

As chief creative and experience officer, Stewart will oversee the creative output of Apparent, collaborating with its portfolio of clients in Australia and other countries.

Stewart was previously the national executive creative director of experience at CHEP Network. He has also held senior roles at R/GA Sydney, M&C Saatchi, and GHO.

With over 25 years of experience in the creative industry, Stewart has worked with brands such as Optus, CommBank, Google, and NRMA Insurance. 

Additionally, Stewart was also a mentor for startup accelerators Remarkable and EnergyLab, reflecting his aim of driving innovation.

Suzy Smiley, managing director at Apparent, commented, “We’re excited to further bolster our leadership with the addition of Hamish into the new chief creative and experience officer position. His extensive, award-winning experience with major brands at some of Australia’s top agencies makes him the ideal leader to help us deliver on our ambitious agency strategy and continued global growth.”

 “Apparent is dedicated to solving clients’ complex business challenges by integrating creativity, media, data, and technology. I’m delighted to be joining the agency and collaborating with its talented team to continue delivering exceptional results for our clients and accelerating the agency’s overall creative offering,” Stewart said.

Sydney, Australia – Quiip, a social media management specialist, has announced three key appointments to strengthen its leadership team.

The company has appointed Kelly McParlane and Luke de Zilva as team leads while Dr Alison Milfull has been named as the marketing and business development director. Combining their expertise, the new hires are set to meet the needs of Quiip’s growing client base.

With more than a decade of experience in social media and community management, McParlane has worked with iconic events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. 

De Zilva has worked in the creative industry with organisations such as the Sydney Opera House, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative.

Meanwhile, Milfull leverages over 20 years of experience in ethical marketing and digital engagement. Previously, she has worked with ACMI, BirdLife Australia, Zoos Victoria, and La Trobe University.

Additionally, Quiip has expanded its offering to provide out-of-hours client support for the holiday season. Through the offering, Quiip offers to manage its clients’ social media and online community 24/7, ensuring consistency.

The offering also aims to address the increase in misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, spam, and bot activity. It reinforces Quiip’s commitment to connect and protect its clients online.

Alison Michalk, Quiip’s chief executive officer, commented. “We are incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made this year—our new hires bring a synergy that enhances the momentum within our team. As our services grow and our team evolves, we’re building a solid foundation for continued success, which drives our excitement to build partnerships with even more clients.”

Hong Kong – Communications agency Burson in Hong Kong has appointed Simeon Mellalieu as chief executive officer. Simeon joins the agency from Ketchum, where he served for more than 20 years.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Simeon shares how he is transitioning to his new role and leading the new Burson team to create a clear positioning for the agency in the market.

Setting priorities, goals in new leadership

As chief executive officer, Simeon is expected to lead the team with a vision. He aims to elevate Burson Hong Kong as a brand to boost its partnerships.

“At the macro level, my priority is to make the promise of our new Burson brand a reality so that we are one of the most sought-after agencies to partner with – and work for – in Hong Kong and the wider region,” Simeon said.

To further grow Burson’s partnerships with brands in the region, Simeon considers the particular needs of clients in Hong Kong. Through his role, Simeon aims to lead Burson in showing its exceptional work, highlighting the agency’s ability to deliver what Hong Kong-based clients require from agencies.

“Given Hong Kong’s role in Asia, that means we need to prove our strength in executing locally as well as regionally or globally. This team can do both,” he said.

With the creation of a new Burson group, Simeon sees potential in the team, which can contribute to its growth.

“The scale we can now bring to bear from the bench of talent we now have really sets us apart,” he said.

Big leap, smooth transition 

Before his role at Burson, Simeon was a partner in client development at Asia-Pacific at Ketchum. Though he worked at Ketchum for over 20 years, he says the shift to Burson went smoothly. This is made possible by a skilled team.

“I’m not going to lie, the transition was something that I thought a lot about before I joined. Two decades at Ketchum was a very long time. But it has given me the skills I need to take on this role,” he said.

“There’s a great team here. And I’ve joined at a time when there’s a lot of other new talent coming in too. That’s creating a crucible of fresh thinking at an important moment in time for the company,” he added.

Throughout his decades of experience in the industry, he has formed insights into how he aims to lead the agency. With what he has learned from his previous experiences, he shares the lessons he will bring to Burson. 

“I think there’s two important things. First, is an ability to collaborate and work across opcos to maximum effect and build growth. Clients are increasingly looking for a group level one-stop shop where work scopes are beyond what a single agency can deliver,” he said.

“Second is being objective about the level of service we’re bringing and whether we are actually being a good partner or not. You don’t build great client relationships if you’re in denial about when and where we’re falling short. You need to be able to address that head on and fix it,” he added.

Remaining on the lead

One of Simeon’s goals is to contribute to Burson Hong Kong, allowing it to stay on the lead in the industry. While there are challenges, he remains optimistic about overcoming them by taking on opportunities.

“In this part of the world, everyone’s keeping a close eye on the economy both in Hong Kong and mainland China. It’s no secret there are challenges there, but the outlook is more positive,” he said.

He plans to navigate the challenges of operating as an agency by leveraging artificial intelligence. With innovation and access to technological solutions, he is confident that it can bolster the agency’s outputs.

“We’ve already got an AI-based tech stack ready to go which puts us ahead of most of our competitors. This helps us be more efficient and provide better insights for our clients which gives us an edge in both advisory and creativity.”

Since Burson’s name has a weight that the agency needs to live up to, he says it will use its tools and technology to maintain its momentum.

“Our agency name is synonymous with PR. Harold Burson literally wrote the book. We need to stay at the top of the industry. With the scale we’ve now created for ourselves and the tools and AI innovation we bring, we will continue to do that,” he said.

Though he highlights Burson’s available tools to serve its clients, he says there are more important things an agency should constantly have amidst a dynamic industry: audience trust.

“The world isn’t getting any easier to navigate. Change and disruption are all around us. But the need for businesses and brands to earn reputation and trust is a constant. It’s what gives them permission to engage with their audiences and grow. The tools we use may change but reputation will always be our business,” he concluded.

India – FCB Interface, part of FCB Group India, has appointed Noor Samra as its national planning director, bringing her extensive experience across both legacy and emerging brands to the agency. 

Known for her strategic expertise and innovative approach, Samra is expected to play a key role in advancing FCB Interface’s strategic capabilities and delivering impactful brand solutions in her new role. 

As national planning director, Samra will play a pivotal role in FCB Group’s Strategy Council, working closely with leaders across the network to enhance the agency’s strategic capabilities. Her impressive track record of award-winning work includes prestigious honours such as a Cannes Lion Grand Prix, Global Best of Best Effie, WARC Global Grand Prix, and APAC Effie metals, reflecting her commitment to excellence and innovation.

Samra brings extensive experience with some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Spotify, PhonePe, Whisper, Visa, HDFC Life, Lay’s, Kurkure, Doritos, Quaker, and Heineken. Her ability to navigate seamlessly between established brands and emerging clients highlights her depth and versatility in the brand strategy landscape.

Speaking on her appointment, Noor expressed, “I am looking forward to joining Dheeraj, Gaurav, and Rakesh, along with the talented team at FCB Interface. The agency already has great momentum, and I hope to add even more value and depth to our clients and creative showcase. FCB’s belief in creativity as an economic multiplier resonates with me deeply. Great work that serves as a benchmark in the industry while driving meaningful business results is what I aspire to orchestrate at FCB Interface.”

Meanwhile, Gaurav Dudeja, CEO of FCB Interface, said, “We can realise our ambitions of transformational growth and glory only with the right people forming the leadership core of the agency. And Noor’s appointment is a significant step in that direction. She brings a unique blend of strong academic background in sociology, experience as an ethnographer, and more recently of leading strategy on a wide spectrum of brands—from FMCG to consumer tech.”

“What encourages me most about Noor is her energy and ability to straddle across deep and immersive strategy work, as well as provide inspiring springboards with agility for creative teams to take a leap from. One just needs a quick glance at her line-up of Cannes and Effie’s wins to feel encouraged by her ‘winning’ DNA and hunger to do amazing work. I’m super confident that under Noor’s leadership, FCB Interface is poised to take the next level of growth and reputation,” Dudeja added.