Tag: Appointment

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.

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.”