Tag: Appointment

Australia – Marketing agency 72andSunny has appointed Wesley Hawes as chief creative officer in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). 

As the creative team lead, he is set to spearhead the agency alongside Ross Berthinussen, president, and Laura Popa, head of brand at 72andSunny.

Hawes was previously the executive creative director at Innocean Australia, where he helped gain clients and recognition. He also held the same position at CHE Proximity Sydney, Marcel, and TBWA\Australia. 

Additionally, Hawes co-created ‘Fck The Cupcakes,’ a gender equality organisation that aims for men’s participation in the equality conversation. He also co-founded ‘Love Our Work,’ an initiative that seeks to enhance creative feedback while raising editorial standards.

“We are thrilled that Wez is joining Laura, myself and the 72andSunny team in ANZ as Chief Creative Officer, ANZ. Our founding belief is a belief in Optimism, in finding opportunity in any challenge, and Wez is the embodiment of that ethos,” Berthinussen commented.

“Over the last few years we have experienced incredible momentum and are looking forward to how he can help us build on that by fostering our collaborative, creative culture and delivering what we get out of bed for every day, radical, culturally led ideas that grow our client partners’ brands and business.” Berthinussen added.

Manila, Philippines – Union Bank of the Philippines has announced the expanded role of Albert Cuadrante as chief marketing, customer experience, and digital channels officer, reflecting the bank’s commitment to strengthening its customer-centric strategies and digital innovation.

In his new role, Cuadrante will lead the charge in ensuring the bank delivers exceptional customer experiences across both physical and digital channels. As the overseer of UnionBank’s digital banking platform, UB Online, Cuadrante is also responsible for optimising the app’s user interface and continuously enhancing the customer journey to make banking easier and more convenient.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Cuadrante outlines his vision for enhancing customer experience at UnionBank, highlighting its leadership in digital banking through technology, customer insights, and agile innovation.

Blending digital innovation with customer care 

Cuadrante began his journey at UnionBank as chief marketing officer before taking on the additional responsibilities of chief customer experience and digital channels officer. 

For Cuadrante, his expanded role naturally integrates with the marketing function, as building strong customer relationships is essential to effective marketing. He believes that businesses must engage in continuous interactions and research to gain valuable insights into the customers they aim to attract and retain.

In his words, “Being intimate with the consumer is the core of marketing.” 

Cuadrante’s vision is to create an empowered digital banking experience that liberates customers from traditional constraints like paper forms and limited banking hours, all while ensuring exceptional support at physical branches when needed. 

A prime example of this vision is UnionBank’s ‘The Ark,’ the country’s first fully digital branch launched in 2017, which set the standard for the bank’s nationwide branch experience by seamlessly integrating digital and physical services.

“We are mindful never to lose sight of the fact that behind every digital transaction and interaction is a person,” Cuadrante shared. “That is the thread that binds the design of our products and services. We now have over 15 million retail customers and are growing, with our app being one of the highest-rated and most downloaded local banking apps. This motivates us to keep on looking for ways to delight our customers.”

Recognising the diverse needs of UnionBank’s clientele, Cuadrante is committed to continuously improving the customer experience by making it as seamless and frictionless as possible. 

“We want our customers to open accounts, get credit cards, or have loans approved in the fastest possible time,” he expressed. 

Beyond banking, the goal is to provide exclusive deals and offers in areas like shopping, travel, dining, and entertainment, helping customers enjoy the best experiences life has to offer. Cuadrante emphasises the importance of customer feedback, which UnionBank uses to identify areas for improvement and better meet the financial goals and aspirations of its clients.

“We constantly get customer feedback to allow us to determine which areas of our products and services we can do better at. Technology combined with our agile way of working allows us to keep on iterating and quickly make adjustments based on what we are learning to help ensure delivering our desired customer experience,” he said. 

Embracing AI to drive efficiency and fuel growth

As the banking industry evolves with advancements in technology, Cuadrante emphasises the importance of agility. 

“The UnionBank Team thrives in a fast-changing environment, as this is the nature of a digital world. We have built our processes around the agile way of working to enable us to introduce and/or improve products, services, and features,” he shared. 

Under Cuadrante’s leadership, a culture of continuous learning and innovation is also actively fostered within the marketing and CX teams. This approach ensures they stay attuned to emerging trends and shifts in consumer behaviour and sentiment, which in turn informs the ongoing refinement of UnionBank’s products, services, and customer experiences.

UnionBank’s early adoption of AI technology is another key part of Cuadrante’s strategy for future growth. He highlighted the bank’s commitment to leveraging AI to design and deliver more personalised products, services, and offers that align with the diverse needs, behaviours, and aspirations of its customer segments.

“I believe that AI will allow us to become more efficient and targeted in the way we communicate, as well as allow us to respond more quickly to queries and requests for assistance,” he added. 

Looking ahead, Cuadrante envisions a future where AI continues to shape the banking industry, enhancing the customer experience and driving further growth for UnionBank.

“We have already made a lot of progress with the models and tools that we have developed since, and we are actively working with our strategic partners in testing and experimenting on new solutions that can help make us more efficient and take our growth to the next level,” Cuadrante concluded. 

Hong Kong – Quantcast has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of seasoned digital advertising expert Sally Ng as managing director for North Asia, alongside Yanny Chan as the new client success manager in Hong Kong.

Based in Hong Kong, Ng joins Quantcast from Hivestack, where she served as regional vice president for Greater China. With over 23 years of experience in the digital industry, Ng has held senior roles in sales, client services, and regional leadership at prominent companies such as Sojern, AdParlor, AudienceScience, Sizmek (formerly MediaMind), and Yahoo.

In her new role as managing director, Ng will lead the growth of Quantcast in Hong Kong, China Outbound, Taiwan, and other North Asia markets. 

Ng has specialised in sales and business development, using her expertise and leadership to guide several global ad tech companies in successfully entering the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets. She has also been instrumental in educating stakeholders on the benefits of programmatic advertising.

Moreover, Ng has served on the IAB HK Programmatic Committee, leading the Ad Tech & Programmatic team, and is a member of the Advisory Committee for the IAB HK Digital Awards 2025.

Commenting on her new role, Sally said, “Quantcast is an exciting and growing business that continues to innovate, such as the recent launch of its self-serve platform, offering all sizes of advertisers the tools and insights to develop successful digital ad campaigns.”

“I have been a long-time advocate of the benefits of programmatic advertising and demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovative ad technology to clients and the broader Asia Pacific market, and I look forward to working with the Quantcast team to further their clients’ success,” she continued. 

Meanwhile, Chan joins Quantcast as client success manager, bringing experience from her role as a digital specialist at IPG Mediabrands Hong Kong. She has also been part of the performance team at PHD and served as a digital marketing executive at Statrys.

In her new role, Chan will report to Joy Seah, head of client success at Quantcast APAC. 

“Having worked on the agency side, I have seen firsthand the impact Quantcast has made on clients’ businesses, and I am keen to bring my agency experience to Quantcast to drive further impact,” Chan expressed. 

Ng and Chan’s appointments come on the heels of Quantcast’s recent expansion in its Singapore and Australian offices, where six new commercial and sales management roles were added. Both will assume their new roles in Hong Kong immediately.

Sonal Patel, vice president for APAC at Quantcast, said, “Our clients and operations across the region continue to rapidly expand, and these appointments are a reflection of that acceleration. Sally is a hugely experienced and well respected digital advertising specialist in the region and will bring a wealth of valuable skills to the Quantcast team. 

“With the addition of Sally and Yanny, we are continuing to invest in talent, demonstrating our deep commitment to the region, and strengthening our expertise for clients. Sally will be a strong leader for our North Asia business and a great partner to our clients,” Patel added. 

Singapore – Vistar Media has appointed Sean Cheyney as its new global head of retail media, tasking him with leading the company’s retail media strategy and strengthening its position within the expanding retail media ecosystem.

In this newly created role, Cheyney will spearhead Vistar Media’s retail media strategy, leveraging the company’s cutting-edge out-of-home (OOH) solutions to seamlessly integrate into the retail media ecosystem, driving greater value for retailers, agency partners, and brands alike.

With over 20 years of experience driving revenue growth across digital and traditional media channels, Cheyney is a recognised leader in retail media. Before joining Vistar Media, he served as executive vice president of global retailer sales at CitrusAd, where he was instrumental in the company’s growth, acquisition, and rebrand to Epsilon Retail Media. Prior to that, he held a similar leadership role at Triad Retail Media, one of the early pioneers in retail media networks.

Speaking about his appointment, Cheyney said, “I’m excited to join Vistar at a time when retail media is on the cusp of transforming how brands reach consumers in the real world. By leveraging Vistar’s powerful programmatic solutions, we can help retailers unlock new revenue streams while giving brands more ways to connect with shoppers along their entire journey.”

Cheyney’s role will be crucial in strengthening Vistar’s position within the retail ecosystem and advancing the company’s 2025 strategy, which centres on global expansion and solidifying Vistar as the leading digital out-of-home (DOOH) partner for retail media networks worldwide.

Eric Lamb, SVP of enterprise solutions at Vistar Media, commented, “Retail media networks are transforming the advertising landscape, offering new opportunities for brands to connect with consumers beyond traditional digital channels. With Sean’s vast experience and innovative leadership, we are primed to bring retail media to the real world, empowering retailers and brands to engage consumers where it matters most.”

Meanwhile, Ben Baker, managing director of APAC at Vistar Media, stated, “We couldn’t be more excited to have Sean Cheyney join Vistar Media at a time when retail media is poised for substantial growth. Sean’s expertise will be instrumental in helping us seamlessly integrate digital out-of-home with retail media platforms.”

“As retail media becomes an increasingly vital channel for brands, his extensive experience will support us in developing innovative solutions that create value for both retailers and brands. Southeast Asia, in particular, is embracing retail media, and we are confident that this momentum will continue as we look to the future,” he added. 

Singapore – We Are Social Singapore, a socially-led creative agency, has strengthened its creative leadership by appointing award-winning creative director Rodrigo Mitma to co-lead its team.

With nearly 15 years of industry experience, Mitma brings extensive expertise in healthcare, having spearheaded local, regional, and global creative campaigns. His portfolio also spans diverse sectors, including FMCG, automotive, retail, and government, showcasing his versatility across various industries.

For the past seven years, Mitma has been based in Singapore, where he led creative teams at DDB and McCann Health. Before relocating to Singapore, he honed his skills at Grey and CARNE Prime Advertising House in Lima. His work has earned prestigious accolades, including awards at the Effies, Clio, LIA, and Spikes, along with shortlist recognitions at Cannes Lions and D&AD.

In his role, Mitma will co-lead the creative team alongside fellow creative director Daniel Foo, driving the development of social-first, innovative, and impactful campaigns for clients. He will report directly to regional executive creative director Omar Sotomayor.

Sotomayor said, “Rod brings invaluable expertise in regional and global campaigns for top-tier clients to our team. I’ve always admired his curiosity and resourcefulness in tackling creative challenges, from exploring new uses of AI to his attention to emerging trends in craft and design. He’s a true student of advertising.”

Also talking about his new role, Mitma shared, “I was drawn to the agency’s relentless drive to raise the bar on what is considered ‘social’ for brands and consumers. Working with Omar, Daniel, and the team is going to be a remarkable experience; I can’t wait to create work that ignites conversations and generates hype, both online and offline.”

Malaysia – Chubb has appointed Jon Longmore as the new country president of Malaysia, pending regulatory and other approvals. Longmore will succeed Stephen Crouch, who has taken on the role of head of government affairs for the Asia Pacific region.

Starting in early November, Longmore will oversee Chubb’s operations and overall performance in Malaysia. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he will continue to report to Marcos Gunn, regional president for Asia Pacific.

Longmore began his 13-year career at Chubb in Australia, where he held various roles across underwriting, distribution, and partnerships. In 2018, he was appointed head of digital for the Asia Pacific region before taking on his most recent position as country president of PT Chubb General Insurance in 2020.

Speaking about Longmore’s appointment, Gunn said, “Jon is an experienced international insurance professional with a track record of driving sustainable business growth. His keen focus on innovation and passion for building teams position him well to further grow our business in Malaysia.”

In the interim, Adrianto Gunawan, chief financial officer for Indonesia, will assume the additional responsibilities of country president until a permanent successor is appointed.

India – To enhance its creative leadership in the southern markets, DDB Mudra has brought on board Priya Shivakumar as its new creative head for the South region.

Shivakumar brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She joins DDB Mudra from Wunderman Thompson (JWT), where she progressed from executive creative director to chief creative officer for the South region.

With over two decades of experience in the industry, Shivakumar has garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work, including multiple Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils, One Show Pencils, and Spikes Asia awards. One of her recent achievements is for ‘Hidden Truth,’ a powerful campaign addressing domestic violence.

As the new creative head, Shivakumar will closely collaborate with Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group, and share leadership responsibilities with Menaka Menon, president of growth and strategy at DDB Mudra.

Speaking on the appointment, Matthew commented, “We have been evolving our offering in the South to go beyond national campaigns and offer specialised expertise for the five South markets. And we believe what will make our solutions even more effective is our creativity. Priya will play a critical role in us achieving this vision for the South Office. She has the unique ability to capture local and cultural nuances and execute them to international standards. I’m excited to have her partner with us on our journey.”

Meanwhile, talking about her new role, Shivakumar said, “I’m thrilled to join DDB Mudra and contribute to the legacy of creating culturally resonant brands. These are exciting times where you can take storytelling to new and unexpected places…through technology, craft, or experience…”

She added, “I’m looking forward to leveraging the power of emotions in my work, driving choices, creating conversations, shaping markets, and rewriting brand stories.” 

Japan – Vpon has appointed Yoshitaka Shinohara as its new chief executive officer, following the resignation of founder and former CEO Victor Wu, who stepped down from his roles as chairman of the board and CEO on October 1st.

Shinohara, currently serving as Vpon’s group chief strategy officer (CSO) and general manager of Vpon Japan since 2014, will take on the CEO role with a focus on advancing the company’s expansion in the Japanese market and accelerating the cross-border growth strategy, “Cool Japan & Nations.”

As CEO, Shinohara brings extensive expertise in big data and cross-border market expansion. He will focus on strengthening Vpon’s presence in the Japanese market while actively pursuing new opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region. Centred around the “Cool Japan & Nations” concept, Vpon will leverage AI and big data technologies to deliver unique value to clients and partners.

In an official press release, Vpon wrote, “Our strategy is built on the foundation of data-driven and DX approaches, cultural exchange, and cross-industry cooperation, aiming to achieve business success while promoting global development.”

“We hope that through this approach we can facilitate international cultural exchange and assist other countries in shaping and realising their respective ‘Cool Nations’ visions, serving as an important driving force for showcasing their unique charm on the global stage!” the company added. 

Shinohara, on behalf of the company and the board of directors, also expressed gratitude for Victor Wu’s leadership in steering the group through key milestones and extended best wishes for his future endeavours.

Victor Wu founded Vpon in 2008 with the vision of “Data Drives Transactions.” Under his vision and leadership, the company expanded from Taiwan to major Asian markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand, gaining the trust of the Japanese government, top financial institutions, and leading retail giants across the region.

Vpon has also forged strong partnerships with major institutions and brands, including the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), Tokyo and Osaka Convention & Visitors Bureaus, JR East, JR West, CTBC Bank, and ABC Mart. These collaborations highlight Vpon’s industry recognition and solidify its position as a leader in the AI data sector.

In a detailed LinkedIn post, Wu reflected on his journey with Vpon, from its founding and expansion to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced his resignation, thanked investors for their trust, and shared plans to take a break with family. Wu also hinted at starting a new business while remaining open to joining another company or organisation.

India – In a move to boost its data-driven marketing capabilities, Havas India has launched CSA, the global technology, data, and analytics arm of Havas, helping brands leverage customer data to drive growth and meaningful results.

To further strengthen its data and technology capabilities, Havas India also merged PivotConsult, the strategic consulting arm of PivotRoots, into CSA India. PivotConsult, a 55-member team, collaborates with high-profile clients such as Kotak Bank, Bisleri, Wildcraft, Coca-Cola, and Samsung, among others.

CSA’s entry into the Indian market brings a strong understanding of clients’ business challenges, blending global expertise with local insights to offer a complete view of marketing performance. Its product suite adapts to various markets, helping clients at all data maturity levels boost their return on investment.

CSA’s core offerings focus on three pillars: CSA Tech for automation, data consolidation, and digital transformation; CSA Science for data-driven marketing measurement; and CSA Consult, providing expert insights through a global network to accelerate growth.

Jamie Seltzer, global EVP for CSA & Mx Analytics, said, “As the industry’s fastest-growing market, India is experiencing exponential growth, and it’s crucial for Indian brands to leverage their data and tech assets in a comprehensive, sophisticated manner. We’re excited to launch CSA in India at such a crucial moment in this market’s development, bringing a seamless, integrated approach to data, tech, and analytics to the region.” 

Meanwhile, leading this major development is Gaurav Seth, who has been appointed managing partner to head CSA India’s operations. He will report to Shibu Shivanandan, CEO and founder of PivotRoots, and will be based in Mumbai.

Seth brings over 20 years of experience in digital advertising to his new role at CSA India. For the past 15 years, he has focused on data-driven marketing solutions, leading more than 300 projects for ad networks, agencies, and product companies, establishing himself as a recognised expert in the industry.

With experience across marketers, publishers, agencies, and ad tech firms, Gaurav has a deep understanding of the marketing ecosystem. During his eight years at Lotame, a global data management company, he built the business in India from scratch, establishing it as the leading data management platform in the country.

Rana Barua, group CEO of Havas India for SEA & North Asia, said, “The launch of CSA in India marks a significant milestone in our journey to offer integrated, data-led solutions to clients. As businesses increasingly look to data to fuel their growth, CSA’s blend of global expertise and local insights will provide them with the tools to navigate today’s complex landscape and deliver measurable results. With Gaurav Seth at the helm and the integration of PivotConsult, CSA is poised to lead the way in helping brands harness the full potential of data to drive transformation and meaningful business outcomes. I wish the team the very best.”

Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, added, “More than 50% of marketers are struggling with redundant marketing technologies. They are spending a lot of time learning new technologies that are often sub optimally used and may not work well with other existing platforms. Havas CSA solves exactly this problem. Leveraging its experience with more than 1,000 clients globally and in India, this expert team in Martech and Adtech stands at the vital intersection of marketing, data, and technology. I wish Gaurav all the best in this new journey.”

Australia – Independent digital marketing agency Orange Line has been reappointed as the SEO partner for global travel app Skyscanner, aiming to drive the platform’s growth across the APAC region.

Orange Line’s primary focus will be enhancing Skyscanner’s SEO performance across the APAC region. This renewed collaboration builds on the agency’s previous success with the brand, where it conducted a comprehensive technical SEO audit that delivered strong results.

Bruno Rodriguez, head of organic at Orange Line, said, “We’re thrilled to be re-engaged by Skyscanner and to continue our collaboration. This renewed partnership is testament to the expertise of our SEO team and the value we can bring to global brands.” 

“We’re eager to build on the success of our previous work and drive even greater growth for their platform,” Rodriguez added. 

Orange Line’s partnership with Skyscanner highlights the agency’s expertise in delivering comprehensive international SEO services. With a team of specialists based in Australia, the USA, and Europe, Orange Line excels at providing tailored multi-country and multilingual SEO solutions for global brands. The collaboration is already in progress.