Tag: Appointment

Philippines – After dedicating two and a half years to the company, John Richard (Chad) Sotelo announced he had been appointed as the inaugural chief marketing officer of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC). This is concurrent with his role as senior vice president and business unit general manager for RLC Residences.

In a recent exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Sotelo unveiled his strategic vision to unlock added value for the business by embracing customer-centricity. He emphasised the importance of delving deeper into understanding their customers’ needs and preferences.

According to Sotelo, understanding customers on a deeper level is a fundamental aspect of marketing, and he is committed to making sure that every marketer in the RLC becomes an expert on it. 

Among the things he’s looking forward to prioritising in his new role are maintaining constant and meaningful conversations with customers, handling customer data with the utmost respect for privacy, deriving insights into customer behaviour from consented information, and ensuring that data is treated as actionable insights that flow to the right people at the right time rather than staying as mere statistics.

“There are a lot of untapped opportunities for RLC when we look at things from the customers’ perspective: how they experience each business and how we can improve that by having the different business units work closer together. There’s also tremendous value to be unlocked as we take a step back and look at how RLC can work with the other business units in the Gokongwei Group,” Sotelo told MARKETECH APAC. 

Reflections on the leadership journey at RLC 

For Sotelo, the last two and a half years have been an eye-opening experience, having to work on and ultimately learn a new industry that is different from his previous ones. 

Before joining RLC, Sotelo was working in various industries, including consumer electronics, beauty, and FMCG. Having to transition from these industries to real estate and property development, he considers his journey with RLC to be one that is ‘delightful’ and ‘educational’. 

He shared, “A lot of my reflections have been from the point-of-view of an ‘outsider’ to the industry, yet as a ‘veteran’ of using the industry’s product. One thing that really stands out for me is how growth-oriented the industry is, yet the knowledge of the customer is still not as deep as it can be. I’m very excited about how RLC can get even better once it gets to be an expert at knowing its customers, getting insights from this knowledge, and translating those insights into action that brings more value to the customer, hopefully in a unique and differentiated way.” 

Navigating the challenges of real estate marketing in the Philippines 

Sotelo believes that real estate brands are currently facing the challenge of maintaining their relevance to customers, a trend he sees will continue for the next two to three years from now. 

Looking at the current economic climate, inflation remains elevated and is showing no signs of decline yet. High banking interest rates also persist. Furthermore, emerging from a recent pandemic has left many feeling uncertain, impacting confidence levels worldwide. These factors are posing challenges to the real estate industry locally and globally. 

According to him, the real estate sectors continue to face distinct hurdles: commercial properties grapple with the shift towards remote work, while hotels, resorts, and malls benefit from a resurgence in tourism. Although residential real estate shows signs of recovery, it has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Nonetheless, Sotelo is determined to face these challenges as he steps into his new role. He underscored the importance of focusing on giving customers options that will serve their current needs, something that RLC will be focusing their attention on with Sotelo now heading their marketing strategies. 

“RLC is a well-diversified real estate company, and we will continue to offer customers a broad portfolio of choices that hopefully should cater to their needs. As of YTD (year to date) September 2023, all of our business units were doing extremely well and growing at a fast pace,” Sotelo stated. 

In his LinkedIn post, Sotelo also shared, “[I am] proud and honoured to be appointed as the first ever Chief Marketing Officer of Robinsons Land Corporation, concurrent to my current role in leading the RLC Residences division. I get to put back on my marketing geek hat! To say I’m excited is an understatement! Thank you, Sir Lance Gokongwei, for the trust! ” 

South Korea – Korean Air has appointed Jongheon Sim (Jong) as its new chief communications officer. Jong, a communicator and aviation industry veteran, will be handling the airline’s communication strategies and public relations. 

After working for the airline for 27 years in a variety of roles, including operations, communications, and external relations, Jong developed his communication skills. He became the airline’s managing director in December 2022 and became the deputy chief communications officer as well. He oversaw the airline’s social media and digital communications team before this assignment. 

He began his career in 1997 as a passenger business representative for Korean Air and went on to advance in airport operations in Incheon, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York. In 2008, he took over as team head of airport operations in Seattle. In 2017, he moved to New York’s JFK airport, which is a major international hub for Korean Air, as general manager and head of the airport service team. 

Because of his background in international relations, Jong was assigned to work at the airline’s HRDC, where he was in charge of staff training before sending them abroad.

Thailand–Advertising agency Leo Burnett has appointed Prasert Vijitpawan as the new chief creative officer in Thailand. 

In his new role, Vijitpawan will work with major clients, including Nescafé, McDonald’s, First Choice, Samsung, Suntory’s Brands, Lotus’s, Kubota, and Visa. 

Vijitpawan is known as an exceptional creative who has received numerous awards from prestigious award-giving bodies such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio, New York Festivals, The One Show to Spikes Asia, ADFEST, and many more. 

During his first tenure with Publicis Groupe, he spent five years at Saatchi & Saatchi Thailand and left in 2011. Prior to his appointment at Leo Burnett, Vijitpawan spent 13 years at Ogilvy Thailand, where he amassed a number of awards and accolades. 

Speaking on the appointment, Thipayachand Hasdin, CEO at Leo Burnett Thailand, said, “Prasert’s appointment signifies a pivotal moment for Leo Burnett Thailand. Being among Thailand’s foremost creative talents, his presence underscores our dedication to creating impactful and culturally resonant brand narratives rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour. With Prasert on board, we’re poised to embark on a thrilling new chapter.” 

Ajay Thrivikraman, chief creative officer at Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia, also stated, “Leo Burnett Thailand, with its world-class talent, is renowned globally for its memorably great creative work that makes Thai advertising unique. We believe that Prasert has the calibre and capability to lead this agency into the future.” 

Meanwhile, commenting on his new role, Vijitpawan remarked, “Leo Burnett Thailand is one of the outstanding stars in the Leo Burnett global network, so it is a huge honour to be part of the team again. I have long admired the audacious bravery of Leo Burnett’s work, its visionary clients, and our shared belief that creativity has the power to transform human behaviour.” 

Sydney, Australia – Multinational advertising and public relations company Publicis Groupe has announced the appointment of Clare Pickens as CEO of Leo Burnett Australia.

Being picked out in a global search for Leo Burnett Australia’s next CEO, Pickens will then be taking the helm of the agency in April.

Prior to her appointment, Pickens worked in various roles at Wieden+Kennedy based in Amsterdam and London. She led brand strategy and creative quality, delivering on business objectives for brands including Uber, Nike, Mondelez, Instagram, Heineken, P&G, Netflix, Diageo, Levi’s and Booking.com.

She was also previously Global Managing Director of creative agency Red & Co. and was most recently Managing Director of HERC Amsterdam.

Speaking on her appointment, Pickens said, “I am deeply excited by the opportunity to join the Leo Burnett team in Australia. Being part of such an established group with a legacy of effective and quality creative work is a great privilege. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping usher in a new phase of progressive partnership and business solutions with our wide client base.”

Meanwhile, Michael Rebelo, CEO of Publicis Groupe ANZ, commented, “Clare is a leader who has worked across multiple markets and client categories, with a progressive view on creativity and what it takes to deliver innovative and effective work. Her commercial acumen has been honed leading creative agencies focused on building business through creativity. We are excited to bring such a unique international leader to Australia to lead Leo Burnett.”

Singapore – APRW, a local integrated communications agency based in Singapore, has announced its appointment as the official public relations agency for Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2024.

Through this appointment, APRW will be playing a pivotal role in managing media relations, elevating the profile and prestige of the event, and contributing to the global discourse on maritime excellence.

As the official PR agency for SMW, APRW is committed to promoting international relationships and advancing the maritime sector by leveraging its strategic communication skills.

Talking about the appointment, Cho Pei Lin, managing director of APRW, shared, “This marks our agency’s significant voyage into the maritime industry. Anchored in passion and propelled by expertise, the Singapore Maritime Week 2024 is set to make waves like never before.”

“Together, we will chart a course for a week filled with groundbreaking conferences with key industry leaders, strategic partnerships, meaningful networking sessions, and the celebration of the maritime spirit,” she added.

Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), this year’s SMW will feature conferences for topics in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and talent development in the maritime industry, solidifying Singapore’s standing as a global hub port and leading international maritime centre.

Sydney, Australia – The LEGO Group has announced its renewed marketing leadership in Australia & New Zealand, with the appointment of Justine McKenny as its new senior director, head of marketing.

In her new role, McKenny will be responsible for taking leadership of The LEGO Group’s marketing teams in Australia and New Zealand, and will be aiming to push the brand’s marketing efforts across the region. 

Prior to this role, McKenny joined the LEGO Group in 2009 as a marketing assistant, and over the past 15 years she has progressed through the marketing organisation, launching many successful campaigns and new themes, as well as managing an evolving portfolio to lead the Brand team.

In 2021, she was promoted to brand director for Australia and New Zealand, where she was the lead architect in the redesign of the LEGO portfolio differentiation strategy and market principles.

Speaking on McKenny’s appointment, Troy Taylor, vice president & general manager at LEGO Australia & New Zealand, said, “We are so pleased to promote a home-grown talent in Justine to our Head of Marketing role for Australia & New Zealand. Australia is such an important market for the LEGO Group and we felt that Justine’s passion and vision for the LEGO brand, along with her energy and ideas around people development and leadership stood out through the recruitment process.”

“Justine also has a solid track record of delivering results, and has managed and brought to life pretty much our entire theme portfolio over her journey, making her the ideal candidate to take our marketing efforts to the next level in the years ahead,” he added.

Notably, McKenny’s appointment comes after recent leadership appointments in the Asia Pacific region, with Claus Kristensen as the new senior vice president and Uma Ramanan as the new head of marketing for APAC.

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.