Tag: Appointment

Sydney, Australia – Market research firm Kantar Australia has recently announced the promotion of Mark Kennedy and Colin MacArthur into the joint role of managing partner, consulting, at Kantar Australia. They will be replacing Dennis Wong who is leaving Kantar after 15 years to pursue his own professional interests.

In their new roles, Kennedy and MacArthur will be leading Kantar’s consulting department together, leveraging the unique set of skills housed within Kantar’s consulting team across its Australia business and clients. 

Prior to his appointment, Kennedy spent his 10 years at Kantar, where he led an extensive portfolio of blue-chip clients in Europe, Asia and the USA, and is respected by his peers and clients for delivering ‘marketing inspiration’ that is simple and actionable, all solidifying his reputation as a strategic leader.

Overall, he possesses 30 years of experience in the design, marketing, and strategy sectors in both client and agency worlds, including global leadership positions at Landor Associates and Blue Marlin Brand Design as well as leadership roles at South African Breweries International and Design Works.

On the other hand, MacArthur has been working in the insight and consulting space of Kantar for over 20 years. Prior to joining Kantar eight years ago, he built his career at Jigsaw Strategic Research and The Leading Edge in Australia, and at Hall & Partners and KPMG Nunwood in the UK. 

MacArthur is also a passionate member of Kantar’s Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing Committee and supports not-for-profit organisations on campaigns focused on greater inclusion and diversity and health outcomes for the LGBTGQI+ community. 

Speaking on his appointment, Kennedy said, “I am thrilled and honoured to take on the role of joint Managing Partner for Kantar’s Consulting practice in Australia. The client and consulting landscapes are evolving rapidly, and, alongside Colin, I look forward to bridging these worlds together to drive growth, build connections and shape the future.”

Also commenting on his own appointment, MacArthur added, “In this ongoing period of flux and change in the domestic and global markets that we work in, my excitement of taking on this role with Mark stems from the prospect of bringing my strategic vision, operational expertise, and client-focused approach to drive growth and success for both Kantar and our clients.”

Meanwhile, Jon Foged, managing director for Kantar Australia, mentioned, “I am excited about this partnership as Mark and Colin already have a close and trusted relationship with each other and the wider Kantar team, they have complementary strengths they can amplify together in this role, they are experts that our clients respect, and they are passionate and enthusiastic leaders”.

Singapore – As a key to further advancing the leadership across the region, S4Capital’s digital operating arm, Media.Monks, has appointed Matthew Godfrey as the new executive vice president and head of content for the APAC region.

Having more than 15 years of experience, Godfrey has an extensive background in innovation and creative business management, bringing together the company’s entrepreneurial drive as well as the capacity to develop its aspirations.

For this role, he aspires to position the company towards a new era, introducing “We Are Now” mission, an initiative aimed at driving industries forward, charting a course toward ambitious outcomes, and enabling clients and individuals to unlock their complete growth potential.

He also intends to leverage creative innovation and cutting-edge technology for a more efficient delivery scale, impact, and among APAC’s leading and fast-moving brands. 

Initial plans for his term include the company’s expansion into key markets such as China, Australia, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, which will be supported by content excellence hub offices in Malaysia and India.

Following this remarkable feat, Matthew shared his enthusiasm about this role, stating, “The content industry is now at a very dynamic time. As global leaders in AI, social media, and all digital platforms, Media.Monks is ideally placed to help APAC brands create and orchestrate powerful and efficient communication solutions. The opportunity for innovation has never been greater, and I’m excited to help APAC clients gain a competitive advantage by accessing our incredible talent.”

On the other hand, Bruno Lambertini, co-CEO, content, at Media.Monks, also stressed the importance of Matthew’s appointment, saying, “Matt has everything we are looking for as we reshape our leadership structure at Media.Monks in APAC. With an extensive background in the region and a wealth of knowledge based on his experience in the market, we are confident Matt is the right person to drive the business forward, fostering our client relations.

“He will add a lot of value to our vision, especially when it comes to the single P&L and single brand, along with our mission to shift industries forward by reshaping how businesses interact with the world,” Lambertini concluded.

With this appointment, Godfrey will work with Kenny Griffiths, the managing director of APAC of data, digital, and media, in which they will connect a single global P&L model to the next level in APAC.

Manila, Philippines – DDB Philippines, a full-service marketing communications and services network in the country, has officially announced the appointments of Sarah De Joya and Kelvin Co as the agency’s new executive creative directors.

This appointment comes after the launch of its latest advertising campaign, ‘The Power to Move, an initiative that seeks to leverage the power of emotional storytelling, innovative ideas, and cutting-edge technology in developing brand campaigns.

Equipped with her forward-thinking approach to the Asian creative landscape, Sarah’s competence in producing business-impacting solutions in the industry will be a great asset to the agency. In particular, the recent campaign entitled “The Power to Move” aligns with her expertise in the ethos field.

Speaking about her appointment, Sarah shared, “My vision at DDB Philippines is to craft stories that resonate on a deeper emotional level, moving beyond traditional advertising to create experiences that genuinely touch lives and drive action.”

Kelvin, on the other hand, has a track record of award-winning campaigns and the ability to engage audiences in meaningful ways. His expertise in blending art with technology is instrumental in bringing this new project to existence.

“I believe in the synergy of creativity and technology to create campaigns that are not just visually stunning but also emotionally compelling and socially impactful,” said Co.

Anna Chua-Norbert, managing director at DDB Philippines, commented on this new era ushered in by these appointments, stating, “With Sarah and Kelvin at the helm, ‘The Power to Move’ becomes more than a proposition—it’s our commitment to our clients and the industry. We are set to create work that doesn’t just stand out but stands for something, driving real-world impact.”

Under their leadership, De Joya and Co are poised to revolutionise brand engagement and inspiration, advancing the agency’s vision to create campaigns that go beyond capturing the interest of their audiences—one that resonates with and moves them on an intimate level.

Indonesia – Digital Classifieds Group (DCG) has appointed Salvatore Britti as chief marketing officer, while Mohammad Rafatnejad has been named chief operating officer. 

Following the acquisition of the real estate marketplace Lamudi in Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as BProperty.com from Dubizzle Group (previously EMPG), DCG, based in Australia, has begun a leadership turnover.

Following Britti, who moved to his new capacity after nearly three years of managing DCG’s technology, R&D, and marketing projects, Rafatnejad took up the role following him in the succession.

Rafatnejad was previously the chief commercial officer at the listings marketplace Kaidee.com, which was acquired by the car marketplace Carro from EMPG at the time.

Rafatnejad also worked as a senior growth director at the Turkish real estate site Emlakjet.com. He graduated with honours from Allameh Tabataba’i University with a master’s degree in marketing management and Sharif University of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering.

Britti has worked for DCG for more than nine years, where he focuses on marketing and product development.

He received a bachelor’s degree from John Cabot University with a major in marketing and a minor in communication after studying marketing at the University of Miami with a communication minor. 

Indonesia – China-based entrepreneurial public relations and marketing services firm Influence Matters has officially expanded its operations in Southeast Asia with the opening of a new Indonesia hub and the appointment of Emily Xu as managing partner.

The firm’s expansion comes as it adapts to its clients’ expanding regional focus for fast-growing economies, including the SEA region.

Influence Matters’s new office in Indonesia will serve as their hub for SEA operations; it will accompany Chinese B2B tech companies planning to enter the country and the region. The new office will also be working on strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones with like-minded agencies in each market in the region.

The PR and marketing firm aims to provide clients seeking evermore effective and impactful PR programmes with an agency that understands their business, technologies, products, and local market dynamics.

It strategically chose Indonesia, a country with the fastest-growing economy in Asia, for cross-border businesses, with a particular focus on IT, fintech, smart industry, and smart logistics.

Meanwhile, as part of its expansion, Influence Matters also named Xu its new managing partner. A consummate corporate communications strategist, she has been working with the firm for over six years in operational and strategic positions.

In her new role, Xu will oversee and develop the agency’s growing cross-border corporate communications business for international companies in China and Chinese companies expanding in Asia.

Simon Vericel, managing director and founder of Influence Matters, said, “Influence Matters’ mission has always been to bring innovators closer together and innovations closer to markets and customers in Asia by delivering influence through storytelling that reaches business leaders and technology adopters.”

He added, “Our PR and digital communication programmes have helped numerous technology innovators find customers, investors, and partners in China; we are proud to now bring our expertise to SEA and connect more innovators together.”

India – Interactive indoor theme park chain KidZania has announced the appointment of Hasmukh M. Gorava as its new marketing head in India.

In his new role, Gorava will lead KidZania India’s marketing efforts, including building campaigns and communication strategies in interactive media and direct marketing programs.

His remit also covers developing pricing strategies to maximise KidZania’s profit and monitoring trends to identify new offers and services to boost visitor attendance.

Gorava will leverage his more than 13 years of experience in consumer marketing, brand promotions, and 360° media planning to achieve KidZania’s goals for brand expansion and enhanced engagement.

Prior to his new appointment, he played several key roles, including serving as DGM of marketing at themed entertainment destination Imagicaa, where he was pivotal in planning the go-to-market strategy. His strategic efforts aided the company in achieving 70 percent market share within three years.

Gorava’s track record spans developing and growing companies with an emphasis on defining and executing brand-building strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and driving revenue through effective marketing activities.

Rahul Dhamdhere, chief marketing officer of KidZania India, said, “We are excited to welcome Hasmukh M. Gorava as the Marketing Head. His extensive experience and strategic approach will undoubtedly enhance our marketing initiatives. Hasmukh’s commitment to driving brand visibility and consumer awareness resonates with KidZania’s mission to provide enriching experiences for children.”

Meanwhile, in his appointment, Gorava shared, “I am truly honoured to be a part of KidZania, an esteemed organisation that has consistently led the industry. I look forward to utilising my expertise to contribute to KidZania’s success, both in India and on the international stage.”

USA – Global digital experience management platform Sitecore has recently announced the appointment of Kathie Johnson as its new chief marketing officer, wherein she will be leading marketing for the platform based out of the firm’s headquarters in San Francisco. 

Prior to her appointment, Johnson served as the chief marketing officer of Talkdesk, where she led the firm’s marketing organisation through a transformative growth period, taking the company from 66th place in the Forbes Cloud100 list in 2019 to 8th place in 2022 and 2023.

As Talkdesk’s first CMO, Kathie helped the organisation create and launch a vertical approach, expand into new countries in EMEA, APAC and Latam, and extend the product portfolio.

In her 25 years in the industry, Johnson also worked at Salesforce, where she was the senior vice president of marketing, as well as the vice president of marketing for Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud. 

Speaking on her own appointment, Johnson said, “I am excited to join Sitecore because of its innovative technology that is a true game changer for CMOs and CDOs who seek to differentiate their companies through superior digital experiences.” 

“Sitecore is a leader in its space and continues to innovate by prioritising a roadmap focused on SaaS-based, cloud native tools built on composable architecture. I am thrilled to be part of Sitecore’s journey and look forward to working with our customers, partners, and employees around the globe,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Steve Tzikakis, CEO of Sitecore, said, “Kathie’s track record as a marketing leader speaks for itself. Her formidable background securing brand expansion and delivering incredible digital experiences will massively contribute to Sitecore’s efforts to disrupt, accelerate and innovate digital experience delivery.”

“Sitecore’s compelling message offering SaaS-based, composable solutions will be greatly aided by this wonderful addition to our leadership. On behalf of Sitecore, we are thrilled to welcome Kathie to our team,” he concluded.

Singapore – Havas Market, the e-commerce arm of the Havas Media network, has recently announced the appointment of Shermaine Lau as its new head for Singapore.

This appointment follows her decade-long expertise in the e-commerce landscape, leveraging the company’s digital transformation, brand acceleration, and data-driven strategies.

In her new role, Lau will primarily concentrate on the improvement of purchasing experiences in the Havas Market by highlighting end-to-end, omnichannel solutions as well as harnessing the transformative power of cutting-edge generative AI.

Through this initiative, the company then seeks to streamline operations, maximise resources, and deliver exceptional value to brands across all business segments of the Havas Market. 

Speaking about this appointment, Lau said, “In today’s retail landscape, brands must go beyond product sales; they need to connect meaningfully with shoppers. Our AI-powered omnichannel solutions enable brands to efficiently create great shopping experiences, fostering customer loyalty and driving sustainable business growth.”

Meanwhile, Deanson Lee, head of digital at Havas Media Network Singapore, added, “With Shermaine’s extensive experience, I’m confident that we will not only empower our clients to navigate the dynamic omnichannel retail and media landscape but also venture into new frontiers of commerce, unlocking greater market potential together.”

Tapping into Lau’s proficiency for these comprehensive strategies, Havas Market is now poised to empower brands further, facilitating the creation of meaningful shopping experiences that resonate with consumers.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Digital infrastructure services provider EDOTCO Group has recently announced the appointment of Gayan Koralage as the new director of Malaysia business. 

This key appointment is in line with the company’s strategic vision to strengthen its operations and contribute to Malaysia’s ambition of becoming Asia’s Digital Tiger during this transformative Golden Digital Decade.

In his new role, Koralage is poised to steer EDOTCO Malaysia’s operations towards unprecedented growth at a pivotal time as the telecommunications industry undergoes significant evolution. 

Additionally, he will continue to hold his position as director of strategy for EDOTCO Group and country managing director for EDOTCO Sri Lanka.

With Koralage’s appointment, EDOTCO Malaysia is set to solidify its status as the country’s premier digital infrastructure service provider as it prepares to harness the potential of emerging trends and capitalise on the accelerated deployment of 5G networks, upgrades to the existing 4G network capacity, small cell deployments, and the revolutionary introduction of 3D internet technology.

Adlan Tajudin, group CEO of EDOTCO, said, “As we approach the Golden Digital Decade, our Malaysian business inspires greater confidence in our delivery of cutting-edge digital infrastructure solutions.”

“Gayan Koralage’s appointment will be integral to EDOTCO Malaysia’s digital transformation journey and fostering a culture of excellence within our company,” he added. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – SEEK, the parent company of Southeast Asian career platforms JobStreet and JobsDB, has recently welcomed Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim as its newly elected non-executive director during the company’s annual general meeting.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim is the first Asia-based board member in SEEK’s history, aligning with the pivotal role Asia plays in the company’s future growth strategy.

This appointment comes as SEEK sets the foundation for growth of its Asia business through the unification of its three online employment marketplaces – namely SEEK (in Australia and New Zealand), JobStreet (in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore), and JobsDB (in Hong Kong and Thailand). The three-year long investment program is set to complete in the 2024 financial year.

For this role, Ibrahim brings over 40 years of experience in the Southeast Asia region, including over 16 years in information technology and 23 years in telecoms. He also served the Malaysian government in various roles, including being appointed in 2020 by the former prime minister of Malaysia as a member of the then Economic Action Council and of the Digital Economy Council.

Currently, Ibrahim serves as the chairman of government-owned Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia’s public transport owner and operator, and chairman of privately owned QSR Brands Holdings Bhd and AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd. He is also a non-executive director of publicly listed Sunway Berhad.

Furthermore, his executive experience also includes being the chief executive officer of Axiata Group Berhad from 2008 to 2020, and as chief executive officer of Maxis Communications Berhad for over eight years prior to that. He also has executive experience with multinational companies, including IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation.

Speaking on his own appointment, Ibrahim said, “I’m honoured to join SEEK’s esteemed board of directors, and am excited to be part of the technology company’s continuous growth journey in Asia. This role is especially meaningful to me as SEEK’s purpose of helping people live more fulfilling and productive working lives and helping organisations succeed aligns with my passion and values. I look forward to contributing my expertise to help SEEK advance its ambitions and make a positive impact on millions of talent and employers in the region.”

Meanwhile, Peter Bithos, chief executive officer of Asia at SEEK, also commented, “Tan Sri Jamaludin joins the SEEK Board at an opportune time. Once our three core online employment marketplaces – SEEK, JobStreet and JobsDB – are unified into a single platform next year, we will have the ability to scale efficiencies and unlock vast growth opportunities across APAC.”

“With Asia being a key market for SEEK, Tan Sri Jamaludin’s vast expertise in the technology sector, as well as his astute understanding of the region’s business landscape will be valuable in guiding us in our journey forward,” he added. 

Lastly, Graham Goldsmith, chairman of SEEK, mentioned, “Tan Sri Jamaludin’s experience in the information technology and telecommunications sectors in Asia and his various current roles, are a valuable addition to the expertise and views on the Board, and supports the achievement of SEEK’s continuing growth aspirations in Asia.”