Tag: Appointment

India – Brand consulting firm Landor has announced the promotion of Lulu Raghavan as its new president for Asia Pacific. 

In her new role, Raghavan will lead a diverse and talented team of creative professionals across APAC, fostering a high-performance culture and extraordinary creativity to drive business growth.

With 23 years of experience at Landor, Lulu Raghavan brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of the branding industry. Throughout her tenure, she has held various roles across several key markets, including San Francisco, New York, London, and Mumbai.

Raghavan will remain based in Mumbai and report to Christian Schroeder, global president of Landor.

Schroeder said, “We are very excited to see Lulu step into the APAC President role. Her extensive experience, dedication, and innovative approach make her the perfect fit to lead the region. I am personally delighted for Lulu, and confident that she will continue to drive growth and excellence across our APAC offices.”

Also speaking on her promotion, Raghavan shared, “I am honoured to take on the role of President for the APAC region. This is an exciting time for Landor, and I am eager to build on our strong foundation and continue to drive innovation and growth. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams across APAC to deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

China – Edelman China has named Xiaoyan Wang as its new health lead. In her new role, Wang will spearhead the development of the firm’s health sector vision, uniting teams across various disciplines to deliver specialised and strategic solutions for client challenges.

Wang brings nearly 25 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and marketing, encompassing consumer health, medical communications, branding, advertising, and digital innovation. Her extensive and diverse background makes her a valuable asset to Edelman China.

With a strong personal interest in public health, Wang believes that effective and empathetic communication is a key driver in improving health outcomes for all. She has collaborated with numerous leading life sciences companies, and in her previous agency roles, she successfully built high-performing teams from the ground up, achieving rapid revenue growth and establishing best-in-class healthcare solutions in China.

Speaking on her appointment, Wang said, “The healthcare industry is currently undergoing a period of great change, as we face challenges and opportunities such as pressure on drug prices, increased regulation, and accelerated innovation. In this period of transition, I’m delighted to join Edelman and provide health clients with strategic solutions that enhance health outcomes. I also look forward to contributing to Edelman’s continuous development of the health sector.”

Also commenting on the appointment, Will Collie, vice chair of health in Asia Pacific at Edelman, stated, “Xiaoyan has solid business management skills and market development capabilities, and her joining is undoubtedly a great addition to Edelman. Importantly, Xiaoyan’s track record of working with international health brands will be of significant importance to clients in China.” 

“Edelman’s internationally connected business and communications consulting teams will be a key differentiator in Edelman’s approach to serving clients in the health sector. Xiaoyan completes our efforts to have senior leaders in every major market across Asia and the Pacific. We believe she will continue to bring her professional strengths into full play in the future and strive to enhance Edelman’s integrated communication capabilities in the healthcare field, expanding business possibilities,” Collie added. 

Singapore – GumGum, the global digital advertising platform known for its contextual-first approach, has bolstered its executive team by appointing Kerel Cooper as the new chief marketing officer (CMO).

As the new CMO, Cooper will spearhead GumGum’s global marketing strategy, enhance brand and agency adoption with GumGum’s cutting-edge advertising solutions, and propel the company’s overall growth. His ad tech expertise will be vital in addressing the challenges and seizing opportunities in the digital advertising sector.

Cooper joins GumGum from Group Black, where he was president of advertising, championing the growth of Black-owned media. Before that, he spent seven years at LiveIntent, progressing from vice president of platform development to chief marketing officer.

His industry experience is further enriched by his role as an adjunct professor at Kean University, where he teaches ‘Sports Marketing and Digital Marketing Strategies’ to both undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, Cooper co-founded the Minority Report Podcast.

Cooper shared, “I’m excited to join GumGum and lead the marketing efforts for a company at the forefront of contextual intelligence and innovation in advertising. GumGum’s unique approach aligns with my vision of creating meaningful and impactful connections for all audiences, everywhere. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success and growth while expanding global awareness of mindset-first advertising.”

Meanwhile, Phil Schraeder, CEO of GumGum, said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Kerel as our new CMO. This is a game-changing moment for us at such a transformational time at GumGum. Kerel’s unparalleled expertise in ad tech is exactly what we need to skyrocket our growth. With his leadership, we’re set to revolutionise our mindset-first approach and turbocharge our ability to help our clients reach and support all audiences.”

Singapore – International communications agency Milk & Honey PR has announced the appointment of Richard Bagnall as its new group non-executive director (NED) to provide strategic advisory services to the agency’s operations in Singapore, the UK, the US, and Germany.

Bagnall, previously Chair of AMEC, recently concluded his tenure as co-CEO of CARMA, a position he held since October 2018. Additionally, he has served as a Cabinet Office advisor, contributing to the evaluation council for over 11 years.

As a seasoned global expert in media intelligence, data analytics, and communications evaluation, Bagnall will provide strategic guidance across offices in Singapore, the UK, the US, and Germany. His focus will be on enhancing evaluation and data analytics practices while leveraging his extensive experience in scaling organisations worldwide.

This ongoing upleveling of the company’s offer comes hot on the heels of the formation of NU, a new technology and AI division led by Sanjiv Winayak; the imPACT sustainability division led by Kirsty Howe; and a newly created broadcast offer headed by Lewis Oakley.

In his new role, Bagnall will report directly to the founder and group CEO, Kirsty Leighton. He will also serve as a board advisor alongside Claire Lematta, who has been with the business since April 2023. 

Commenting on the appointment, Leighton said, “Richard brings the perfect blend of agency leadership, data analytics and measurement expertise, and passion for client service excellence. He will play a pivotal role in the continued growth of our purpose and sustainability offering, and more importantly, in the demonstration of return on investment,” said Leighton. 

Also speaking on his new role, Bagnall shared, “Milk & Honey has stood out to me as a brilliant business for a long time. The agency’s multi-award-winning team, approach to doing good business, and fact that it is majority employee-owned make it so incredibly differentiated. ESG communications have never been more important, and in the next 12 months we expect increased scrutiny, particularly as new regulations will pose challenges when it comes to greenwashing. However, there will also be new opportunities to ensure the integrity of the stories being told. I can’t wait to get stuck in this exciting new role and be part of Milk & Honey’s ongoing success.”

Shanghai, China – McCann Worldgroup China has announced the appointment of Carter Chow as its new CEO for Greater China. 

A highly regarded leader with over 20 years of experience, Chow is rejoining McCann Worldgroup for his second stint. He previously served as the managing director of McCann Worldgroup’s Shanghai office before advancing to the role of chief marketing officer for McCann Worldgroup Greater China.

Chow returns to McCann Worldgroup after an eight-year absence, during which he held several prominent positions: China CEO of J. Walter Thompson, China CEO and Greater China CEO for Wunderman Thompson, and most recently, president of VML.

The McCann Worldgroup network in Greater China includes McCann, MRM, and CRAFT. Chow’s appointment as CEO for Greater China marks a pivotal moment of growth for the network, underscoring its dedication to fostering creativity and innovation within the Chinese market.

Ghassan Harfouche, president of McCann Worldgroup APMENA, commented, “I am delighted that Carter is returning to us to take up the reins of our Greater China operations. Carter brings a unique blend of leadership, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of the Chinese market, along with a proven track record of success. This makes him the ideal candidate to lead our operations in one of the most dynamic and important regions globally.”

Also speaking on his appointment, Carter said, “I’m so pleased to be re-joining such an iconic advertising and marketing brand that’s been so close to my heart. The Chinese market presents immense opportunities, and I am committed to leveraging the strengths of the McCann Worldgroup network and to fostering innovation to enhance our capabilities and offer best-in-class services to our clients.” 

Singapore – Edelman Singapore has appointed Daniel Ko as its new executive creative director to spearhead the firm’s creative team and offerings in Singapore. 

In this role, Ko will bring his breadth of specialist experience to deliver Edelman’s brand of earned creative value for a diverse portfolio of clients. He will join the firm’s Singapore leadership team led by CEO Julia Wei and will be part of Edelman’s regional creative community led by APAC chief creative officer Tim Green. 

With over two decades of experience, Ko has gained acclaim for his innovative campaigns for Income, Google, POSB, DBS, Heineken, Tiger Beer, GIC, and HPB. His work has been recognised on local, regional, and global platforms. Additionally, he has contributed to elevating Singapore’s marketing industry standards by serving as a judge at prestigious local award shows, including The Gongs, Hall of Fame, and Crowbars.

Ko joins Edelman Singapore from Accenture Song, where he served as creative director for two years. Leading the tech-powered creative group, he spearheaded transformative campaigns that addressed business challenges through integrated solutions in advertising, branding, digital, PR & activation, marketing strategy, and innovation.

His previous roles include group creative director at 72 and Sunny, creative director at The Secret Little Agency, and creative group head at Iris Worldwide. He has also held key creative positions at renowned agencies, including BBH, DDB, and Publicis. 

Speaking on the appointment, Green said, “Ko’s impressive creative career involves a unique blend of storytelling, story-doing, branding, and business transformation—all skills critical in an era of ‘Trust in Crisis’, when attention alone isn’t enough to mobilise audiences. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard Edelman as we forge ahead to unlock the power of earned creativity to change the world.”

Also commenting on his new role, Ko shared, “I am thrilled to join Edelman Singapore to contribute to its continued innovation and growth. Edelman has consistently pushed the boundaries of creative excellence and set new standards for earned creativity. I look forward to joining this talented community to craft compelling, transformative, and effective programmes that help our clients win with their audiences.”

Edelman Singapore is home to over 120 consultants and serves as one of four global hubs for the network. This year, the firm recorded its strongest showing at The Cannes Lions Awards 2024, winning a Titanium Lion, four Gold Lions, six Silver Lions and five Bronze Lions for nine separate client campaigns from EMEA, North America and APAC. 

Malaysia – AirAsia Group has appointed Allenie Caccam as its new head of business growth to bolster its market presence and growth trajectory. With a robust background in marketing leadership, Caccam brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to her new role.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Caccam discussed her vision, responsibilities, and plans for driving business growth at AirAsia Group.

Leveraging marketing leadership experience

In her new role, Caccam shared that her team will be responsible for supporting the establishment of business operations and the go-to-market strategy for new markets, targeting specific geographies for AirAsia Group. This involves project management from the initial sale phase through to the inaugural launch, working closely with cross-functional departments such as ground operations, network, route revenue, regulatory, communications, and marketing.

Additionally, her team is also tasked with identifying growth opportunities in terms of channel and customer. 

“We are actively looking into new channels to support underserved markets for AirAsia and interline solutions to increase our reach and feed our Asia and Pacific network, where AirAsia is strong,” she explained. 

Caccam believes that her extensive experience in marketing at AirAsia Philippines has equipped her with a strategic perspective vital for her new role.

“My marketing experience has trained me to strategically look into the different angles of the business and align our strategies with customer insights to determine maximum demand and revenue potential,” she said. 

She also noted the crucial importance of the ability to commercialise a product in her role, ensuring the service is brought to market comprehensively through market research, distribution, promotion, customer support, and operation. For Caccam, this remains a vital skill in identifying growth opportunities and achieving successful implementation in the highly competitive airline industry.

Now, as she leads the go-to-market strategy for new market development, Caccam underscores her clear priorities for AirAsia Group.

“AirAsia’s tagline has always been ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ and our strength has always been our broad network of over 130 destinations. Serving the underserved underpins our operations. Our focus is to not only fly the most popular routes but also bring in more passengers to our network from markets we are not yet serving or even where no other airline is serving, all the while making sure that it helps build the trade, economy, and tourism of both markets, which is a win-win for everyone,” she emphasised. 

Adapting to the evolving travel landscape 

Caccam foresees the evolving landscape of travel and tourism significantly impacting AirAsia’s growth strategy. She believes that travel will continue to be an integral part of people’s lifestyles, and as more channels emerge to offer customised travel experiences, the industry will become increasingly competitive.

“AirAsia will continue to harp on our strengths: our service, our network, our customer data built up over 20 years, and our affordable fares. We plan to use these huge assets to serve more underserved routes to connect Asia to the world,” Caccam said. 

For Caccam, online channels are reaching maturity, particularly in Asian markets where digital is a top priority. Customers are rapidly transitioning to the generation of digital natives, and online media is no longer considered “new.”

“It is now a game of great raw content and relatability rather than glossy and hard-selling advertisements. In line with this, AirAsia will continue to produce relatable content through our social media channels and our own internal and external ambassadors and use these avenues to remarket our service,” she added. 

“AirAsia’s tagline has always been, ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ and with this role, I will be able to contribute more to making this vision a reality,” Caccam concluded.

Singapore – PHD Singapore has promoted Sumiati Hashim to managing director, where she will continue to establish strategic goals for growth and transformation, attract top talent, and mentor the future leaders of the agency.

As the new managing director, Hashim will oversee both national and international operations from Singapore, the Asia Pacific headquarters for PHD, and its parent company, Omnicom Media Group (OMG).

Prior to her promotion, Hashim served as PHD Singapore’s general manager, where her nurturing leadership led to significant achievements. Under her tenure, the agency secured new business wins with IKEA, Razer, and Viu and forged enduring partnerships with clients such as Singapore Airlines and HSBC. 

Since she took charge in 2022, PHD Singapore has also seen an expansion in talent strength and internal mobility, driving the agency through a remarkable transformation journey. The agency’s capabilities also gained wide recognition, as evidenced by the numerous awards and trophies it received.

Hashim’s promotion serves as a testament to her sharp business acumen and her success in building strong client relationships and a thriving team environment. 

For Chloe Neo, CEO of OMG Singapore, Hashim’s sharp business acumen and collaborative spirit add value to OMG’s ‘Agency as a Platform’ model, which combines various talent, technology, and capabilities across the group to drive a more integrated and seamless offering for clients. 

Neo said, “PHD has always focused on attracting the best thinkers in the business, encouraging them to fully realise their potential in a progressive and connected environment that celebrates smart thinking and clever planning to help brands grow. Sumiati leads and lives that defining ethic; she is a respected people leader and has demonstrated the ability to operationalize strategies towards optimal business impact. She understands what makes PHD unique as a brand while leveraging OMG’s capabilities and scale to enable clients’ business ambitions.” 

Meanwhile, having been with OMG Singapore for 12 years, including 10 years with PHD, Hashim described her promotion as a deeply gratifying milestone, marking the culmination of years dedicated to driving strategic growth, nurturing talent, and cultivating invaluable client relationships.

“I am thrilled to lead PHD Singapore into its next phase of innovation and success. Embracing a growth mindset across all aspects of our operations is key for us moving forward. My focus remains on growth, whether it is expanding our client base, scaling services for existing clients, or developing talent,” she shared.

Aligned with PHD’s new brand tagline, “Intelligence. Connected,” Hashim’s leadership vision further emphasises leveraging advanced analytics and AI to optimise campaign performance and achieve superior business outcomes for clients.

“Integral to this strategy is our unwavering dedication to nurturing talent as well as fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within our teams. We will combine human expertise, data, and technology to help our clients achieve greatness,” she added.

Singapore – AI-powered omnichannel conversation suite provider SleekFlow has announced the appointment of Gao Lei as chief technology officer, effective immediately.

With over 20 years of tech leadership at Silicon Valley and tech entrepreneurial experience in AI and Big Data, Lei brings a wealth of expertise in building and scaling engineering teams, developing and operating highly scalable and available infrastructure, and creating innovative products that drive business growth.

Prior to joining SleekFlow, Gao Lei served as the CTO at LinkedIn China, where he was responsible for building and scaling the engineering team to support the company’s rapid growth.

During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing several award-winning products that have transformed how businesses engage with their customers.

Gao also holds a PhD in Data Replication/Distributed Systems from The University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a thought leader in the technology industry, having been featured in numerous industry publications and conferences.

Speaking on his appointment, Lei said, “I am excited to join the SleekFlow team and contribute to the company’s continued success. SleekFlow has a strong reputation for delivering innovative customer engagement solutions. I look forward to leveraging my experience to enhance the platform further and drive even greater value for our platform users.”

Meanwhile, Henson Tsai, founder and CEO of SleekFlow, commented, “We are looking forward to welcoming Gao Lei to the SleekFlow team. His record of successes in delivering transformative technology solutions makes him the ideal candidate to lead our future plans. We are confident that his leadership and vision will further strengthen SleekFlow’s position as a leading player in the customer engagement space.”

India – Dentsu Creative India has named Abhijat Bharadwaj as chief creative officer (CCO) of Dentsu Creative Isobar in a strategic move to strengthen the company’s creative vision. 

Bharadwaj will report to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative India, and Sahil Shah, president of Dentsu Creative Isobar, and will collaborate closely with the executive team to advance the agency’s creative strategy. He will concentrate on significantly enhancing Dentsu Creative Isobar’s creative prowess and unique talent pool, which have been developed over the years through collaboration with many renowned Indian and international companies. 

Bharadwaj has over 17 years of expertise in advertising, having directed campaigns for companies including Mercedes-Benz, Godrej, AM/NS, Star Sports, and Swiggy. His campaigns include “Netflix for All,” Bhuvan Bam’s Pizza Hut campaign, and the Indian Super League’s “Yeh Diwali Football Wali” campaign.

Bharadwaj was the creator behind the “Teen Ka Dream” Adidas World Cup advertisement. His career has included crucial positions at leading agencies such as Leo Burnett, McCann, and Creativeland Asia. He also led Star Sports’ premium sports vertical, where he played a key role in promoting football, tennis, and Formula One in India. Abhijat, known for his unwavering pursuit of creative brilliance, mixes strategic thought with boundless excitement in his current position.

Dentsu Creative Isobar’s dedication to developing remarkable brand experiences rooted in creativity in the modern, multi-platform, digital-first world is further demonstrated by the appointment of Bharadwaj. His direction will be crucial in establishing new standards for creativity, encouraging an innovative culture, and developing a vibrant group of up-and-coming creatives. 

Sahil Shah said, “Abhijat’s entry unlocks a new level of growth for us. In today’s day and age, brands need a creative agency that solves problems, regardless of platforms or mediums, because that’s how non-linear and multi-platform the consumer is. And in this new era, I believe we have a phenomenal talent pool, with strong creative capabilities and the right culture to be in the pole position. With Abhijat leading our creative from the top, I am certain we are now a team to beat.” 

Speaking about the appointment, Amit Wadhwa said, “Abhijat is not just an exceptional creative talent but a visionary leader for this new age. His passion for excellence in both work and team building will set new industry standards. Alongside our formidable team of creative leaders, we are confident that Abhijat will propel us to new heights of success and recognition.” 

Lastly, Bharadwaj said, “Joining an iconic global brand like dentsu is truly exciting. My goal is to unlock new opportunities for Dentsu Creative Isobar in India and build a best-in-class team that delivers creative solutions and exceptional value for our clients.”