Tag: Appointment

India – Jobs and talent platform foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), a Quess company, has appointed V Suresh as its new chief executive officer to spearhead growth and innovation across its AI-driven platform.

Suresh brings more than 20 years of experience in the e-recruitment, internet, and digital transformation sectors. He has a track record of driving growth, expanding market presence, and developing digital platforms across various industries.

In his new role, Suresh brings extensive strategic experience and a focus on long-term growth. His strong understanding of customer needs and operational efficiency will guide foundit as it continues to develop its AI-powered platform, aiming to improve job search, hiring precision, and connections between employers and candidates.

Speaking on his appointment, Suresh commented, “I am privileged to lead foundit at this exciting stage in its journey. With a strong legacy and an advanced AI-driven platform, foundit is uniquely positioned to transform how talent and opportunity connect. Throughout my career, I have focused on harnessing technology to create impactful, customer-centric solutions, and I look forward to building on this foundation to drive innovation, growth, and excellence across APAC and the Middle East.”

Previously known as Monster (APAC & ME), the company rebranded to foundit in 2022 to reflect its evolution into a leading jobs and talent platform.

Ajit Isaac, managing director of Quess Corp, also shared, “Suresh’s deep understanding of the digital talent ecosystem and proven ability to scale businesses will help us strengthen our leadership position in the market. Under his stewardship, we aim to further refine our platform, enhance our services, and continue bridging the talent gap across industries and geographies.”

Vietnam – AnyMind Group has appointed Lan Anh Nguyen as its new country manager for Vietnam, strengthening its leadership team in the region.

In her new role, Lan Anh will oversee AnyMind Group’s operations and business strategy across its offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Before joining AnyMind Group, Lan Anh served as group executive director at Golden Communication Group and held key marketing and communications positions at Rocket Internet, Riverorchid Notch, and Climax.

Commenting on her appointment, Lan Anh said, “With over 10 years in marketing communications, I have witnessed the remarkable growth of AnyMind Group in Vietnam, driven by its young, talented, and dynamic team.”

“In this transformative era for e-commerce and end-to-end solutions, where the consumer journey is no longer linear but dynamic—empowering brands to connect and convert at every touchpoint—this is an exciting time to join forces with AnyMind. I am committed to contributing to AnyMind’s mission of making every business borderless by empowering clients, creators, and publishers to thrive and achieve seamless business success through cutting-edge BPaaS solutions,” she added. 

AnyMind Group entered Vietnam in October 2016, launching its operations in Ho Chi Minh City. The company expanded further in January 2017 with the opening of a second office in Hanoi. By November 2024, AnyMind Group had grown to a team of 226 employees across its two offices in Vietnam.

Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder of AnyMind Group, said, “Lan Anh brings with her proven leadership and an innate hunger to challenge the norm of innovation. Vietnam has been a key market for us since 2016, and I’m confident that we can further scale our business in Vietnam to empower enterprises, publishers, and creators through our mix of technology and solutions.”

China – Global omnichannel media agency Assembly has appointed Karen Ho as its first managing director for Greater China, reinforcing its commitment to expanding in the region and driving client growth. 

In this newly created role, Ho will drive Assembly’s growth in Greater China, supporting clients operating or investing in the region. She will lead initiatives to advance product development, talent acquisition, and technology innovation across the agency’s offices in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, ensuring they are positioned to maximise client impact.

Additionally, Ho will enhance cross-market collaboration and develop integrated solutions to support clients’ local and global ambitions. She will also oversee key client relationships, including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, APM Monaco, Clarins, and American Eagle Outfitters.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Ho has a proven track record of driving growth and delivering results. At Initiative China, she led market expansion for major clients like Volkswagen Group China, Bridgestone, and GM Ultium, earning the agency multiple industry awards, including Agency of the Year. Her expertise in team building and performance-driven leadership positions her to steer Assembly’s next phase of growth.

Commenting on her appointment, Ho said, “I have long admired Assembly for its bold approach to innovation and commitment to excellence. I resonate deeply with the agency’s proposition to Find the Change to Fuel Growth, something I have been committed to fulfilling throughout my career. I’m energised to partner with their talented teams and clients to unlock new growth opportunities in this diverse and fast-evolving region and drive our next chapter of growth across this diverse and dynamic Greater China region.”

Ho’s appointment aligns with the Assembly’s goal to strengthen APAC leadership and deliver market-specific solutions. Following Vivian Mok’s elevation to North Asia managing director, Ho’s addition reinforces the agency’s commitment to in-market expertise and regional innovation.

Richard Brosgill, APAC CEO of Assembly, said, “Karen is a visionary leader with unparalleled market insights and a true appetite to build. Her leadership will be pivotal as we invest strategically into the Greater China region and look ahead to a new chapter of growth as we continue to deliver campaigns that drive both brand and business impact.”

Singapore – Creative and media agency VaynerMedia has named Marcus Krzastek as international president amidst its global expansion, effective immediately. Krzastek is set to oversee the agency’s operations in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

As VaynerMedia has expanded from its offices in Singapore and London, Krzastek will continue to strengthen its teams and operations in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Amsterdam.

Krzastek has been with VaynerMedia for 15 years, most recently serving as the president of VaynerX company The Sasha Group, where he significantly increased revenue and profitability.

“Marcus has been integral to VaynerMedia’s success since day one. His deep understanding of our business and exceptional leadership make him the perfect choice to accelerate our global growth in this next chapter,” Gary Vaynerchuk, chairman of VaynerX and CEO of VaynerMedia, said.

Krzastek commented, “Over the past 15 years, I’ve witnessed VaynerMedia grow from a scrappy startup into a global powerhouse, creating social-first content for the world’s biggest brands. I’m honoured to take on this new role and excited to build upon the incredible momentum across our international regions.”

Hong Kong – AS Watson Group has appointed Clarice Au as the new chief executive officer of retail Hong Kong, entrusting her with the leadership of its four retail businesses in the city.

Effective 1 March 2025, Au will be responsible for overseeing the management of AS Watson’s four diverse retail businesses in Hong Kong, namely Watsons, PARKnSHOP, Fortress, and Watson’s Wine. 

Speaking about her new role, Au said, “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of CEO of Retail Hong Kong at AS Watson. Since joining the company in 1998, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse business areas, from airport retail to leading the Fortress team and, more recently, overseeing the MoneyBack loyalty program. These experiences have shaped my passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences and fostering innovation.” 

“Looking ahead, my priority will be to build on our strong business foundation while harnessing the talents of our combined teams, as well as close collaboration with our business partners to elevate the customer experience across our network of over 500 O+O stores. As Hong Kong’s retail landscape evolves rapidly, it is essential for us to remain agile and continuously embrace transformation to seize new opportunities and stay ahead,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson, commented, “With over 20 years of extensive management experience at AS Watson, Clarice has consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership. She has been instrumental in driving digital transformation and advancing the growth of both the Fortress retail chain and the MoneyBack multi-brand loyalty program. I am excited to have her expertise guiding our retail businesses in Hong Kong into the future.”

UK –  Former Forsman & Bodenfors CEO Toby Southgate has officially taken the helm as We Are Social’s global group chief executive officer, bringing his expertise in creative leadership to drive the agency’s global growth and innovation.

As global CEO, Southgate will lead We Are Social’s 1,200-strong team across four continents. He will work to enhance collaboration, drive growth, and expand the agency’s creative offerings in partnership with major clients like Samsung, Amazon Music, Starbucks, adidas, Activision, Netflix, and Booking.com.

Southgate previously served as CEO of Forsman & Bodenfors, where he unified global offices post-merger, achieved gender pay equity, and strengthened cross-border collaboration. Under his leadership, the agency worked with major clients like Volvo, Google, Procter & Gamble, and Diageo.

With global experience spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Southgate was also global chief growth officer at McCann WorldGroup, holding regional leadership roles across Europe and the UK. Earlier, he spent a decade at WPP’s Brand Union, leading it to its first major wins at Cannes and the Effies.

Talking about his appointment, Southgate shared, “I’ve long admired We Are Social. It led the way by recognising the power of social and digital platforms for brands at scale, and, as a result, it’s the only truly global agency in its space. Today, We Are Social has an extremely talented team and an incredibly bright future.”

“We’ll be expanding our offering as the world’s most creative social agency, in partnership with what is undeniably a stellar roster of clients. The energy and appetite for growth and evolution with the network is really compelling. The role was very easy to accept,” he added. 

Southgate takes over from We Are Social co-founder and former group CEO Nathan McDonald, who stepped down in October 2024. Brett Marchand, CEO of parent company Plus Company, served as interim CEO.

Marchand commented, “We Are Social has had an extraordinary journey to become the world’s foremost social agency, with a significant global footprint, a talented team, amazing work, and spectacular clients.” 

He continued, “I believe that Toby’s experience in leading multinational agencies to growth, combined with an exceptional leadership team at We Are Social, will be the winning combination to unlock the agency’s full potential. Toby’s passion for creating a culture where people are a priority so they can thrive and do their best work was clear from the outset. He’s a first-class leader who will help steer We Are Social steadfastly into the next stage in its evolution.”

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.”