Tag: Appointment

Singapore – Equativ, a global independent ad platform, has announced changes in its senior leadership team, with the appointment of Rueben Vijaratnam as its new managing director for SEA. 

Vijaratnam will join the Singapore office to develop a demand-focused strategy and guide Equativ to even greater success. With his strategic vision and leadership, the SEA team is expected to reach new heights, ensuring continued success and growth for the company in the region.

With significant experience in regional sales, Vijaratnam brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation.

His background includes six years at Yahoo, where he honed his skills in digital sales and marketing. He then spent two years at Oath, playing a key role in developing and executing strategic initiatives that significantly boosted demand and revenue. Most recently, Rueben spent 5 years at Quantcast, leading demand generation efforts and contributing to substantial market expansion and success.

Throughout his career, Vijaratnam has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to understand and respond to market needs, driving demand and fostering strong client relationships. His expertise in ‘demand leadership’ will be invaluable for Equativ as it aims to continuously innovate and expand its offerings.

Vijaratnam’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the APAC Business Unit, underscoring the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and growth. 

In his appointment, Vijaratnam commented, “I am excited to be joining Equativ at a very interesting point in our journey. The recent merger with Sharethrough springboards Equativ to a new level in the company’s global ambitions, and curation is becoming an ever more important solution to the challenges facing brands who are navigating the digital world today. We look forward to growing the Singapore office, expanding our footprint in Southeast Asia with existing and new partners, and truly delivering the promise of adtech in this region.”

Céline Gauthier-Darnis, EVP for MENA & APAC at Equativ, added, “I am confident that with Rueben as a leading figure, we will solidify our supply position as a key player in the region and accelerate and scale our ambitions with Demand by achieving success and exceeding expectations.”

Singapore – Global communications agency Burson, formed from the merger of WPP’s BCW and Hill & Knowlton, has announced a series of strategic appointments to its Asia-Pacific leadership team, aimed at enhancing its presence and capabilities in the region.

In Singapore, Cindy Lim is appointed as the new chief executive officer. Prior to her appointment, Lim was BCW’s CEO and market leader in Singapore. Joining her is Rikki Jones, who will take on a dual role as CEO for Burson Group Singapore and president for GCI Health Asia-Pacific. 

Burson also named Claire Li as the new CEO for Greater China. Li was formerly with Starbucks China as its vice president for communications before joining Hill & Knowlton in 2023 as its CEO for Greater China. Meanwhile, Tsuyoshi Takemura will take on the role of CEO for Burson Japan. 

Marianne Admardatine, from Hill & Knowlton, will now serve as the CEO of Burson Indonesia. Also from Hill & Knowlton, Justin Then is named the new CEO of Burson Malaysia. 

In Thailand, Burson has named Wachiraporn Pornpitayalert as its new market leader. She previously served as the managing director for Hill & Knowlton Thailand. 

On the other hand, Deepshikha Dharmaraj from BCW will also serve as the new CEO of Burson Group India. And Tom Horn, who served as the corporate practice director for Australia and New Zealand at BCW Global, will take on the new role of market leader for Burson ANZ. 

HS Chung will also continue to lead Burson Korea as CEO, in addition to her role as North APAC CEO.

Commenting on the appointments, Chung said, “In today’s fast-evolving environment, clients need the best talent and capabilities to solve their most complex challenges. With our extensive footprint and reach across APAC, clients will gain access to a diverse team of specialists with decades of experience building and protecting reputations for multinational businesses in Asia and Asian enterprises overseas.”

Adrian Warr, South APAC CEO at Burson, also shared, “Innovation and creativity are at the heart of our commitment to delivering unparalleled value for our clients in APAC. Our world-class talent will lead through exceptional creative thinking and bring innovation into action to build reputation capital as a competitive advantage for our clients, today and into the future.” 

These appointments come in the wake of this year’s merger, where WPP combined its communications agencies, Hill+Knowlton and BCW, to form Burson. This union leverages the unparalleled talent, extensive global networks, advanced technology investments, creative capabilities, and public affairs and advisory expertise of both organisations to drive reputation enhancement and value creation.

India – Dentsu has announced a significant global expansion of its pioneering innovation hub, Dentsu Lab. Alongside this announcement, Dentsu has promoted Sven Huberts to the dual role of president of global innovation and experience and president of Dentsu Lab, while Naoki Tanaka will lead Dentsu Lab Tokyo as chief creative officer. 

Dentsu’s first global labs will be opening in London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with further international labs planned for 2025. The new international network will work towards a shared mission to innovate human experiences that move people’s hearts, impact business, and improve society. 

Each lab will be overseen by dedicated local leadership, to be announced in the coming months, supported by a team of specialists focused on bringing a wide range of services to market. These services will include creative R&D that integrates contexts and technologies such as events, sports, gaming, installations, retail, new products, proposition design, new realities (AR, VR, MR), data visualisation, AI, mobile, IoT, and rapid prototyping.

The labs will be fully integrated with each other and dentsu’s offices to expand on the network’s innovation offer.

Together with this expansion, Dentsu has also appointed Huberts and Tanaka to lead the global rollout of the pioneering Dentsu Lab in Tokyo. 

In his new dual role as president of global innovation and experience and president of Dentsu Lab, Huberts is responsible not only for spearheading the global expansion of Dentsu Lab but also for scaling the mission across the network to deliver client growth via Dentsu’s combined experience and innovation capabilities.

Meanwhile, as the new chief creative officer of Dentsu Lab Tokyo, Tanaka will leverage his academic background in science and technology and years of professional experience to continuously push the boundaries of creative technology for clients.

This global initiative builds on the success of Dentsu Lab Tokyo, founded in 2014 by global chief creative officer Yasuharu Sasaki. Over the past decade, the Lab has delivered renowned projects like “All Players Welcome,” which empowers creativity for individuals with disabilities, enhanced international event ceremonies, and used algorithms and data visualisation to improve sports experiences. 

Jean Lin, global president of global practices at dentsu, said, “The launch of Dentsu Lab continues a proud 120-year tradition of innovation sitting at the core of dentsu’s offering. We know from Dentsu Lab Tokyo how powerful the outcome for society and business can be when you bring the best creative technologists together to imagine and invent. To be making this possible on a global stage is an exciting moment for dentsu, clients, and society.”

Commenting on his appointment, Huberts shared, “We are at an inflexion point of human creativity and technical sophistication where the opportunity for genuine innovation has never been so compelling. I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Naoki and our Lab leaders to empower our growing global team of creators, partners, and institutions with the most powerful technology and tools in the world to create experiences that truly touch hearts, impact business, and, most importantly, move society forward.”

Tanaka further added, “Since launching ten years ago, Dentsu Lab Tokyo has revolutionised the intersection of technology and creativity, solving societal challenges and creating visionary expressions that touch hearts and minds. Our talented international team of dreamers and innovators, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is poised to take this impact worldwide and accelerate our clients’ growth while making a profound impact on society. We take the outlier’s perspective to open up new possibilities and find new answers through play. The future isn’t just on the horizon; with Dentsu Lab’s global vision, it is here and now, ready to transform the world.”

Mumbai, India – Cheil X, an independent full-service agency under the Cheil SWA Group, has appointed Anurag Tandon as its chief growth officer.

In his new role, Tandon will be leading the newly opened Mumbai office in addition to the growth charter and expand Cheil X’s business operations in the city.

Tandon enters this role with over 20 years of experience as a seasoned business leader on units such as DDB Mudra West, and WT, Mumbai where he was responsible for managing the P&L, key client relationships and top line growth.

His other stints include Ogilvy and Leo Burnett, as well as extensive brand management experience having worked across multiple categories with large global brands like UL, Volkswagen, McDonald’s and J&J to name a few.

Speaking on his appointment, Tandon said, “Cheil’s ambition to grow its new business and build a creative reputation promises to be a journey filled with challenges and opportunities in equal measure. I’m excited to be part of building a new business ground up and I know I have the support to help realise this ambition.”

“I believe we have the vision, the expertise and the plan to quickly carve out a meaningful share of the market and establish ourselves as a key player. I am looking forward to this journey of collaborating with like-minded individuals, leveraging our collective creativity and drive to rapidly propel the Cheil X brand forward,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, Sanjeev Jasani, COO at Cheil SWA, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Anurag as he takes over the reins of our Mumbai office. Anurag is a well-known name in the industry with a reputation for delivering benchmark worthy work for clients across a wide range of industries. He is a valuable asset to the organisation and we look forward to working with him.”

Singapore – VaynerMedia has welcomed Jon Kee as its new head of client partnership for the Asia Pacific region, aiming to strengthen and enhance the agency’s client relationships. 

In his new role, Kee will be pivotal in strengthening and building key partnerships for VaynerMedia, further driving the agency’s integrated offerings and ‘social-at-the-centre’ approach across the region. 

With over two decades of experience in the digital, advertising, media, and entertainment industries, Kee is a seasoned business leader renowned for forging strategic C-level partnerships and spearheading successful sales, business development, and marketing initiatives.

His professional journey took him through dynamic companies such as Disney, Meta, and Yahoo, spanning growth markets across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. 

Tim Lindley, managing director of VaynerMedia Asia Pacific, said, “Jon is a rare find—a seasoned marketer and business leader with a futuristic vision and remarkable humility. He will be a crucial bridge between us and our client partners. These relationships are frequently tested; driving change requires bravery and commitment from our clients and empathy and hard work from our team.” 

He continued, “I am particularly excited about his non-traditional background, as it means that he hasn’t been shaped by conventional advertising agency norms. This allows him to approach the future unencumbered by outdated preconceptions. I have no doubt that Jon’s unique perspective will propel VaynerMedia to new heights across the region.”

Jon assumes his role with immediate effect and reports to Lindley. He will succeed Shrey Khetarpal, who recently took on a new role as head of consulting for Asia Pacific at VaynerMedia. 

“I also want to take a moment to thank Shrey, who has built a brilliant foundation for Jon to build upon. Shrey moves to lead our consulting division and will be a key partner to Jon as we embark on the next stage of our journey,” Lindley added. 

Talking about his appointment, Kee shared, “My two-decade career has always been aligned around digital; it made perfect sense to join a culture that is trailblazing and rewriting marketing with social at its core. The agency’s authentic, people-centric focus and Gary’s visionary leadership in driving accountable business results are truly game-changing. The exciting growth in APAC under the leadership of Tim has been particularly exciting, and I am thrilled to join VaynerMedia Asia Pacific and continue being part of that evolution.”

Australia – Creative innovation company R/GA has elevated Ben Miles to the newly established role of chief design officer for APAC, where he will spearhead design innovation across the region.

In his new role, Miles will enhance R/GA’s craftsmanship, strategic thinking, and output to achieve world-class, innovative design across APAC. He will focus on expanding the region’s design disciplines in branding, experience, and communications practices, working closely with multidisciplinary leaders in each market to realise this vision.

Miles previously served as the VP and executive creative director of brand design for APAC. Renowned as a global design leader, he is recognised for driving transformative brand work and fostering a positive company culture while championing impactful ideas rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour.

At R/GA, Miles has built a diverse and innovative team that includes some of APAC’s top brand, visual, verbal, and strategic designers. They collectively advocated the idea that brands should actively shape culture rather than just exist within it.

Miles’ leadership has been recognised with prestigious awards, and his impact extends to shaping and enhancing brands across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, including notable names like Telstra, Westpac, Powerhouse Museum and City of Sydney, Google, Nike, UOB, SingLife, IGA, Toll, SKY NZ, Foxtel, Cotton On Group, Huffer, Fed Square, Bailey Nelson, ZIG (part of CDG), Timberland, and The Prince Akatoki, as well as numerous startups. 

Speaking on his promotion, Miles said, “I joined R/GA because they intersect design and technology, and through our creative innovation model, design isn’t just visual—it’s a mindset. Design elevates businesses, equipping them with the tools to solve today’s most pressing issues and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. It navigates complexity by strengthening connections across sectors and empowering organisations to reimagine brands in innovative ways. I’m honoured by the trust R/GA has put in me to elevate our capabilities across the region.” 

Meanwhile, Tiffany Rolfe, global chair and global chief creative officer, said, “R/GA was founded on the principles of design and technology, and so this newly created role is especially significant. Ben has proven to be a skilled practitioner and inspiring leader, always designing to create impact for our clients and the world. I look forward to having his infectious passion across even more of our work and teams in APAC.” 

Michael Titshall, CEO of APAC at R/GA, added, “Ben makes the industry, R/GA, and all of us better with his passion, creativity, and innovation. In this unique role, he’ll inject his brand and design expertise, giving R/GA’s clients across the region access to unique creative solutions.” 

Singapore – AI-powered adtech company Smartly has recently announced the appointment of Bertilla Teo as CEO for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Her appointment underscores Smartly’s goal of helping advertisers succeed in a complex digital ecosystem with increasing fragmentation of channels, changing privacy regulations, and the need for efficient budget allocation across diverse markets.

Bringing over 20 years of experience in advertising, Teo boasts a proven track record of success in APAC. Prior to this role, she served as CEO of Publicis Groupe, China, where she focused on client acquisition and implementing the “Power of One” model, gaining numerous accolades for her performance within the industry.

Speaking on her appointment, Teo said, “I’m thrilled to lead Smartly’s APAC growth journey at this pivotal time. The region presents a unique landscape with varying levels of tech adoption and active digital users in highly fragmented environments.”

“Smartly’s AI-powered solutions are perfectly positioned to empower brands to navigate these complexities and achieve brand performance and growth. Together with our partners, we will unlock the full potential of growth for our customers,” she added.
 
Meanwhile, Laura Desmond, CEO at Smartly, commented, “Over the past year Bertilla has played a key role in establishing Smartly as a formidable adtech company and partner in the region. Having a robust business in APAC truly distinguishes global adtech companies, and given our recent momentum, Bertilla is the right leader to take Smartly, our partners and our clients to the next level.”

Singapore – As part of its ongoing expansion, Havas Singapore has promoted Kenny Yap to the position of chief operating officer for Havas Play, the specialised division within Havas Media Network. 

In his new role, Yap will lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives and partnerships, driving sustained growth and innovation while managing commercial and operational responsibilities. Also, part of his key priority will be expanding Havas Play’s presence throughout Southeast Asia.

Since joining Havas Singapore in 2017 as managing director, Yap has been pivotal in achieving consistent double-digit growth for the agency. He has developed a unique offering that seamlessly integrates social media, content, public relations, influencer marketing, and social media commerce. Under his leadership, the agency has significantly expanded its client roster and garnered numerous accolades, including multiple ‘Agency of the Year’ awards.

Yap will work closely with Russell Lai, chief commercial officer of Havas Media Network Singapore, and both will continue to report to Rana Barua, the group CEO for India, Southeast Asia, and North Asia at Havas. 

Speaking on the appointment, Barua shared, “Kenny has been a key member of our leadership team in Singapore, significantly enhancing the agency’s capabilities and leading to numerous new business successes. We have ambitious plans for Havas Media Network in this region, and Havas Play will be key to expanding our diverse capabilities into sports, events, culture, and multiple IPs that connect with brands and consumers, allowing us to make an effective difference and deliver impactful results. Both Russell and Kenny will continue to drive growth for the agency, working closely with me.”

Also commenting on his new role, Yap said, “I’m humbled by the recognition and excited about the growth plans for Havas Play. We have such an amazing playground of talent, intelligence, and data that enables us to offer our clients a comprehensive suite of integrated services. In addition, we have strategic alliances in the pipeline to enhance and elevate our capabilities. As we continue to scale the core business, we will amplify our efforts in additional areas such as sports, entertainment, sponsorships, and activations, creating a greater meaningful difference for our clients and audience.”

Singapore – AnyMind Group, a BPaaS company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation, has today announced two leadership appointments including Steven Tan, managing director of e-commerce enablement for Malaysia, and Koichiro Izawa, managing director of accounting and financial control.

Tan and Izawa’s appointments serve to strengthen the e-commerce business and finance department of AnyMind Group, alongside its goal of consistent global expansion.

Tan joins AnyMind Group through the acquisition of Arche Digital, a Malaysia-based e-commerce enabler that he founded in 2015, and continues to serve as managing director of the company. He also worked as a research scientist and research scholar, before taking up managerial and leadership roles in medical supplies and electronics companies.

Izawa on the other hand, joined Sakura Bank (currently Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation) in 1998. After working for a major audit firm, he joined a venture company in 2005 and took it public, leading the development of its management structure after the IPO. After that, he worked as a finance director for several foreign manufacturers in Japan and Southeast Asia, where he was involved in a wide range of operations centred on accounting and finance.

On his appointment, Tan said, “As we continue expanding synergies between Arche Digital and AnyMind Group, I am looking forward to playing an active role in supporting the management of the wider group. I believe that both companies will continue going from strength to strength, and I’m keen to use my experience gained throughout my career to help AnyMind accelerate business growth in Malaysia and beyond and enhance AnyMind’s BPaaS capabilities.”

On his appointment, Izawa also mentioned, “AnyMind is a rapidly growing company in the global marketplace, and strengthening the finance department is essential to further accelerate our growth. I hope to contribute to AnyMind’s sustainable growth by leveraging my past experience to strengthen AnyMind’s finance structure. In particular, I will help AnyMind to increase the company’s transparency and credibility by improving its accounting processes’ efficiency and accuracy as well as accurate financial reporting.”

Meanwhile, Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder of AnyMind Group, commented, “We have appointed two leaders to strengthen internal structures in our e-commerce business and finance department. We will continue to expand our business globally and advance a borderless world where everyone can do business more easily through our technology.”

Singapore – StackAdapt, a multi-channel advertising platform, has announced the appointment of Deirdre Chew as its new director of sales for Southeast Asia to advance the company’s growth plan in the Asian region.

Chew brings fifteen years of experience in the agency and digital advertising industries. In her new role, Chew will focus on spearheading the market expansion of StackAdapt’s programmatic footprint across the SEA region. 

As the new director of sales, she will drive strategic regional initiatives and commercial partnerships to secure business growth, deliver a streamlined operating model to provide optimal customer experiences, and motivate and mentor colleagues to excel in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. 

Before joining StackAdapt, Chew spent ten years at Google, where she most recently led a team of measurement specialists in Asia, assisting customers in managing privacy concerns and optimising data-driven performance.

At Google, Chew played a pivotal role in launching the company’s programmatic advertising business across Asia from 2014 to 2019. In the following year, she implemented Google’s technology partner strategy, concentrating on analytics and advanced solutions. Additionally, Chew also served as a regional digital manager at MEC in Asia and worked at iCrossing in the US market.

Speaking on her appointment, Chew said, “StackAdapt is leading the market in AI-powered digital advertising and delivering tremendous results for brands by prioritising flexible business partnerships and a customer-centric approach.” 

“The value proposition that StackAdapt provides to brands was a compelling reason to join the company, and I’m excited for the opportunity to create and accelerate a substantial business across Asia,” she added. 

Chew’s appointment follows that of Liam McCarten, who was recently announced as the new VP of sales for StackAdapt Asia-Pacific in February. McCarten said the appointment of Chew will fast-track the company’s presence among key brands in Asia. 

“We are extremely excited to welcome Deirdre to StackAdapt. I believe it’s another example of our ambition and willingness to attract top talent from across the industry. Beyond being impressed with Deirdre’s track record, what has stood out is her client- and agency-centric mindset. She will be a key member of our leadership team and a contributor to StackAdapt’s growth across Asia,” McCarten shared.