Tag: Appointment

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – CRIF Group, a global company in credit bureau, business information, and credit risk solutions, has named Nurman Rummel Sanusi as the new chief executive officer for CRIF OMESTI in Malaysia.

In his new role, Rummel will be responsible for growing CRIF’s broad range of information solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and SMEs, including credit reporting and credit risk data and analytics services in Malaysia.

“I am thrilled to have Rummel join the leadership team. He brings a wealth of experience, best practices, and skills which will be instrumental in leading the Malaysia team to drive CRIF’s success in this dynamic country,” Simone Lovati, managing director, Asia at CRIF, said on the appointment.

Rummel joins CRIF from eCOURTS, a division of OMESTI Berhad, where he held the position of chief operating officer. In his eight years of career at eCOURTS, he spearheaded the development and implementation of eCOURTS, the company’s proprietary digital court infrastructure solution.

Speaking on his appointment, Sanusi said that, “I am excited to join CRIF, and am committed to taking the business to greater heights. I look forward to working closely with CRIF Asia’s regional leadership to strengthen and grow the company’s presence and business in Malaysia.”

CRIF OMESTI, a leading credit report agency in Malaysia, is a joint investment between CRIF and technology solutions provider OMESTI, a Malaysia-based publicly listed company.

Singapore – As part of its Asia expansion, Bondee announced the appointment of Fei Yu as their new chief executive officer in order to lead the company outside of their Singapore headquarters.

In her new role, Yu will be accelerating Bondee’s expansion effort and overseeing the platform’s key operations and business developments, seeking to build out a talented team across different functions at its headquarters in Singapore and global offices across Japan, South Korea, and China.

With an extensive background in the technology industry and a proven track record of leadership, Yu brings a wealth of expertise to Bondee. Having held several key senior roles in leading tech firms over the past two decades, including at Meta, Google and Microsoft, Yu is no stranger to driving market transformation through leveraging technologies and empowering businesses to grow by harnessing the latest innovations. Fei is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, with a focus on growing female leadership in business and society.

Speaking on her own appointment, Yu expresses her excitement to join Bondee as its CEO along with the upcoming expansion efforts. 

“Over the past twenty years in the industry, I’ve seen first-hand how the Internet has evolved and transformed the way people connect, share, and engage. With its commitment to transforming the way people connect with the world, Bondee is well-positioned to bring significant changes to this space by harnessing its innovative platform that creates an even more engaging and enriching experience, while making a positive impact on society. Together with our talented and dedicated team at Bondee, we are proud to be rooted in Singapore as our home base,” she added.

India – Manzoor Alam has been appointed the new executive creative director (ECD) of Dentsu Creative India. Manzoor will be located in the agency’s Gurgaon office and will lead creative teams dedicated to clients such as Honda Cars, Max Healthcare, Catch Spices, Royal Stag, 100 Pipers, Herbalife, Hamdard, and Carlsberg, among others.

He will directly report to Joy Mohanty, chief creative officer of North at Dentsu Creative India.

Alam’s focus will be on developing the agency’s creative talent pool, as well as establishing it as a point for innovative, and high-calibre work, with a strong emphasis on modern creativity and the goal of cultivating a vibrant and forward-thinking creative culture that will enable the agency to craft campaigns that deeply connect with its clients.

Alam’s 20-year career has included stints at agencies such as McCann and Rediffusion, as well as his most recent stint at Lowe Lintas, where he created creative works for a variety of brands. Specifically, he made Google’s products, including Google Search, Google Photos, Google Assistant, Google My Business, and Google Voice, as well as other businesses such as those of OLX, HP, Maruti Suzuki, and GoDaddy.

Speaking about the appointment, Mohanty said, “Manzoor’s exceptional journey showcases a wealth of experience and an extensive portfolio of accomplishments with leading brands such as Google and OLX, as well as numerous start-ups and tech ventures.”  

He added, “His unique ability to infuse his ideas with a strong sense of humanity has endeared him to brands across the spectrum. We are thrilled to have him on board and are certain that he will be instrumental in taking our goals of Modern Creativity to new heights.”

Meanwhile, Alam stated, “In today’s ever-evolving consumer landscape, it is important to consider both the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of every idea. This calls for a cohesive and integrated approach to deliver our concepts effectively. Dentsu Creative India’s philosophy of ‘Modern creativity’ synchs well with this emerging trend.” 

“The organization’s strong emphasis on digital-first, tech-driven initiatives, and data-backed solutions amplifies the potential for impactful ideas to flourish. This is exactly what has drawn me towards Dentsu Creative India. I am excited and look forward to embarking on this inspiring journey,” he said. 

Taiwan – Golin, an Interpublic Group agency, has recently appointed Neysa Chou as the its new executive director for Golin Taipei. Neysa will be in charge of leading the consumer and digital teams in Taipei, with a focus on strategic advising, integrated marketing communications (IMC), social media, and digital project management. 

In her new role, Chou will report directly to Terry Chiang, managing director of Golin Taipei. 

Chou returns to IPG after previously working at Golin and DeVries Global in Taipei and Beijing, including experiences in PR, digital, and marketing in areas such as entertainment, tourism, cosmetics, and consumer electronics.

Speaking about the appointment, Chiang commented, “Neysa’s creative enthusiasm, acute business acumen and reputation as a trusted counsellor to brands across a multitude of industries will help us create real change and impact for our clients.”

He added, “Leading our dynamic, energetic and passionate team, I see Neysa’s well-rounded experience further elevating our talents’ skillset, strategic thinking and eagerness to make even bolder moves for brands.” 

Meanwhile, Chou expressed, “I couldn’t be happier to join Golin Taipei.  I’ve watched as the team has created meaningful, award-winning work, alongside truly progressive DEI programs.”

She added, “I’m keen for the experience I’ve accumulated across the past decade – especially insights into the travel and FMCG industries –  to benefit our clients and people, while becoming part of the fantastic workplace culture Golin is renowned for.” 

Singapore – Advertising agency McCann Worldgroup has announced the appointment of Shilpa Sinha as the new chief strategy officer of the APAC region. 

In her new role at McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, Sinha will be taking the reins from former CSO Richard McCabe, and will be bringing her two decades of experience in marketing strategy to the table.

Sinha is an experienced global marketer and strategist with a strong track record working in major markets including India, UK, China and Russia, for agencies including Grey, FCB and Ogilvy. She served as Head of Strategy & Transformation for McCann Moscow before the agency closed its operations in Russia in 2022. 

Sinha has also held a unique combination of senior roles in brand management at Unilever and strategic planning leadership at prominent agency networks, bearing experience in building leader and challenger brands across diverse categories, and even winning the first ever Gold Cannes Lion for any IPG agency in Russia.

Ghassan Harfouche, President of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, said, “I’m so excited to have Shilpa move back to our region and know that her global experience and emphasis on effectiveness will add significantly to our client work.”

Meanwhile, Harjot Singh, global CSO of McCann Worldgroup commented, Having worked with Shilpa for six years, I’m thrilled that she is taking the baton. She has a proven track record in key global markets, including regional powerhouses, China and India, and combines creative smarts with rigour and passion. I can’t think of a better person to help our APAC brands earn a meaningful role in people’s lives.”

Speaking on her own promotion, Sinha stated, “After eight years away, I am excited to be back in vibrant Asia, one of the significant growth engines in the dynamically evolving world order. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to move within the McCann Worldgroup family and work on our incredible brands. I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running.”

Vietnam – Channel Factory, a global brand platform for YouTube, is strengthening its presence in the APAC region, with the opening of a dedicated office in Vietnam. Said expansion show’s the company’s dedication to strengthening their commercial strategy and making expenditures in the area.

The newly established office in Vietnam will be managed by country manager Khanh Ngo, whose responsibility is to serve media agencies and direct brand clients by providing targeting, brand appropriateness tactics, and campaign optimization solutions.

Ngo, who has a decade of experience collaborating with media agencies across the APAC region, leads the team alongside Hoang Luong as sales manager, Van Tran as client partner, and Duyen Thao as account manager.

Speaking about the newly established office in Vietnam, Khanh Ngo, country manager of Channel Factory, expressed, “I’m thrilled to play a pivotal role in setting the foundation for Channel Factory in Vietnam. With an already distinguished roster of global clients, the opportunity to deliver localised brand suitability strategies directly to agencies and brands allows us to deepen our existing partnerships and, over time, expand our esteemed client portfolio even further.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Wong, VP, APAC of Channel Factory, commented on the launch, “Local market experience and support is imperative for what we do for our clients. The establishment of our office in Vietnam serves as a vital step in solidifying our position, providing us with a distinct competitive advantage in the region.” 

He added, “We are incredibly fortunate to have already cultivated extensive expertise in the area through our teams in Australia, Singapore, India, and the Philippines, and view the Vietnam office as a natural progression in this ongoing evolution.”

Wong also expressed, “This is an exciting time for Channel Factory as we continue to expand across markets and support our clients with contextual and suitability solutions that protect brand reputation and ensure businesses are adhering to the recent changes to government regulations around misleading and unethical advertising practices.”

Long Pham, managing director of Dentsu iProspect Vietnam, remarked on the expansion, “We are excited about Channel Factory’s expansion into Vietnam, as we believe it will greatly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional brand suitability and contextual targeting strategies to our clients in the region.”

“Our partnership with Channel Factory, not only represents our commitment to stay at the forefront of industry innovation and provide our clients with the best solutions for their advertising needs, but also maximise ROI in this dynamic market,” Pham said. 

Mumbai, India – Deep Singh has been promoted to the position of national head of strategy of Omnicom Media Group India. He recently served as the strategy lead for PHD India, a post he has held since February 2021.

In his new role, Singh takes on a cooperative journey with the group’s CEOs and chief growth officer in an effort to meet growth targets and develop new business possibilities. His primary objective will be to promote the wider use of the Omnicom platform for marketing and analytics to produce increased business results.

Singh will be in charge of attending to the strategic requirements of OMD and PHD India’s important clients, utilising the agency’s solutions to discover potential and build a market position for Omnicom Media Group while working with important stakeholders to simplify complexity.

Singh has experience spanning 17 years in advertising, media, brand management, process consulting, and teaching. He previously held the position of leading the strategy product at Mindshare, overseeing the success of brands such as GSK, PepsiCo, Unilever, Dyson, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Urban Clap in the North and East regions. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise in various capacities at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide and Elephant Design. 

Speaking of his appointment, Singh expressed, “I am excited to take on this role and help accelerate OMG India’s strategic footprint. Agility and strategic superiority are paramount in maintaining a competitive edge and I’m keen on leveraging these frameworks to meet the growing needs of the marketplace.” 

He added, “My focus will be on leading the organization’s strategic initiatives and ensuring that we navigate the areas of emerging possibilities to deliver scalable business solutions and growth for us and our clients.”

Japan – Advertising agency Grey has announced the promotion of Masa Okazaki to chief operating officer of Grey Tokyo. 

As chief operating officer, Masa will be in charge of upholding Grey Tokyo’s strategic vision, fostering its borderless agenda, and ensuring the delivery of outstanding marketing services and integrated solutions to clients.

Masa will be entering his new role with eighteen months of prior experience as the chief business officer for Grey Tokyo, as well as over 10 years of experience within the advertising industry.  

Commenting on his own appointment, Masa said that his experience working creative and collaborative talent at Grey for the last eighteen months, has been tremendous for him. 

“The strategy and plans we have put in place are solid, but it is the people who bring it to life. Throughout this process, we achieved remarkable and effective work, forging deep and lasting relationships with both existing and new clients. Our goal is to build upon this momentum and accelerate further growth,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Yukiko Ochiai, president and CEO of Grey Tokyo, said, “Masa is one of the most dynamic and innovative people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He is a true change-maker and a results-oriented leader with extensive industry knowledge. I am confident that we have the best team in place to drive the growth of our clients, brands and businesses, which will also take Grey Tokyo to even greater heights.”

London, United Kingdom – Due to its growth across the regions of North America, EMEA, and APAC, global executive search firm Grace Blue has announced its new appointments including Sarah Skinner as its global managing director and Helen Duffy as its CEO for Asia-Pacific Region.

Skinner will be responsible for ensuring the firm’s service quality across the divisions of consumer brands, agencies, media, entertainment, and sports whilst Duffy will continue to lead the APAC operations. 

Simultaneously, Grace Blue restructures its advisory board led by its chairman Ian Priest. Juliet Timms joins the advisory board as its board advisor to help in supporting the Grace Blue team and its clients.

Moreover, the advisory board also welcomes Sherilyn Shackle, CEO and founder of The Marketing Academy and Tim Shaw, ex-commercial director of the Ryder Cup and PGA European Tour.

Global CEO Jay Haines said that Skinner has been a truly brilliant ambassador for the Grace Blue brand and their team is excited to have her to continuously grow the business worldwide.

“Our new advisory board will also continue to service our current clients and support us as we continue to broaden our client base and build our global footprint,” Haines added.

“I am thrilled to be taking on a more global role working across our three regions, and look forward to the next chapter of Grace Blue’s journey,” Skinner expressed.

Grace Blue specialises in transformational leadership talent for brands, agencies, media, entertainment, and technology organisations.

Sydney, Australia – Creative technology agency whiteGREY has appointed Reeshma Bhanji as its executive creative director. The appointment is targeted at significantly boosting the agency’s design and creative offering.

In the new role, Bhanji’s immediate focus is to lead the Scentre Group (Westfield) business with an additional responsibility to develop and deepen whiteGREY’s creative offering to drive business transformation for clients.

She also brings with her a wealth of experience from both agency and client-side to whiteGREY. Her expansive retail experience is garnered from working across brands such as Freedom, Rebel Sport, Aesop, and Glasshouse Fragrances, where she created award-winning campaigns and led strategy and creative thinking to create in-store spatial design experiences.

Prior to joining whiteGREY, Bhanji was previously with The General Store as its creative director and was also the founder of Flying Fish Designs. 

On her new appointment, Bhanji said, “While design thinking is a critical component of the creative process, my true passion lies in collaborating with my team and our clients to identify solutions that can genuinely foster the growth of their business. This human-centric approach is what drives great creative and design, and I’m thrilled to bring this perspective to both whiteGREY and its clients.”

Chad Mackenzie, whiteGREY’s national CCO also said that Bhanji’s appointment was a game-changer for whiteGREY supporting the agency’s ongoing investment in outstanding talent. He added that Bhanji will likewise provide a new perspective for clients and expands the agency’s brand design offering.

“With a career built on a strong foundation of visual arts and design, Reeshma leans heavily into design, strategy and creativity to discover what will work for her clients’ brands to make their business better. Reeshma helps see the world differently, creating powerful as well as beautiful client solutions using design thinking to grow her client’s businesses,” said Mackenzie.

He added, “She is well known to challenge conventions to create breakthrough brand experiences and her unique way of blending design, strategy and creativity is an exciting proposition to bring to market and is the next step in the evolution of whiteGREY’s already strong creative offering.”

Bhanji’s appointment is effective immediately. She will also be based in Sydney for the new role.