Tag: Appointment

Singapore – Ogilvy has promoted Kunal Jeswani to the role of chief executive officer for ASEAN, a move aimed at driving the agency’s sustained growth and amplifying its creative impact across the region.

In his new role, Jeswani will focus on integrating resources across ASEAN, tapping into each market’s strengths to deliver creative, impactful solutions for clients. This approach combines local expertise with the power of Ogilvy’s regional network for seamless execution.

Jeswani, who joined Ogilvy in 2005, brings over two decades of experience across sectors including CPG, telecom, auto, banking, and tourism. He has led campaigns for major brands, launched a top sports league, and worked on two national election campaigns in India. 

Before overseeing Singapore and Malaysia, Jeswani was CEO of Ogilvy India. Under his leadership, Ogilvy Singapore was ranked the #1 Creative Agency in Asia by the Cannes Lions Creativity Report and named Creative Agency of the Year at the 2025 Singapore Creative Circle Awards. Jeswani also serves on the AAMS Executive Committee and MICA’s Governing Council.

Commenting on his appointment, Jeswani said, “Ogilvy’s network across Southeast Asia is incredibly strong. All of our talent, across the full width of our capabilities, is committed to creative work that drives impact and growth for our clients. I am excited to partner with our leaders across the region to do the best work of our lives, together.”

Jeswani’s promotion to ASEAN CEO reflects Ogilvy APAC’s commitment to growth in the region, strengthening its leadership and positioning ASEAN for continued success and creative impact.

Kent Wertime and Chris Reitermann, co-CEOs of Ogilvy APAC, will continue to lead the region, collaborating with local leaders to drive the agency’s growth and success across APAC.

“Kunal’s track-record of success in India, Singapore, and Malaysia, and his ability to nurture creative excellence, make him the ideal leader for ASEAN. This promotion is not only a recognition of his remarkable contributions but also a reflection of the confidence we have in his ability to shape the future of Ogilvy in this dynamic region,” Wertime said. 

California – OpenX, an omnichannel supply-side platform, has promoted Tyler Romasco to senior vice president of global publisher development as part of the company’s strategy to strengthen global publisher relationships.

With experience in scaling publisher partnerships, Romasco will focus on driving OpenX’s publisher growth across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific in his new role. He will be working with publishers for business development, operations, and account management for revenue growth.

Romasco formerly held the position of vice president of US publisher development before the appointment. Having joined the company in 2019, he first served as senior director of business development, contributing to OpenX’s expansion of offerings in web, app, and CTV.

Before joining Open X, Romasco served as head of strategic partnerships at Sizmek, managing sales and business strategy teams. He also held leadership roles at Rocket Fuel and Pandora.

As he joins the executive team, Romasco will report to John Gentry, chief executive officer of OpenX.

“Publishers are at the core of everything that we do. As our industry experiences significant changes on the identity, CTV, AI, and consumer privacy fronts, I’m looking forward to ensuring OpenX is a trusted advisor when it comes to monetization, data, identity, and privacy-first solutions that drive business outcomes,” Romasco said.

“I’m so proud of OpenX’s incredibly smart and talented teams across the globe who are working relentlessly to solve the most pressing customer challenges and deliver superior results for our partners, including in biddable CTV, where TV by OpenX has increased publishers’ monetized impressions by 22%,” he added.

“Not only is Tyler known for being innovative and solution-oriented, but he has also been instrumental in our CTV expansion, pushing the industry to better leverage biddable CTV solutions and generating considerable incremental revenue for streaming platforms and broadcasters as a result. Tyler’s strength as a people leader, the relationships and respect he’s built in the industry, and his role as a key partner to our buyer development organization will be invaluable as OpenX continues to expand its global publisher footprint,” Gentry commented.

India – FleishmanHillard has appointed Madhulika Ojha as managing director of its India operations, tasking her with driving the agency’s growth, strategy, and transformation in one of its key markets.

Ojha brings nearly 20 years of strategy consulting expertise, specialising in large-scale transformation programs that drive market share growth, enhance shareholder value, and improve operational efficiency through technology. Most recently, she was executive director of EY India’s Strategy and Transactions advisory team, where she guided C-suite leaders across diverse industries.

Her career includes leadership roles at global firms such as Capgemini, Deloitte, TCS, and Tech Mahindra. Ojha has also advised Fortune 500 companies across financial services, consumer, automotive, and life sciences sectors, with experience spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Based in Mumbai, Ojha will lead the strategy, operations, and growth of FleishmanHillard’s India offices. In her new role, she will report directly to Joanne Wong, Asia Pacific president and senior partner.

Wong said, “At FleishmanHillard, we focus on the role communications play in driving business outcomes and influencing C-suite priorities and board discussions. Madhulika’s expertise in post-merger integration, deals and transactions, and the financial communications ecosystem offers us growing opportunities to strengthen our position as a trusted advisor. As India’s business and financial landscape evolves rapidly, her leadership will enable us to better support clients in navigating this dynamic environment. We are thrilled to have her join us and lead the next phase of growth and transformation for our India operations.” 

Wong added, “Our focus for India and the broader APAC region in 2025 is to further solidify our unique position as a business-critical advisor, offering both high-level strategic counsel and robust implementation for clients. With management consulting leaders like Madhulika bringing greater strategic depth, combined with our trusted brand, leading global networks, and comprehensive offerings, we are confident in achieving this priority.” 

Also speaking on her new role, Ojha said, “The FleishmanHillard team in India has built an impressive foundation, and I’m excited to build upon their success. The agency’s commitment to delivering business-informed, technology-powered communications that drive tangible business outcomes aligns perfectly with my passion and professional experience. I look forward to contributing and collaborating with the team to help clients protect, transform, and grow their businesses through strategic communications.” 

Singapore – Design Bridge and Partners (DBP), a brand design company, has appointed Charlie Lowe as its chief strategy officer for Asia-Pacific (APAC), effective immediately.

Lowe brings more than 15 years of agency experience, a decade of which he spent with Ogilvy. 

During his term at Ogilvy, Lowe worked with major brands such as IBM, VW, Nestle, British Airways, InterContinental Hotels, and Huawei. He handled various markets, including Melbourne, Beijing, Singapore, and New York.

Most recently, Lowe served as chief strategy officer at McCann Worldgroup, leading the agency’s growth in Southeast Asia with regional and global campaigns,

“When I started having discussions with Design Bridge & Partners about joining the team, everyone I spoke with was not only incredibly talented but also genuinely nice and engaging. Beyond being impressed by their list of exciting clients and work, I thought, ‘I really want to work with these people,’” Lowe said.

Alexandra Cerruti, APAC managing director of Design Bridge & Partners, commented, “Charlie isn’t your typical brand strategist. With a background in strategy within communications agencies, he brings a fresh and unique perspective to the team. As clients increasingly seek synergies and seamless brand experiences, the lines between branding and communications are becoming ever more interconnected. Charlie’s deep passion for brands, combined with his strategic insight, will be invaluable in helping us deliver holistic solutions that truly resonate with our clients. We’re excited to leverage his expertise to drive success and create meaningful brand experiences.”

Singapore – After achieving sustained growth, LoopMe, the technology company leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance brand advertising performance, has appointed James Parker as its new head of APAC to spearhead its regional expansion efforts.

Based in Singapore, Parker will lead LoopMe’s efforts to expand its footprint across the APAC region, with a particular focus on driving growth in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Greater China Region.

Parker brings extensive industry expertise to LoopMe, joining from MiQ, where he held the role of managing director for Southeast Asia, overseeing strategic growth and regional operations.

Parker’s appointment comes on the heels of LoopMe’s announcement of achieving a fully organic gross revenue CAGR of 40% between 2018 and 2024, along with surpassing $2 billion in total gross revenue.

In addition to Parker’s appointment, LoopMe has expanded its presence in Australia with a new Melbourne office, appointing HS Shin as senior sales manager to grow its client base in Victoria. Meanwhile, Alicia Placer has joined the Sydney office as sales manager, focusing on growth with agency holding groups and independent shops.

Stephen Upstone, CEO and founder of LoopMe, commented, “2024 has been pivotal for our business, opening up a new chapter in our evolution. Off the back of seven years of consistent and stable organic growth, we have now taken advantage of a strong M&A opportunity to accelerate this. APAC is central to our plans for the business, and we see enormous potential in developing the company across the region by tapping into digital advertising’s growth areas.”

He added, “With James joining as the new head of APAC, we are confident that our business in this region will continue its successful expansion; we welcome James, HS, and Alicia to the LoopMe team.”

Thailand – FleishmanHillard has named Atiwat Krisintu as the new general manager of its Bangkok office, taking over from founding general manager Sophis Kasemsahasin, who is retiring after a distinguished career in communications.

In his new role, Krisintu will focus on expanding the agency’s services and enhancing its position in the Thai market, aiming to deliver effective communication strategies and support business outcomes for clients.

Krisintu brings nearly 30 years of experience in corporate strategy and management consulting, including his recent role as director of strategy & business design at Deloitte Consulting. He has also held senior positions at SIAM MAKRO, Central Marketing Group, Coca-Cola, AIM Research, Publicis, and Research International.

Commenting on his new role, Krisintu said, “It is truly tremendous to step into the role of general manager for a team as talented, motivated, and collaborative as the one that Sophis has built. I am excited to work alongside this incredible group and add value for both our clients and teams. By drawing on my experience, I am committed to strengthening our strategic advisory services, expanding our reach through the wider global FleishmanHillard and Omnicom networks, and delivering impactful solutions that meet the evolving needs of the market. Together, we will build on the success of the Bangkok office and take it to even greater heights.” 

As the new GM for Bangkok, Krisintu will report to Joanne Wong, FleishmanHillard’s Asia Pacific president and senior partner. 

Speaking on the appointment, Wong said, “As a seasoned leader with a proven ability to solve complex business challenges and inform high-level strategies for both global and Thai organisations, Atiwat brings invaluable expertise to our team. Building on the solid foundation and stellar reputation that our team in Thailand has established, we are confident that Atiwat will help us further enhance our capabilities, engage deeper with the C-suite, and elevate our position as a business-critical advisor. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team.” 

Wong continued, “In today’s increasingly complex business ecosystem, clients demand communications services that are bespoke, agile, and outcome driven. They expect agency partners to offer not only expertise in crafting strategies aligned with business needs and context but also to execute them with precision and impact. Elevating FleishmanHillard to this unique and competitive position in the APAC region is a top strategic priority for us in 2025, and Atiwat and the Thailand office will play a key role in helping us achieve this vision.” 

Krisintu’s appointment follows the retirement of founding GM Sophis Kasemsahasin, who leaves after more than 25 years in the communications industry, including 11 years at FleishmanHillard. Kasemsahasin established the Bangkok office in 2013 and grew it into one of Thailand’s most reputable agencies.

“We are immensely grateful for Sophis’ significant contributions to our Bangkok operations. Her vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on our people, our clients, and the industry as a whole. Under her management, Thailand has been a key and growing part of our APAC business for over a decade, and we look forward to the next stage of success under Atiwat’s leadership,” Wong commented. 

Singapore – FleishmanHillard has appointed Thomas Skelton as the new regional lead for its research and analytics practice, TRUE Global Intelligence (TGI), overseeing operations across the Asia Pacific region.

Based in Singapore, Skelton will lead the growth and operations of TGI in APAC, driving the agency’s expanding research and analytics capabilities to deliver actionable, data-driven insights and solutions for clients throughout the region.

Skelton brings extensive experience from consultancy and in-house roles across the UK, China, and Singapore, with a strong track record in developing data-driven strategies for both global and local organisations in APAC. Before joining FleishmanHillard, he led the APAC Consultancy Practice at TEAM LEWIS, overseeing research and analytics across six markets. Previously, he was senior manager of communications strategy, APAC, at Cision. 

In his new role, Skelton will report to Joanne Wong, APAC president and senior partner at FleishmanHillard.

“Tom’s deep understanding of the region and proven expertise in research and analytics will be invaluable to the team as we continue to elevate the impact of our TGI offering and better serve clients in APAC. His appointment is also a testament to our strategic focus on embedding data and intelligence in every aspect of our work, seamlessly blending data, communication expertise, and creative brilliance to create outcomes that truly matter to our clients’ businesses,” Wong said. 

She continued, “Our clients are navigating an increasingly complex business ecosystem, requiring communications to be more bespoke and outcome driven than ever before, which is only possible with the power of data. As we work to elevate our unique position as the communications advisor who can deliver both intelligence-informed strategy and impactful execution in 2025, Tom’s leadership and the entire TGI team will play a key role in driving this vision forward.” 

FleishmanHillard’s TGI practice provides key insights into clients’ stakeholders, competitive landscapes, and outcomes, helping create meaningful audience connections to drive success. Powered by the OPRG Data Stack, the practice offers a range of consulting services across key APAC markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and India.

Marjorie Benzkofer, global lead of TGI, said, “Data and analytics are at the heart of our global strategy to drive value and innovation for clients worldwide. Tom’s leadership will be instrumental in further integrating these capabilities into our APAC operations, equipping our teams to deliver transformative, market-specific solutions. We’re excited to welcome him to the TGI team and leverage his unique experiences and insights from the APAC perspective, which is increasingly vital to our clients and business globally.” 

India – Enormous Brands has appointed Akshat Trivedi as its national creative director – West, bringing onboard a seasoned creative leader renowned for his impactful campaigns and innovative storytelling.

Trivedi transitions to Enormous Brands from The Womb, where he served as creative partner and played a pivotal role in crafting iconic campaigns for brands like Fogg and Saregama Carvaan. 

At Enormous, Trivedi will lead the creative vision for the western region, driving innovative campaigns and cultivating a culture of creativity across diverse client portfolios. He will mentor creative talent and ensure the agency delivers work that exceeds audience expectations.

Before joining Enormous, Trivedi built an impressive career at Ogilvy, Ibs Fulcro, and The Womb, where he consistently delivered impactful, results-driven campaigns. His portfolio includes work for leading brands like Fogg, Saregama Carvaan, Piramal Finance, Star Plus, Astral, Vicco, Cadbury Perk, and Mumbai Indians. At Ibs Fulcro, he was instrumental in creating award-winning campaigns for UPI, Kotak, and Bajaj Electricals, effectively blending digital and traditional creative approaches.

A storyteller at heart, Trivedi co-wrote the screenplay and dialogue for the feature film Trial Period, earning Filmfare OTT Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Dialogue, showcasing his talent for crafting compelling narratives.

Trivedi’s appointment underscores Enormous’ dedication to pushing creative boundaries and driving exceptional innovation.

Speaking on his new role, Trivedi said, “As I write this, it has already been a few days working with the super talented bunch of people at Enormous. Their minds are always buzzing with ideas, and their hearts not only applaud individuals in the team but also celebrate great advertising work, no matter which agency or place they come from. I believe it comes from or rather multiplies by the way Ashish thinks and feels about advertising. I am thrilled to be a part of the Enormous team and look forward to creating great work together.”

Ashish Khazanchi, managing partner & CCO at Enormous Brands, stated, “Akshat’s work speaks volumes. His ability to blend compelling storytelling with a nuanced understanding of consumer behaviour sets him apart. At Enormous, we’re committed to redefining creativity in the industry, and Akshat’s leadership will be instrumental in this journey.” 

Singapore – Criteo has officially appointed Michael Komasinski as its new chief executive officer and board member, succeeding Megan Clarken, who recently announced her retirement.

With over 20 years of experience in AdTech, Komasinski joins Criteo with a strong track record of building global brand and retail relationships. He has consistently driven profitable growth for leading organisations by leveraging technology-driven strategies while fostering an inclusive work environment.

Komasinski is currently CEO of the Americas and president of global data & technology at dentsu, where he joined through the 2016 Merkle acquisition. He became global CEO of Merkle in 2021, leading a technological transformation that integrated AI into dentsu’s products, enhancing client value and driving major enterprise wins. He also expanded Merkle’s retail media consulting practice and merged it with dentsu’s media buy-side capabilities.

Before joining dentsu, Komasinski led over 14,000 employees across 50+ locations at Merkle. He has held leadership roles at Razorfish, Schawk Retail Marketing, Nielsen, and A.T. Kearney. Komasinski also serves on the Ad Council’s board and the client advisory boards of Meta and Microsoft.

Commenting on his appointment, Komasinski said, “Criteo’s transformation into a global commerce media powerhouse and AdTech leader has been inspiring, and I am excited and energised to serve as the company’s next CEO and build on this momentum.” 

“There are massive growth opportunities in media today with new advancements in AI and a global rise in e-commerce, which are driving hyper-personalised consumer touchpoints across more content and devices than ever before. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Criteo’s talented team, who has built incredible assets in AI over the years, to deliver compelling commerce solutions for our clients and drive shareholder value,” he added. 

Criteo’s Board of Directors has appointed Komasinski as CEO, with his new role taking effect on February 15, 2025. He will succeed Clarken, who will transition to a senior advisory role to support a smooth handover.

“We ran a comprehensive search process to identify the next CEO of Criteo to ensure we have the right leader to spearhead the next phase of the company’s AI-fuelled transformation and vision as the world’s leading commerce media platform,” said Rachel Picard, chair of Criteo’s board of directors. 

“We are thrilled that Michael is joining us to lead Criteo at this exciting time in our journey. Michael is a high-caliber executive with the ideal mix of skills, including tech-enabled product development expertise, hands-on experience managing brand and retailer relationships, and a proven ability to drive accelerated growth and scale globally. Over the course of his career, Michael has also demonstrated a collaborative approach to management that has galvanised global organisations to lead in digital marketing and technology. We are  confident that Michael will bring a valuable perspective to drive Criteo’s strategy forward, further enhancing our commerce and retail media leadership, and building on our strong momentum thanks to Megan’s critical contributions and the dedication of the entire team,” Picard added. 

Indonesia – Cheil Indonesia has announced the appointment of Fajar NF as its new executive creative director, marking a significant move as the agency continues to enhance its creative leadership. 

As the newly appointed ECD, Fajar will spearhead Cheil Indonesia’s creative direction, overseeing the agency’s diverse portfolio while driving its mission to deliver innovative and impactful campaigns. His ability to blend creativity with data-driven insights will play a crucial role in enhancing the agency’s regional standing and ensuring its continued success in the competitive market.

With over 21 years of creative leadership at top-tier agencies across Indonesia, Fajar has crafted award-winning, culturally resonant campaigns for leading global brands. His impressive portfolio boasts prestigious accolades, including a Grand Prix at Citra Pariwara, multiple AdFest awards, and a Yellow Pencil at D&AD.

Before joining Cheil, Fajar served as senior creative director at Innocean Indonesia, where he worked with a diverse range of brands across sectors like technology, smartphones, automotive, banking, and FMCG, delivering campaigns recognised both locally and internationally. He also spent 14 years at Hakuhodo Indonesia, further honing his creative expertise.

Commenting on his appointment, Fajar said, “I am thrilled to join Cheil Indonesia at such an exciting time. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the agency’s legacy of creative excellence and develop campaigns that connect brands with audiences in meaningful ways.”

Joo Hwan Kim, president director at Cheil Indonesia, also shared, “Fajar’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the agency as we continue to expand and enhance our creative output. His expertise in crafting culturally impactful campaigns and his passion for innovation will be integral to our success as we look to elevate our creative offering and strengthen our position in the market.”