Tag: Appointment

Singapore – FCM Travel Asia, a travel management company, has appointed Gursheel Dhillon as its new head of marketing, recognising her pivotal contributions to the company’s growth and success across key Asian markets.

A seasoned marketer and communicator, Dhillon previously spearheaded public relations and communications for FCM Travel Asia, where she strategically developed and executed corporate PR initiatives to elevate the company’s brands and executives. Her efforts secured top-tier media coverage across key markets, including Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, and Malaysia.

Dhillon has developed strategies for a variety of lifestyle businesses and has built an extensive regional network. With over a decade of business experience, she is also an award-winning entrepreneur.

In her first year with the company, she already earned an award after securing over 800 media features. Dhillon has been instrumental in shaping FCM’s narrative across Asia, significantly expanding the brand’s presence in both trade and mainstream media while collaborating closely with key stakeholders.

Commenting on her appointment, Dhillon shared, “I have enjoyed working with our team of agile marketers, committed to growing the FCM brand by leveraging data to craft ‘Glocal’ marketing strategies that set us apart. I look forward to launching brand new campaigns for an alternative business travel management company like FCM and meeting our customers at our upcoming inaugural FCM Singapore Summit.”

Bertrand Saillet, managing director of FCM Travel Asia, said, “With a bank of deep expertise, drive, and productivity, Dhillon has delivered a material impact on the business and has shown us what can be done. FCTG’s ‘Brightness of Future’ initiative encourages every team member to develop their career and explore opportunities within the company. We are excited for Gursheel to steer our brand towards new heights in the business travel management landscape.”

Philippines – Ford Motor Company has announced the appointment of Pedro Simões as the new managing director of Ford Group Philippines, effective December 1, 2024.

Simões, currently the marketing and commercial vehicle director for Ford Middle East, will succeed Michael “Mike” Breen, who is set to return to the United States after his tenure in the Philippines.

In his new role, Simões will be responsible for driving Ford’s continued growth in the Philippines, strengthening the brand’s momentum, enhancing the ownership and aftersales experience, and fostering strong relationships with dealer partners to better serve Ford customers.

Ford Philippines expects Simões to build on the brand’s success and further strengthen its position in the competitive automotive market under his leadership.

Simões brings extensive industry experience from key leadership roles in marketing, brand, product, and sales across various automotive brands. Since joining Ford Middle East in 2016, he has led business growth and, as marketing and commercial vehicle director, established new departments and processes in 2021. Prior to that, he served as retail marketing and revenue management director for the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific markets, where he achieved a 40% volume increase in his first year.

Upon assuming the role, Simões will relocate to Manila and report directly to Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin, president of Ford ASEAN and Asia-Pacific distributor markets.

Commenting on the appointment, Wisadkosin said, “With a proven track record of success in driving brand growth, market expansion, and a collaborative leadership style, I am confident that Pedro will lead the team and work closely with our dealer partners to strengthen our presence in the Philippines.”

“Mike’s personal commitment and engaging leadership have significantly strengthened dealer relations and driven outstanding business results. We wish him all the best in his new role in the US,” she added.

Hong Kong – Global communications agency Burson has announced the appointment of Simeon Mellalieu as its new CEO for Hong Kong, effective October 2, 2024. 

Mellalieu brings 25 years of experience advising multinational companies on national, regional, and global communication strategies designed to build brands and safeguard reputations.

Throughout his career, Mellalieu has managed an extensive portfolio of clients across diverse sectors, including fast fashion, semiconductors, automotive, gaming, travel and leisure, enterprise and consumer technology, food and beverage, and banking and payments. He is also a dedicated supporter of academic and trade organisations throughout Hong Kong and the broader APAC region. 

Notably, Mellalieu served as a board member and Chairman of PR Hong Kong (formerly the Council of PR Firms of Hong Kong) from 2010 to 2013. Before joining Burson, he was a partner for client development at Ketchum Asia-Pacific and managing director of Ketchum Hong Kong.

HS Chung, CEO for North APAC at Burson, said, “We are delighted to welcome Simeon to our APAC leadership team. Hong Kong remains a critical regional hub for Asian companies seeking to build their reputation on the global stage. Simeon’s extensive experience will help us further bolster our ‘Asia Going Global’ offer in Hong Kong, helping clients navigate pivotal market changes and seize opportunities, both in the region and abroad.”

Mellalieu began his communications career in the UK and has spent over two decades in Hong Kong. Before joining Ketchum, he worked at Bulletin International in London and Warman & Bannister in Cambridge.

Speaking about his appointment, Mellalieu shared, “This is an incredibly exciting and important moment in time to be joining Burson. We have a large and extremely talented team in Hong Kong supported by a powerful global network. I’m looking forward to working alongside my new colleagues locally and internationally to build our leading position in the industry based on innovative solutions, cut-through creativity, and incisive technology.”

Philippines – Angkas, the Philippines-based motorcycle ride-hailing platform, has appointed Danielle (Dani) Eleazar as its new head of consumer and brand development, signalling a fresh direction for the company’s marketing and consumer engagement strategies.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Dani Eleazar shares insights on her transition from foodpanda to Angkas, how she’s adapting to her new role, and her forward-looking vision for the iconic Filipino ride-hailing brand.

Embracing the move to a new role

Before joining Angkas, Dani served as the head of marketing at foodpanda Philippines, where she oversaw the brand’s complete marketing efforts—from developing consumer strategies to executing campaigns and analysing performance for the Philippine market.

When asked about the challenges she anticipates in her transition, Dani acknowledged that moving from foodpanda to Angkas represents a significant shift, especially due to the change in industry. However, she emphasised that she doesn’t see this shift as a challenge but rather as an exciting learning opportunity.

“I see ‘challenges’ to any new endeavours as natural learning curves, and I’m genuinely excited about this opportunity to work for such an iconic brand,” she explained. “One of the only ‘challenges’ I foresee is living up to the high standards set by Angkas. As I believe that I am naturally adaptable, quick to learn, and curious, I honestly am very excited to contribute effectively to Angkas’ ongoing success.”

According to Dani, despite her years of experience, her natural curiosity and adaptability allow her to absorb new experiences like a ‘sponge.’ Combined with her extensive experience at foodpanda, she is confident that these qualities will greatly benefit her in her new role at Angkas. 

“I think my previous experience with foodpanda has provided me with a strong foundation in both the strategic and operational aspects of tech-driven consumer services,” Dani shared. 

She added, “At Angkas, I’m excited to leverage my expertise in structuring effective strategies and my continuous curiosity to enhance our consumer outreach and engagement, ensuring we not only meet but exceed our users’ expectations.”

Riding the legacy of safety and reliability 

Angkas has been instrumental in offering safe and affordable transportation in the Philippines, and Dani is eager to build on this legacy in her new role. For her, the goal is to  ensure that the brand continues to be a dependable choice, steadfast in its mission to provide reliable transportation for everyone.

“Angkas has made a real difference by easing traffic woes and improving the lives of our bikers. I’m excited to help more people see the positive impact we have, making sure Angkas is their go-to choice for safe and reliable transportation,” she expressed. “My goal is to strengthen our connection with both passengers and bikers, ensuring we continue to be a trusted and essential part of their daily lives.”

Looking ahead, Dani is also optimistic about the future of the mobility and ride-hailing industry in the Philippines.

“Mobility and ride hailing will continue to be relevant as cities get more crowded and consumers need quicker and more efficient ways to get around. Angkas aims to stay the top choice for safe and reliable rides,” she said. 

Speaking on current trends in consumer and branding, Dani revealed that she is excited about the potential of hyper-localised branding in the Philippines, a country with more than 7,000 islands and diverse languages.

“While Angkas has always been top-notch in being relatable, I’m excited to bring us closer to the consumers, connecting deeply with local communities. All for the livelihood of our bikers as well as an integral part of consumers’ daily lives,” she concluded. 

Singapore – Web services provider Yahoo has named Valeri Liborski as chief technology officer (CTO), tasking him to lead the global engineering team and advance the company’s investments in artificial intelligence. 

Having more than two decades of experience running central technology functions in companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and HelloFresh, Liborski’s appointment allows him to contribute to Yahoo’s growth.

In his previous role as CTO at HelloFresh, Liborski supervised the technology operations and led engineering, data science, and product development. Libroski also held senior roles in his 10 years at Amazon. 

“It’s an understatement to say that technology is the lifeblood of our company, and Val’s track record of building great teams to create and manage powerful products and platforms, at the kind of scale in which we operate, made him stand out as the right person to lead Yahoo’s engineering organization into the future,” Jim Lanzone, chief executive officer of Yahoo, said.

“We thank Aengus for his incredible contributions to Yahoo and we wish him the best in this next chapter,” Lanzone added.

“Yahoo was one of my first gateways to the internet and continues to be a go-to source in my daily life. I’m excited to contribute to such an iconic brand and work with the team to develop technology that touches the lives of hundreds of millions of people,” Liborski said.

Aengus McClean, who previously held the role of CTO since 2021, is set to retire at the end of the year.

Australia – Global recruitment company Hays Recruitment has selected Bench Media as one of its official digital media agencies, entrusting them with the launch and management of both B2C and B2B campaigns.

Bench Media will handle media planning, buying, and strategy across various digital channels, including social media, dynamic display retargeting, and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising. 

Additionally, the agency will utilise its proprietary Bench Connect technology to integrate and analyse data from all campaigns, offering Hays Recruitment a comprehensive overview of their performance.

Laura Dalziel, marketing director for Australia & New Zealand at Hays Recruitment, said, “Recruitment is a fast-paced, evolving, and competitive environment. We developed a holistic and full-funnel approach to Hays’ marketing strategy to assert our position as a market leader, and we are delighted to welcome Bench to our agency village to complete this picture.” 

“Their addition provides us with access to previously untapped channels and data sets, while their Bench Connect technology allows us to see all campaign activities in the same place so we can concentrate on driving business growth and helping our clients match with the best talent and vice versa. It’s an exciting chapter in Hays marketing journey, and we are looking forward to seeing it unfold,” Dalziel added. 

For the Hays account, Bench Media will collaborate closely with Indago Digital, a partner of Hays Recruitment since 2021 that specialises in paid and organic search. At Bench Media, the account will be led by Erin Fraser, overseeing digital strategy, and Ben Farnsworth, handling strategic partnerships.

Hays’ B2B and B2C campaigns aim to bridge the gap between companies seeking to hire and job-seeking candidates.

Ori Gold, CEO and co-founder of Bench Media, commented, “We are thrilled to add such an iconic brand as Hays Recruitment to our client roster and bring fresh ideas and technology to bolster their digital media activities.”

“We understand the importance for brands to have an unbiased overview of their advertising activities, enabling them to quickly assess what’s working, what’s not, and what their next steps should be. This is especially crucial when a brand engages multiple specialist agencies. They need one source of truth, and that’s why we developed Bench Connect so clients receive outstanding results across their agency village,” Gold explained. 

He continued, “The campaigns feature innovative strategies such as targeting companies through office building lobby screens and reaching potential candidates with customised ads tailored to their skills and desired job titles. We typically see better performance when combining a certain level of personalisation with precise targeting, and that’s really exciting!”

Meanwhile, Gary Nissim, founder and MD at Indago Digital, said, “With recruitment, you need to be flexible as a marketer, continually adapting. In 2021 and 2022, campaigns were candidate-focused due to a buoyant economy and scarcity of great talent. Moving into late 2023, a downturn in the economy saw an increase in redundancies and candidates that were less likely to leave their roles, making campaigns shift to be more employer-focused.”

Singapore – Global socially-led creative agency We Are Social has named Anton Reyniers as the new head of strategy for its Singapore office, succeeding James Honda-Pinder, who will relocate to Tokyo in October to assume the newly created role of head of growth APAC.

A recognised leader in creative and communications strategy, Reyniers brings two decades of experience spanning agency and client roles across APAC, the UK, and most recently, the Middle East. He returns to Singapore following his tenure as head of strategy at Impact BBDO in Dubai.

Over his career, Reyniers has held key roles at top global companies, including Netflix, where he led regional partner marketing creative for APAC, and Google, where he served as head of creative agency partnerships for the region. He has also driven creative strategies at leading agencies such as BBH, JWT, and Ogilvy, working with major clients like Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Lux, and the Singapore Tourism Board. During his time in Jakarta, Reyniers also chaired the Account Planning Group (APG) in Indonesia.

Speaking about his appointment, Reyniers stated, “The agency landscape now has two very extreme poles. Those that are nose-diving and those that are ascending. It was absolutely clear when speaking with Nai Yen and Kelson that We Are Social is very much in the latter. I feel very lucky to have joined such a great, nice, fast-thinking, and future-facing gang. I look forward to being part of an agency that delivers on the digital expertise and transformation our clients deserve.”

Nai Yen Wang, managing director of We Are Social Singapore, also commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Anton and his strategic and regional expertise to the We Are Social family. Anton comes with the perfect blend of agency and client-side experience, offering incredible insights into delivering transformative social-led marketing solutions for our clients. He is a great collaborator and business partner, and I look forward to driving the next wave of growth with him. I would like to thank James for his contribution to the agency over the last few years and wish him good luck as he steps into his exciting new role within the network.”

We Are Social Singapore, with a team of 80, works with brands like Samsung Mobile, HBO, UOB, and TikTok. The agency is renowned for its innovation, including virtual influencer creation, social-first production, and the development of AI and XR products for its global strategy and innovation arm, .XYZ.

Australia – To bolster its direct-to-consumer strategy, Levi Strauss & Co. has appointed commercial leader Jude Celedin as the new general manager for the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) market.

In his new role, Celedin will lead the sustainable growth of LS&Co.’s flagship brands, including Levi’s®, in the ANZ region, playing a key role in advancing the company’s direct-to-consumer strategy.

Celedin is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With a proven track record in leadership, Celedin has successfully driven commercial growth across both national and international markets. Prior to joining LS&Co., he was head of customer experience at Wesfarmers CSBP Fertilisers, where he spearheaded a cultural and performance shift in the sales and customer service functions. 

Celedin also brings with him 24 years of experience from global sportswear giant Nike, where he held several senior leadership roles, including his last position as senior director of the global marketplace for Nike Women and Sportswear. In this capacity, he was instrumental in achieving double-digit growth for the global Nike Women’s business by implementing a multi-channel, cross-functional strategy tailored to the evolving needs of trend-driven female consumers. 

Speaking on his appointment, Celedin said, “I am honoured to be joining LS&Co., as the company doubles down on its DTC-first strategy globally. I’m excited to work together with my talented colleagues in Australia and New Zealand to further establish Levi’s® as a leading denim lifestyle brand. Together, we will focus on bringing the best of our brand to our consumers here in ANZ.”

Meanwhile, Nuholt Huisamen, senior vice president and managing director for East Asia Pacific at LS&Co., commented, “I am delighted to welcome Jude to the team. His solid track record in the marketplace, category, and channel, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the ANZ market, make him the ideal candidate to drive our DTC-first strategy in this key growth region.” 

“We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to strengthen our market position in Australia and New Zealand as a global denim lifestyle leader, while ultimately building deeper connections with local Levi’s® fans,” Huisamen added. 

Singapore – Golin, a global public relations agency under the Interpublic Group, has announced the promotion of Shouvik Prasanna Mukherjee to executive vice president for global creative innovation, effective immediately. 

In his new role, Mukherjee will spearhead the development of innovative products and proprietary solutions designed to drive growth for clients, the agency, and the broader industry. He will focus on enhancing the agency’s offerings by advancing cutting-edge solutions, products, and services tailored to the needs of its client portfolio.

Since joining Golin in 2011, Mukherjee has held various creative leadership roles, most recently overseeing APAC-wide creative efforts for major clients like Allianz, Disney+, Harley-Davidson, Hyatt, McDonald’s, and Uber. He is also known for driving successful innovations within the agency’s global network, including the ‘Executive Impact Matrix’ and AI Incubator ‘SPARK’.

Mukherjee’s appointment coincides with his ongoing role as Golin APAC’s chief creative officer. He will also continue to lead the agency’s Creative Intelligence Unit, a division of data analytics pioneers and creative visionaries who blend analytics and measurement expertise with cutting-edge creative and content strategies.

Speaking on his appointment, Mukherjee said, “I’m excited to bring the Asian perspective to Golin’s global portfolio and influence clients at scale. Creating change that matters stems from being at the forefront of culture and creative disruption. In collaboration with my partners on Golin’s innovation council, we are committed to delivering solutions that will shape the future of our client business.” 

Mukherjee will report to Darren Burns, president of APAC, and will also collaborate with Ginger Porter, global chief client officer and chair of the Innovation Council.

Burns shared, “Expanding Shouvik’s contribution to Golin globally comes so naturally, building off the consecutive  successes he has spearheaded. Shouvik’s appointment in this role, based out of Asia, underlines Golin’s commitment to being a truly global agency, and I am confident that the advancements he will make on the global stage will be electrifying.” 

Porter added, “I’m beyond excited to work closely with Shouvik in his new position as we inspire, design, and lead efforts to help our clients solve challenges and seize opportunities in the vanguard of their market. We need to stay ahead of culture,, technology and trends in order to do the best work of our lives, and Shouvik has a proven track record of keeping us and our clients frontfooted on that journey.” 

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group Singapore (OMG Singapore) has promoted Jourdan Tan to general manager of digital capabilities and transformation, tasking him with spearheading the company’s digital evolution and enhancing its SEO, programmatic, performance hub, and planning and supply capabilities.

Tan was most recently OMG Singapore’s head of digital transformation and capabilities, and prior to that, he was head of performance. Under his leadership, his team doubled in size while maintaining strong retention and succession rates, showcasing his ability to attract, develop, and advance top talent in the digital landscape.

He also established a task force to foster the growth of OMG Singapore’s digital community and leads quarterly digital sessions to keep teams updated with the latest industry insights.

In his new role, Tan will leverage his vast experience to oversee OMG Singapore’s digital capabilities, driving best practices, talent expansion, and knowledge development.

Tan is part of the OMG Singapore executive committee, comprising CEO Chloe Neo, CFO Reynold Seah, head of investments and commercial Anita Yeong, OMD Singapore CEO Sadhan Mishra, and PHD Singapore MD Sumiati Hashim, and will continue working with them to steer the Singapore operations.

Commenting on the promotion, Neo said, “Jourdan’s ability to harness the power of digital capabilities across a diversified group of thriving talent, innovative products, and solutions reflects his comprehensive understanding of the digital ecosystem as well as his future forward leadership. His leadership and generative mindset have been instrumental in the organisation’s digital transformation.” 

Neo added, “OMG Singapore is riding on the wave of success, having risen a notch to #2 in both COMvergence and RECMA 2023 Billings Rankings, with a significant share in non-traditional billings. This is a testament to OMG’s suite of advanced capabilities and future-facing solutions, which we have continually invested in and established over the years. I congratulate Jourdan on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to working with him and the Singapore executive committee to take OMG to greater heights.”

Also speaking on his promotion, Tan shared, “I am honoured to take on the role of General Manager of Digital Transformation and Capabilities. As we navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape, our growth mindset will be our compass, guiding us to adapt and innovate for the future. Our focus is on delivering robust capabilities with cutting-edge technology and data, ensuring operational excellence at every step. But at the heart of this transformation journey is our commitment to nurturing our people and talents, as they are the true drivers of our success.”