Tag: Appointment

Singapore – Global unified adtech platform Nexxen has recently announced the appointment of Gretchen Johnson as chief people officer.

In her new role, Johnson will lead Nexxen’s human resources and talent acquisition teams, focusing on culture and employee development to ensure the company continues to hire and retain best-in-class talent.

Prior to her appointment, Johnson served as chief people officer at Siprocal, a gaming distribution, monetization and engagement platform. She also holds prior experience in the advertising technology sphere, as senior vice president, human resources director at Aegis Media, acquired by Dentsu; and vice president and group director of talent management at Digitas, the integrated marketing services brand within Publicis Groupe.

Speaking on her own appointment, Johnson said, “This is an exciting time to join Nexxen, with its customer-centric culture where both talent and innovation thrive. I look forward to working closely with the teams here to ensure these values are elevated through strategic HR initiatives.”

Meanwhile, Ofer Druker, chief executive officer at Nexxen, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Gretchen Johnson to our team. The breadth and depth of her knowledge in orchestrating high-value human resources initiatives will enable us to align our people and organisation with our commercial strategy and execution.”

“Nexxen is the sum of our most valuable assets – our people – and through culture and employee development, Gretchen will help usher our organisation into a new stage of growth,” he added.

Tokyo, Japan – Telecommunications company Ericsson has recently announced the appointment of Chafic Nassif as its new head of market area for Northeast Asia as well as its new senior vice president. 

In his new role, Nassif will be overseeing Ericsson’s operations and market strategies in the Northeast Asia region and will be fortifying Ericsson’s position in the rapidly evolving telecommunications and technology landscape.

Nassif, who is currently head of Ericsson’s customer unit in Latin America North, will be replacing Chris Houghton who was appointed chief operating officer of Ericsson in November 2023. Effective on February 26, 2024, Nassif will take up his new position and will be based in Japan.

Prior to his roles, Nassif held several executive and management positions within Ericsson across various business segments and geographies worldwide. He was also the head of Ericsson’s customer unit in Taiwan. Before joining Ericsson, Nassif was active in tech start-ups and IT and business consulting leadership roles in Europe.

Speaking on his appointment, Nassif said, “I am truly honoured and excited to assume this new role. Having been part of the leadership team of Ericsson in Northeast Asia before, I’m confident in our talented team and the foundation of success that Ericsson has established. Together, we will focus on creating innovative solutions and delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners.”

Meanwhile, Börje Ekholm, president and CEO of Ericsson, commented, “I’m very happy that Chafic has accepted to take on this role. He brings a wealth of experience from working for Ericsson across the globe and is a strong business leader with a proven track record. He is passionate about advancements in connectivity, 5G technology, and any form of smart entrepreneurship. I’m very much looking forward to having Chafic on the Executive Team.”

Nassif’s appointment as head of market area for Northeast Asia follows Ericsson’s efforts to bolster their presence globally, with the company recently appointing Daniel Ode as head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines & Brunei.

China – Indian programmatic ad-tech platform Xapads Media has announced its foray into the Chinese market, appointing industry veteran Huang Xu as country head of China in the process.

Building upon established connections and fruitful partnerships in China, Xapads Media’s expansion aims to extend its presence in the region by establishing a local office.

The ad-tech firm’s expansion plan comes into effect after successfully creating a footprint in the Indian digital advertising sector and establishing operational offices in the UAE, US, Indonesia, Russia, and Singapore.

As China’s digital ad market continues to expand, Xapads is excited to explore new opportunities and plans to leverage their premium ad inventories, offering customised products and services tailored to meet the specific needs of the agencies and brands.

Being appointed as country head, Xu has more than 12 years of experience in the Chinese market and prior to joining Xapads, he has held positions with Inmobi, Ironsource, and Appnext.

Speaking on his appointment, Xu said, “I’m enthusiastic about achieving outstanding outcomes for Xapads in China. With our extensive product team, we’re committed to delivering fully localised products and services ensuring benefits for both advertisers and partners.”

Adding to this, Ramneek Chadha, chief operating officer, Xapads Media, mentioned, “I am thrilled to have him join the Xapads family. Adhering to the existing Chinese connections, I anticipate he will strengthen global relationships with partners and extensively contribute to establishing steady ground for Xapads in the region.”

Meanwhile, Nitin Gupta, CEO of Xapads Media, commented, “We’re thrilled to commence our strategic journey in China with the addition of seasoned leader Huang Xu as the Country Head. With his expertise in navigating the intricate digital advertising landscape, we envision a future marked by fruitful partnerships and collective growth in this dynamic market.”

Auckland, New Zealand – The Interactive Advertising Bureau New Zealand (IAB New Zealand) has appointed Angelina Farry as the organisation’s new chief executive officer.

Angelina brings with her over 20 years of experience in the New Zealand advertising industry. She has worked for large network agencies, including DDB Aotearoa, Saatchi & Saatchi, and TBWA\NZ Group.

She previously served as the managing director of TBWA\NZ Group’s Eleven. She has also previously run her own agency business.

In her new role, Angelina will work closely with the IAB New Zealand Board, including chair and Warner Bros senior manager of digital Stephen Old, TVNZ general manager digital commercial Robert Hutchinson, Google head of platforms Craig Whitaker, Mi9 managing director Rhys Heron, MediaWorks general manager digital and operations Gareth Codd, NZME chief digital and publishing officer Carolyn Luey, head of Meta Spencer Bailey, Stuff managing director brand connections Matt Headland, and MetService general manager interactive Craig Delany.

Commenting on the appointment, Stephen Old said, “The IAB New Zealand sits in a unique position within the digital advertising industry, connecting our members across the entire value chain, from advertisers, advertising agencies, publishers, research, recruitment, and tech companies. Shaping our industry is important to us, and we’re excited to have Angelina join the team with her extensive leadership and communications industry experience.”

Also speaking on her new role, Angelina shared, “There is some incredible work being done by New Zealanders in the digital space, and globally, innovation is moving at an unprecedented pace. It’s an exciting time to be joining the team, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the board, the councils, and the IAB’s global network to empower Kiwi businesses to thrive in a digital economy.”

“The IAB New Zealand plays a key role in the nation’s digital growth, and membership enables local businesses to be part of that conversation. We are looking forward to rolling out a comprehensive calendar of activity and events to help our members upskill, connect, and drive their businesses forward,” she added. 

Singapore – Self-serve programmatic advertising platform StackAdapt has recently announced the appointment of Liam McCarten as VP of sales, APAC.

In his new role, McCarten will be leading operations in the region as it embarks on its next phase of growth, and will have the remit to manage APAC with an initial focus on Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Japan.

McCarten joins StackAdapt with the experience of having worked at Meta for the past nine years, holding sales leadership roles in New York, London and Singapore. Previously he held the role of director for Global Business Group APAC, leading the health, beauty, luxury and technology verticals, where he supported the largest brands and agencies across the region.

Speaking on his appointment, McCarten said that he joined StackAdapt due to the company’s strong growth prospects, innovative technology, and commitment to client and agency centricity.

“StackAdapt has strong momentum and is on track to be a valuable marketing technology partner in the digital media buying market across APAC. We have industry-leading machine learning and AI capabilities, a patented contextual solution, first-party data integration capabilities, and multi-channel marketing offerings, enabling our clients to thrive,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vitaly Pecherskiy, CEO and co-founder of StackAdapt, commented, “As a growing global technology company, we see tremendous opportunity in the APAC market and are excited to welcome Liam to the team to help us scale in the region. The diverse nature of the APAC market calls for a tailored, precise approach to create value, and we are excited to power marketers throughout the region with the performance-driven capabilities of our product.”

Singapore – TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Apple’s custom global creative agency, has appointed Stuart Alexander as group creative director for Australia. Alexander will report directly to Brent Anderson, the chief creative officer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab. Additionally, he will work closely with Jake Donaghey, the agency’s general manager. 

Throughout his career, Alexander has shown to be a leader at multiple Australian agencies, including BMF, Leo Burnett, and The Monkeys. His works include the design of a car powered by human attention for the RAC, Palau Pledge campaign, which was used in changing immigration laws in Palau, and Telstra’s significant initiative to permanently free payphones in Australia. 

Speaking about the appointment, Anderson said, “Stuart comes with a proven track record for creating work that has moved people, rippled culture, and instigated behavioural change. I am thrilled to welcome him to Media Arts Lab and for him to drive forward our work in Australia. His talent and energy will help us continue to create impact for Apple.” 

Meanwhile, Alexander said, “Media Arts Lab has a long and storied history of impeccably crafted work that impacts culture — a goal I have long strived to accomplish through my creative work. To say that I’m excited is an understatement and I can’t wait to share some exciting work already in development.” 

Singapore – Mandai Wildlife Group has just recently announced its appointment of TBWA\Singapore as its new creative agency of record for their next phase of transformation, following the end of Mandai’s seven-year partnership with The Secret Little Agency. 

With TBWA\Singapore acquiring Mandai’s business portfolio, the agency’s responsibilities now extend across all facets of building a destination brand experience which will span the group’s multiple award-winning flagship zoological parks and other offerings in its pipeline.

Talking about this new partnership, Belina Lee, deputy CEO, transformation & growth, Mandai Wildlife Group, said, “TBWA\Singapore’s marketing expertise and passion are compelling and inspirational, and the team demonstrated strong strategic acumen.”

“Our ambition is to anchor our masterbrand, Mandai as a global biodiversity brand, and grow recognition and affinity for the Mandai Wildlife Reserve at home and around the world. We aim to be a meaningful and much desired destination for local residents and global travellers seeking diverse experiences ranging from unique wildlife encounters, immersive dining experiences to inspiring digital engagement and much more,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Mandy Wong, president of TBWA\Singapore, commented, “This is a significant win for the agency and one I’m incredibly proud of. Our ambition as The Disruption Company is to build the world’s strongest brands, and to be given this opportunity to take Mandai to the next level is truly an honour.” 

“With Mandai as a biodiversity brand, it is a treasure trove of endless wonder, and an inspiring canvas for meaningful creativity. I congratulate the entire team who were nothing short of impressive with their synergy and big platform thinking,” she ended.

Singapore – LePub APAC’s Singapore office has announced the appointment of four key leaders, namely Belynda Sim-Mak as cultural strategist, with Mark Peeters and Robert Nelk serving as associate creative directors. Sergey Mast has also joined as the creative director of art and technology. 

Sim-Mak just joined LePub as a cultural strategist, having previously served as the head of strategy, APAC at VCCP Singapore. With over two decades of experience developing brand and communications strategy, she adds to LePub’s goal of improving people’s lives through culturally relevant brand experiences.

Peeters and Nelk, who were credited for creating The Next Rembrandt while living in Amsterdam, relocated to Singapore in 2019. The previous year, they were formally added to LePub’s squad.

Throughout his more than ten-year career, Mast has been helping several organisations find fresh ways to convey their stories and build relationships between technology, innovation, and advertising. 

Speaking about Sim-Mak’s appointment, Hanh Kanssen, managing director, LePub APAC, said, “Bel is a very strategic hire for LePub APAC: going into year two of operation, we will have an even greater focus on our unique creative proposition of helping brands to find a seat at the table of culture. Bel will also build our Data & Culture Lab at our LePub APAC hub in Singapore, strengthening its proposition and our diverse offers for clients in the arena of cultural branding.” 

Meanwhile, Cyril Louis, executive creative director at LePub APAC, stated, “When we opened our doors in late 2022, LePub APAC offered a new kind of agency that’s globally connected and locally relevant, helping brands to deliver experiences that matter enough to live in culture. Already, we’ve won eight Cannes Lions and grown our client portfolio to include some of the world’s most ambitious brands. Now our momentum continues with four outstanding creative thinkers joining the LePub APAC family.” 

Singapore – TBWA Asia has appointed Peter Khoury, the current chief creative officer of TBWA, to the position of regional chief creative officer as well as the chief creative officer for TBWA Singapore, effective January 1st. Khoury will work from TBWA’s Singapore offices. 

As chief creative officer of TBWA\Singapore, Khoury works closely with president of TBWA\Singapore, Mandy Wong, as well as deputy executive creative director Loo Yong Ping and executive creative director Asheen Naidu. Together, they are in charge of the agency’s clientele, which consists of companies like Hilton, National Arts Council, Singapore Airlines, and NCS, among others. 

In addition to his position at TBWA\Singapore as chief creative officer, Khoury will take on additional duties in his role as regional chief creative officer. He will work closely with the regional creative leadership team in this expanded role, which consists of Veradis Vinyaratn (Mike), chairman of TBWA\Thailand, Melvin Mangada, chief creative officer at TBWA\SMP Philippines, Takahiro Hosoda, chief creative officer at TBWA\Hakuhodo, Ronnie Wu, chief creative officer at TBWA\China, and Takahiro Hosoda. 

Khoury took over as creative lead, global, after moving from TBWA\NEBOKO in the Netherlands, where he worked on the adidas account. Prior to this change, he spent eight years as the chief creative officer at TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, where he made a major contribution to the agency’s numerous years of straight individual agency accolades.

Speaking about the appointment, Sean Donovan, president, TBWA\Asia, said, “As we gear up for a new year and a new level of Disruption and growth, Peter joining us reinforces our continuous commitment to re-invent how we create ongoing value and deliver sustainable creative solutions for our clients. A dynamic world requires a dynamic approach.” 

He added, “Perhaps I’m biased, having worked with Peter in South Africa for many years, but I can attest to his outstanding creative capabilities and the vital role he played in the growth and creative success of TBWA\Hunt Lascaris. His impact has already been felt, and I’m excited to see more of this in the coming months.” 

Meanwhile, Mandy Wong, president of TBWA\Singapore, said, “We entered 2023 with ambitious targets, and closed off having exceeded our plan. As we set our sights on 2024, I’m delighted to welcome Peter to the agency, and the region.”

Global – Havas has announced new leadership appointments, including Alberto Canteli, as chairman and CEO of Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, who will take on additional global duties. Rana Barua, as group CEO of Havas India, will now supervise South East and North Asia.

Barua, who is based in Mumbai, will take on further duties that will cover North and South East Asia. In his new role as group CEO for India, South East & North Asia, Barua’s duties have expanded to encompass overseeing nine more markets. 

Throughout his nearly three-decade career, Barua has spent the last five years overseeing Havas’ operations in India, which employ over 2,000 people across Havas Creative Network and Havas Media Network. 

Alberto Canteli, who is based in Dubai, will continue to lead Havas Nordics, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East as chairman and CEO. He will also take on additional duties, working with Donna Murphy, global CEO of Havas Creative Network and Havas Health & You, to supervise special projects. 

Canteli has changed its focus area to be the identification of global growth possibilities and the development of practical plans. This includes looking into potential new clients, growing the services offered, and supporting cross-selling campaigns. Canteli has been with Havas for a long time and has been in the company’s global expansion for more than 20 years. 

Speaking about his appointment, Barua expressed, “I am extremely excited and thankful to the global leadership team for entrusting me with this additional responsibility. These nine distinct markets in South East & North Asia, provide multiple and diverse occasions for collaboration for both our global and local clients. I look forward to working closely with the regional teams and each country’s leadership to create more meaningful engagements and opportunities for our talent and clients.” 

Meanwhile, Canteli said, “During moments like these of continued disruption and transformation, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my regional responsibilities in Europe and the Middle East with a new role that will facilitate a closer collaboration with our global leadership team. AI, Web 3.0 and Blockchain among other advancements, will have a strong impact on our industry and it will be a privilege to contribute to the transformation and turnaround of our business moving forward.” 

Furthermore, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO, Havas, commented, “I would like to warmly congratulate Alberto and Rana on their new, expanded roles. Their proven leadership skills, vast expertise and innovative thinking will create new synergies and accelerate growth, allowing our teams to further build on Havas’ integrated approach and offer our clients the best possible outcomes.”