Singapore WE Communications (WE), a worldwide communications agency, announced the appointment of Charmaine Lin as director of sectors and Michelle Lim as associate director of sectors in Singapore. Lin and Lim joined WE in February and report to Troy Lee, the head of sectors. 

Together, they are tasked to expand WE’s skills in tourism, travel, and hospitality, as well as technology, B2B, and crisis communications. 

Lin will oversee the Singapore Tourism Board account in her new role and manage WE’s growing clientele in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. 

Lin joins WE with more than 17 years of brand marketing and communications expertise. She spent ten years in Shanghai, where she occupied a number of leadership roles. Her most recent position was five years as managing partner at Gusto Collective. Lin was the vice president of client experience at Weber Shandwick for five years before that.

For many international tourism, travel, hospitality, fashion, and beauty companies, such as the Estée Lauder Companies, Marriott International, Royal Caribbean, Shiseido Group, Tourism Australia, and Victoria’s Secret, she has advised and led campaigns throughout her career.

Meanwhile, Lim has a decade of expertise in B2B, technology communications, public affairs, and crisis communication. Her most recent position was as account director at Fifth Ring, where she worked with brands including BASF, CHINT Global, Delta Electronics, Smith+Nephew, and XSQUARE Technologies. For nearly ten years before joining Fifth Ring, she directed communications and crisis planning for many Home Team units within Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

Speaking about the appointments, Daryl Ho, managing director of WE Singapore, said, “Charmaine and Michelle bring a wealth of experience and expertise to WE, and their combined talent in integrated communications, strategic storytelling and crisis communications will be an unstoppable force in supporting our clients as we chart the agency forward. I am beyond thrilled to welcome both of them to the team and am grateful that they’ve chosen to call WE their home.”

Singapore – Public relations consultancy Elliot & Co. has appointed Mayda Jutahkiti as its new managing director for Singapore and Jayeeta Mazumder as its new account director.

The new appointees will work closely to ensure the agency’s growth and success, ensuring that it remains relevant to the evolving needs of the industry.

In her new role as managing director, Mayda will spearhead the strategic direction, growth, and overall success of Elliot & Co. Singapore. She brings with her 20 years of experience in various capacities, fostering team dynamics and ensuring client satisfaction across industries.

She previously served as general manager at her previous agencies, Rice Communications and The Hoffman Agency. She had also worked on multiple startups like Remote, AI Rudder, and 3S Money, as well as established companies like Google, Salesforce, PayPal, LinkedIn, Audi, and MyRepublic, among others.

Meanwhile, Jayeeta, in her newly appointed role as account director, will work alongside Mayda to oversee the client portfolio and lead a team of PR and editorial experts.

She has a wealth of experience in PR and media, with 15 years of career in journalism and delivering effective communication strategies for global clients such as Netflix and WeWork. Prior to joining Elliot & Co., she worked with Monk’s Hill Ventures, where she collaborated with partners, founders, ecosystem builders, and thought leaders, gaining extensive knowledge of the media and PR landscape in Southeast Asia.

Jeremy Foo, founder and CEO of Elliot & Co., shared, “I am confident that Mayda and Jayeeta’s combined background across various industries, coupled with their diverse experience in serving a wide range of local and global clients, will steer the agency in this increasingly challenging and competitive space. They have already made their mark on the team, and I am eager to see how the agency evolves and flourishes under their stewardship.”

Commenting on her appointment, Mayda also said, “It is an exciting role for me where I feel empowered and can make a positive impact on the business. I’ve had the opportunity to work at two outstanding and people-centric organisations, so the focus on people and culture has really rubbed off on me. This will still be at the heart of all I do, even as we navigate a challenging environment, explore new horizons, and chart a course for a future of sustained success.”

Singapore – Global digital media agency, JOLT Digital continues its growth momentum with the strategic appointments of Khairul Helmi as business director and Truman Tan as associate manager

Helmi will be based in Singapore, reporting directly to Jason Tan, general manager at JOLT Digital. His role will involve overseeing JOLT’s diverse portfolio of clients, including Kaspersky, CIMB, Alteryx and ESSEC Business School.

Meanwhile, Truman will report to Helmi and will focus on clients such as Kaspersky, ESSEC, and Alteryx. Truman brings a strong background in offline and online media, covering social, programmatic, and search for FMCG, luxury, and technology brands.

In Asia, operating from Singapore and Vietnam, where JOLT established an office in 2023, Helmi will lead a team of 10 professionals. His responsibilities encompass crafting award-winning strategies and actively contributing to JOLT’s expansion in the region. Moreover, his background in digital media, programmatic buying, and marketing spans both agency and client roles. 

He started his career at IPG Mediabrands in Singapore, where he provided thought leadership to major clients such as Johnson & Johnson, eventually growing his team to 6 members. After working on the client side at DFS in Hong Kong, Khai enhanced his programmatic skills at Publicis Media Group, where he served as programmatic operation director. 

Speaking on Helmi’s appointment, Jason Tan said, “Having worked with Khai before at Publicis, I am happy to welcome him as business director at JOLT. Khai brings a unique mix of digital and marketing skills from agencies and clients. His recent stint as an entrepreneur was the cherry on the cake as he developed skills such as agility, flexibility and critical thinking which nowadays are essential skills for delivering above and beyond for our clients.”

Meanwhile, Jason also commented on Truman’s appointment, “I am delighted to join such a dynamic agency who not only leverage major platforms such as Meta and Google, but also add innovation to the media plan with adtech platforms and their own proprietary technology for budget optimisation. This is what I was looking for: pushing the agency boundaries and helping build a new breed of agency.”

Singapore – The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has announced the appointment of Phil Hardman as the new board chairman and Emily Yri and Shonali Bedi as the new board directors.

Hardman serves as the senior vice president and general manager of BBC Studios Asia. He will take over from Clément Schwebig, president of Western Europe and Africa at Warner Bros. Discovery, who will be stepping down from the role.

Meanwhile, Yri and Bedi will join AVIA as its two new board directors. Yri is the vice president of international marketing at Pubmatic, and Bedi is currently the head of strategy for partnerships and insights in APAC at Warner Bros. Discovery.

With the two new additions to the board, AVIA now has four female board directors, or one-third of the board.

Louis Boswell, CEO of AVIA, commented, “The board of AVIA and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Clément Schwebig, who chaired the board for the last three years, taking over in the middle of a pandemic and helping steer the association to safety through those difficult times. He was a strong and vocal advocate for the industry.”

“The board and I are now looking forward to working with the new chairman, Phil Hardman, to help guide AVIA through what are clearly challenging times. Phil also has energy and passion for the industry, and I am sure he will make a significant contribution to developing the next chapter in the AVIA story,” he added.

Speaking on his appointment, Hardman added, “AVIA stands at the intersection of the diverse challenges and opportunities in the media industry across Asia, bringing much-needed insight, thought leadership, and regulatory and anti-piracy initiatives that benefit its members. BBC Studios has been a long-term Patron Member of the association, and I am honoured to become chairman of AVIA at such an exciting and innovativetime. I look forward to working closely with our board members and the AVIA leadership to help AVIA guide the industry through a time of such transformational change.” 

Sydney, Australia – Creative media agency Slingshot has been appointed by Krispy Kreme to handle its media duties in Australia.

Slingshot will manage the media strategy, planning, and buying for Krispy Kreme Australia. The independent Sydney-based agency will also be working on the brand’s biggest campaigns in the year ahead.

Slingshot’s appointment by Krispy Kreme follows the agency’s series of client wins, including Inghams, Standards Australia, Pacific Smiles, and Capilano last year.

Speaking on the appointment, Jane Waterhouse, managing director at Slingshot, said, “The year has started with a bang for Slingshot with Krispy Kreme joining our continually growing portfolio of clients. We welcome the opportunity to bring our signature unconventional intelligence (UI) across media strategy, planning, and implementation to help not only maintain but further deepen Krispy Kreme’s position as Australia’s most loved sweet treat brand.”

Meanwhile, Olivia Sutherland, marketing director at Krispy Kreme, shared, “We are delighted to partner with Slingshot to further propel the Krispy Kreme brand across Australia. They showed strong commercial thinking and a comprehensive media strategy that has us motivated for the year ahead.”

Singapore Quantcast, the worldwide advertising technology business, has announced three new senior positions for its Singapore office. In response to consistent expansion across its APAC businesses. The three appointments will take effect immediately. 

Lavin Vaswani becomes commercial director, Asia; Jayaram Gopinath Nagaraj becomes group agency lead, Asia; and Joyce Seah joins the firm as head of client success, APAC. All three will work out of Quantcast’s Singapore headquarters. Seah and Vaswani will be members of the Singapore-based team, reporting to Sonal Patel, vice president APAC.

Vaswani takes on the role of head of sales for Quantcast in Asia, where his main objective is to increase the company’s market share in the area. 

Vaswani, who recently held the role of sales account director at Twitch, comes to Quantcast with over 15 years of expertise in media sales throughout Asia. He has held sales executive positions with Microsoft, Admax, and Adara during his career.

Nagaraj joins Quantcast from Meta, where he worked for four years as an agency partner and as the APAC agency development lead. Previously, he held roles as head of digital at Astro Radio and general manager at Blaze Digital in Malaysia. 

With nearly 15 years of experience in social media, programmatic, and ad tech, Seah is a professional in digital marketing. In the past, she has worked for Facebook as a regional solutions partner and for Amnet and Publicis Groupe as an account director. 

Speaking about the appointments, Patel, Vice President of APAC, expressed, “I’m delighted to continue our growth and expansive operations with these new hires. With both Vaswani and Gopinath and Seah overseeing client success, we are well-positioned to carry out our growth plans in 2024.” 

Meanwhile, Konrad Feldman, CEO of Quantcast, said, “We’re thrilled to be heading into 2024 with a new leadership team for our Asian client base. All three new appointments bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record in programmatic, sales and tech to Quantcast, We’re excited to continue our growth in the region this year.” 

Talking about his appointment, Vaswani, “I’m excited to be joining Quantcast as it continues to gain market share in Asia. As someone who has worked for nearly two decades in the Asian media sales sector, I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to the Quantcast team.” 

Furthermore, Nagaraj stated, “2024 is set to be a huge year for digital in Southeast Asia, and Quantcast is poised to be at the forefront of this expansion. I’m delighted to be joining the business during this growth phase and look forward to driving both new business and elevating the Quantcast offering for our clients.” 

Lastly, Seah said, “Having worked in both Australia and Asia, I have a deep understanding of the digital and programmatic space across APAC. It’s a dynamic market, where strong client relationships, driving revenue and delivering ROI are critical. Quantcast has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering for its clients; I’m thrilled to join the business and further its mission of providing more effective, efficient digital advertising.” 

Sydney, Australia – Australian customer engagement platform Komo Technologies has recently appointed data-driven marketing specialist, Simon Rollenbeck as head of marketing.

In his new role at Komo Technologies, Rollenbeck will play a key role in shaping Komo’s brand position, demand generation and overall GTM (Go To Market) strategy, leading the company’s global marketing efforts to accelerate growth in Australia and the USA.

A data-driven B2B SaaS marketing expert with a passion for technology, Rollenbeck brings with him more than eight years of leadership experience, in positions across start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.

Specifically, Rollenbeck comes from Mozaik Play, where he was chief marketing officer. In a previous role, he also headed up the marketing team for Expedia’s corporate travel division in the Asia Pacific region and managed a high-performing regional marketing team with a focus on growth and customer retention. He has also worked at Willow, where he was director of digital & demand marketing.

Speaking on his new role, Rollenbeck said, “I am beyond excited to join the incredible team here at Komo Technologies at a time of tremendous tailwinds and momentum behind the company. Establishing a direct customer relationship is crucial for brands to stay relevant now more than ever, especially amid evolving privacy regulations, marketing limitations and an ever decreasing attention span.”

Meanwhile, Joel Steel, CEO and co-founder at Komo, commented, “Simon’s strategic expertise and experience in the B2B SaaS marketing space are pivotal for advancing Komo’s brand, demand generation, and Go-To-Market strategy. Simon’s passion for creativity and forward-thinking aligns perfectly with our company’s culture, and we are excited to see the impact he will have on our global growth strategy.”

Singapore – Global media measurement and optimization platform Integral Ad Science has just recently announced its business expansions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, accompanied with senior leadership appointments for the newly launched markets, aiming to accelerate AI-driven measurement and optimisation solutions for both local and global advertisers and publishers.

Appointments include Sowarose Charuwatpaiboon as the country head of Thailand, Thanh Nguyen as the country head of Vietnam, Melvin Wong as the region head of Hong Kong & Taiwan, and Arfitrianto Zulnaini, sales director of Indonesia, who will be stepping up as the country head of Indonesia and Malaysia.

In her new role as country head of Thailand, Charuwatpaiboon will carry over a decade of experience in the digital advertising industry with a record of success in sales, account management, and business development at companies including Adcolony, Taboola and Innity. She joined IAS in 2023 to expand operations in Thailand, and now, will be leading the team to drive continued growth.

Commenting on her new role, Charuwatpaiboon said, “I am excited to bring IAS’s world-class media measurement and optimisation solutions to advertisers and publishers in Thailand. IAS’s commitment to providing effective and transparent advertising environments for brands and media owners alike will resonate with brands seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital advertising ecosystem and driving efficiencies.”

As country head for Vietnam, Nguyen brings over 25 years of experience in the Vietnamese media and advertising landscape, with a portfolio comprising companies like JOYY Inc, Vietcetera Media and TikTok Vietnam. Her understanding of the local market dynamics and her relationships with prominent advertisers, publishers, and industry stakeholders will help drive IAS’s growth in Vietnam’s flourishing digital advertising ecosystem.

Speaking on her appointment, Nguyen said, “I am thrilled to join IAS and help expand its presence in Vietnam. Brands in Vietnam are investing significant budgets across digital media, and there’s a growing adoption of measurement and optimisation solutions among advertisers and publishers. With its superior solutions and dedicated teams, IAS empowers Vietnamese brands and media owners to navigate the evolving digital landscape and unlock their full potential.”

Aiming to propel IAS’s presence in Hong Kong & Taiwan, Wong joins IAS with global experience across Hong Kong, New York and Toronto, where he spent over a decade in sales and business development roles at companies including Teads and TripleLift. He will be leveraging his extensive global experience and strategic acumen to establish IAS as a trusted partner for brands and agencies within this vibrant digital landscape.

Commenting on his appointment, Wong said, “Joining IAS amidst their remarkable growth in programmatic is an absolute privilege. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by top brands and agencies, I deeply understand the crucial role efficiency and ROI play in our partnerships. I’m committed to working with brands and agencies to drive widespread adoption of IAS’s industry-leading measurement and optimisation solutions to drive superior business results for advertisers and publishers.”

Last but not least in IAS’s appointments, Zulnaini joined IAS in 2020 as the sales director of Indonesia, where he brought over 24 years of sales and leadership experience in digital media at companies including Yahoo, Carat, and Mindshare, driving programmatic adoption and incremental revenue growth for IAS in Indonesia. Now he is stepping up as a country head for two markets, focusing on growing IAS’s measurement and optimisation adoption in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Talking about his appointment, Zulnaini mentioned, “I am honoured to take on the additional responsibility of leading IAS’s Malaysia business and keen to build further on the solid foundation developed over the years in the market. Malaysia, much like Indonesia, is an evolving digital media market with high growth potential, so it’s no surprise that it has become a strategic focus. I look forward to advancing the company’s superior media quality solutions in these markets.”

Speaking on the APAC expansion and the appointments, Yannis Dosios, chief commercial officer of IAS, remarked, “APAC presents a prime opportunity for IAS to expand its global footprint and connect with a dynamic customer base for long-term growth and market leadership. We’re doubling down on agility and local relevance by building strong, regional teams that understand the nuances of each market, which is key to tailoring our solutions and creating lasting relationships with international and local brands in the region.”

With this recent expansion, IAS’s APAC in-market operations now include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Singapore – International express service provider DHL Express has announced several strategic leadership changes in Asia Pacific, with Yung C. Ooi as the new senior vice president for commercial APAC, Andy Chiang as managing director in Hong Kong and Macau, Ji Hun (Michael) Han as managing director in Korea, and Chee Choong Ng as managing director in Taiwan.

The latest appointment changes and elevations aim to strengthen DHL Express’ leadership team and foster the business’ growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

In his new role as SVP for commercial, Yung will spearhead the company’s commercial strategy, working to seize business growth opportunities in APAC. He will be taking over from Yasmin Khan, who has now retired after 23 years of service at DHL Group.

Yung brings with him his extensive experience in sales management and brand marketing communications to his new appointment. He previously served as DHL Express’s managing director in Taiwan, where he successfully led the team on a yield-focused growth path to achieve solid revenue and EBIT results.

Applying his knowledge of data analytics, he will continue to focus on improving the customer experience to solidify the company’s position in the region.

Meanwhile, Chiang, in his newly appointed position, will continue to build on the company’s legacy of reliability and adaptability as he steps in as the new managing director for DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau. Prior to his appointment, he was the head of global strategic finance for DHL Express.

With a career spanning more than 30 years and in various countries and regional finance roles, Chiang will use his strong finance background to lead a robust network, including one of DHL’s three global hubs located in Hong Kong, four service centres, and approximately 750 retail outlets and service points.

Also transitioning to his new role as managing director for DHL Express Korea, Han will tackle the role of leading the Korea team in delivering results and exceeding business targets as they harness customer opportunities in one of the world’s largest e-commerce markets. He will take over from Byung Koo Han, who has also decided to retire after 16 years at DHL Group.

Han formerly served as vice president for commercial at DHL Express Korea. He brings with him an expansive portfolio in sales, marketing, and general management in the retail and pharmaceutical industries.

Lastly, with more than 20 years of experience across various operational roles, logistics veteran Ng will now head DHL Taiwan as its new managing director. In this promotion, he will be responsible for expanding the company’s presence and strengthening customer relationships.

He previously served as managing director for DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau in 2020, where he led the team to overcome several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

All four of the newly appointed heads are part of the Asia-Pacific Management Board.

Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific, said, “Asia Pacific is a key driver for global growth. There are tremendous opportunities here that we are keen to leverage. As we prepare for global trade recovery, I am confident that the team will lead the way in our region. We always take pride in our commitment to nurturing talent from within. This is a testament to our dedication to fostering growth and offering rewarding career progression opportunities within our company.”

APAC– VML has announced the appointment of a new in-market leadership team for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. 

The announcement comes as Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, both WPP creative firms, join together to form VML.

With more than 5000 workers spread across 25 offices in 13 APAC markets, the newly designed organisation hopes to provide improved service for VML’s clientele all throughout the area. It includes industry professionals with deep local knowledge and broad experience in commerce, brand experience, and customer experience.

In APAC, VML works with a wide range of customer partners in several different industries. Ford, The Coca-Cola Company, HSBC, Unilever, Nestle, GSK, Zespri, and other companies are among its clientele.

With principal offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney and led by the newly appointed VML APAC Co-CEOs Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay, the reorganisation includes naming regional market leaders, which will take effect on January 1, 2024.

In Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Tom Tearle, CEO of VMLY&R ANZ, becomes CEO of VML ANZ, while Gavin Bain, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Australia, becomes VML Chief consulting officer, ANZ, and managing director, Perth, Australia.

In Singapore, Wunderman Thompson CEO Nimesh Desai has been named VML CEO for the region. Rhys Taylor, who is currently the managing director of VMLY&R in Singapore, takes on the role of VML chief client officer, focusing on assuring the delivery of VML’s full spectrum of capabilities to clients.

In Indonesia, Wunderman Thompson CEO Samir Gupte has been named CEO of VML Indonesia.

In Malaysia, Kenni Loh, CEO of VMLY&R Malaysia, has been appointed CEO of VML Malaysia.

Golda Roldan, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Philippines, has been appointed CEO of VML Philippines

Wunderman Thompson Thailand’s CEO, Parattajariya Jalayanteja, has been appointed CEO of VML Thailand.

Ha Nguyen, who is the CEO of VMLY&R in Vietnam at the moment, has been chosen to be CEO of VML Vietnam.

Kevin Zhu, who is the CEO of VMLY&R China at the moment, has been appointed as the CEO of VML China. Wunderman Thompson for Greater China CEO Carter Chow takes on the role of president at VML China.

Maggie Wong, CEO of Wunderman Thompson, has been appointed CEO of VML Hong Kong.

Ichiro Ota, the current CEO of VML & Ogilvy Japan, will remain in his position, while Akira Suzuki, the CEO of Wunderman Thompson Japan, will take over as COO of VML Japan.

Even Teng, the CEO of Wunderman Thompson Taiwan, has been named as the CEO of VML Taiwan. 

VML India is a principal office and regarded as an important market for the agency, prioritising the hiring of capable executives to direct their teams for the benefit of employees and clients. The announcement of India’s leadership is slated for the first quarter of 2024.

Speaking about the multiple appointments, Audrey Kuah, Co-CEO, VML APAC, commented, “We are thrilled to introduce our new APAC leadership team, who represent the cream-of-the-crop across two of the most awarded creative agencies in the region. As we unify our storied agencies, there is an exciting opportunity to redefine the possibilities of creativity and set the stage for more innovative and effective work.”

Meanwhile, Yi-Chung Tay, Co-CEO, VML APAC, said, “At VML we are dedicated to creating connected brands which matter to the consumer and drive growth for our client partners. Working closely with our leaders across our APAC network, we are well positioned to provide the best possible solutions to our clients’ most pressing business problems via an integrated suite of capabilities which are unsurpassed in the region.”