Tag: Appointments

Hong Kong – Leading telecommunications company in Hong Kong and Macau, SmarTone, has named Renee Sin as its new general manager for branding and integrated marketing. 

According to her LinkedIn profile, Sin will be handling SmarTone’s branding, integrated marketing, loyalty, CRM, store concept, and visual merchandising.

Prior to joining SmarTone, Sin was senior director of e-commerce and DTC at manufacturing company UCP Group, where she spearheaded its digital acceleration and acted as its COO for strategic development, e-commerce operation, and digital and growth marketing, amongst others.

She also held the senior director for e-commerce and marketing for Europe and APAC and ALDO Group, as well as the marketing director for footwear & apparel retailer Belle Worldwide Limited.

SmarTone has also previously entered a partnership with ABS-CBN Global in 2021, targeted at providing quality service to Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Australia – SpringServe, the ad serving platform acquired by Magnite, has announced the appointment of Mete Bargmann as commercial director for JAPAC and Kok On Chew as director of client solutions.

Bargmann will be responsible for planning, developing, and implementing commercial strategies to support and accelerate the growth of SpringServe throughout APAC. He is expected to bring his 15 years of digital advertising experience to the new role.

Prior to joining SpringServe, Bargmann previously held the position of head of business development for Asia at Magnite, working with publishers and broadcasters across Europe and Asia to develop their advertising businesses and strategies.

Meanwhile, Chew will be based in Singapore and will be providing technical support for SpringServe’s product suite in the APAC region. 

He is expected to bring his experience in designing and implementing OTT video streaming solutions in the media technology sector to his new position. 

Before SpringServe, Chew previously spent 18 years working at Harmonic, Inc. as presales and SaaS manager where he handled architectural design efforts and implementation of cloud-based OTT video streaming solutions, amongst other responsibilities.

Magnite has also previously acquired revenue management platform Carbon to accelerate publisher audience activation.

Shanghai, China – Global growth agency Aiken Digital has appointed Kian Fong Wong as its new general manager of China. 

Wong made the announcement through a LinkedIn post. According to his profile, he will be based in Shanghai, China for the new role. 

Wong is an experienced leader and technology executive who co-founded digital agency Deep Focus, which was previously known as FlipScript Interactive.

Prior to joining Aiken Digital, Wong was previously the head of media and marketing solutions agency UM Studios in China. In this role, he spearheaded the startup and formation of MediaBrands Content Studios (MBCS) in the country, amongst other responsibilities.

He also held the regional director for North Asia position at public relations and communications company Isentia and was managing director for China at advertising agency R/GA.

Aiken Digital specialises in growth consulting, experience design, system development, creative & content, XB e-commerce and SaaS products.

Mumbai, India – Global brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R has announced the appointment of Saurabh Saksena as chief executive officer of VMLY&R India. 

He will be based out of Mumbai and will report to Hari Ramanathan, CEO of VMLY&R, South and Southeast Asia and Japan. 

In the new role, Saksena is expected to drive the integration of VMLY&R’s capabilities across India, such as creative excellence and transformational solutions at the intersection of brand and customer experience, data, platforms, and commerce.

Prior to joining VMLY&R India, he was the president of Red Fuse Communications India. He also held the CEO position at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide and brings with him experience in social, commerce, data and CRM, shopper marketing, full-funnel management, and new-age media, amongst others.

On his appointment, Saksena said, “I’m thrilled to take up this new role and lead the VMLY&R operations in India. The agency houses a great pool of talent across specialisations that don’t usually exist together in a single agency, making it well-positioned to harness creativity, technology, and culture to create connected brands.”

He likewise mentioned that VMLY&R has outstanding growth potential in India and that he and his team will continue to build on it.

Ramanathan further commented, “India is an anchor market for us in Asia and with a breadth and depth of offerings that are unmatched in the industry, VMLY&R India, under Saurabh’s leadership, is all set to help clients get their ‘unfair’ share of growth in a vibrant market.”

VMLY&R India also previously appointed Rajshekar Patil as its executive creative director last year.

Singapore – To support its growth strategy across the Asia-Pacific region, IT company Fujitsu has named its new head of marketing for APAC, Jezmynn Koh-Turner. This is a comeback for Koh-Turner who previously joined the company back in 1999. 

Koh-Turner will be based in Singapore, joining Fujitsu’s APAC leadership team. She will be focusing on supporting the company’s regional business strategy and building the Fujitsu Uvance brand.

She is expected to bring over two decades of marketing and communications experience in enterprise tech and SaaS companies across APAC, ASEAN, Greater China, North Asia, South Asia, and Australian markets in the new role.

Prior to joining Fujitsu, Koh-Turner was most recently director of marketing for APAC and MEA for SaaS solutions provider Jedox AG. Throughout her experience, she’s also held marketing and communication leadership roles at SingTel, F5 Networks, and Commvault, amongst others. 

When Koh-Turner first joined Fujitsu in 1999, she supported go-to-market strategies at Fujitsu Asia, with a role that spanned for seven years. 

On re-joining Fujitsu, she said, “I am very pleased to have re-joined Fujitsu during such an exciting period of transformation and I look forward to collaborating with the Global Marketing team and the Asia Pacific organization to support Fujitsu’s growth strategy and bring to life our purpose-led strategic direction and focus.”

Graeme Beardsell, chief executive officer of Fujitsu Asia Pacific also said, “With extensive experience in the enterprise technology market across the Asia Pacific region, she is the ideal executive to lead our Asia Pacific marketing team as we look to elevate our position as a trusted digital transformation (DX) and sustainability transformation (SX) company in the region.”

Vice Head of Global Marketing at Fujitsu Dr. Laura Bonamici also expressed her excitement to work with Koh-Turner in supporting the business strategy and financial objectives for the APAC region and building the Fujitsu Uvance brand.

“She is passionate about driving integrated marketing and communications strategies to generate market awareness, shift perception and impact purchase consideration, and will no doubt be a great asset to our company,” Bonamici added.

Fujitsu is a leading business and IT solutions provider, offering services drawn from five key technologies: computing, networks, AI, data and security, and converging technologies.

Australia – To support its continuous national growth, corporate affairs agency Bastion Reputation has appointed Andrea Robertson as its new group client director.

In her new role, Robertson will be delivering work and support for Bastion Reputation’s client roster across government, education, technology, financial services, mining, energy, resources, and sports sectors.

Robertson is an experienced multimedia and communications agency client service director and has over 20 years of experience with global and Australian multimedia companies and advertising agencies. 

She also specialises in client relationship engagement, client service strategy and workflow, customer experience, contractual agreements, and product strategy and development, amongst others.

Prior to joining Bastion Reputation, Robertson was the group account director at global advertising agency Now Screen. In the role, she managed client experience and process, as well as brand and advertising strategy and creative and production for all advertising channels.

“An exemplary client experience has always been central to how we work, and Andrea’s appointment is a key step as we continue our rapid growth to ensure we are delivering the high quality, high impact and values-based services the business is known for and our clients demand,” said Bastion Reputation Managing Director Clare Gleghorn.

She added, “Through Andrea’s experience in media organisations, as well as advertising agencies, she has led large client service and project management teams, as well as managing blue chip private sector clients, and government accounts.”

Bastion Reputation has been making appointments this year to amplify growth, including the appointment of Elliot Giakalis as principal consultant for media and public affairs and Jim Carden as principal consultant for campaigns and digital reputation.

Singapore – Real-time data platform Aerospike has named Sharon Koay as its new marketing director for the Asia Pacific region and Japan. 

According to her LinkedIn profile, Koay will be handling Aerospike’s marketing process and campaigns from research and planning to execution and analysis. She will also be managing the marketing budget and goals for APAC and Japan.

Moreover, she is expected to bring her skills in market planning, enterprise solutions, sales, channel management and go-to-market strategies to her new role. 

Koay has sales and marketing experience of about 20 years and has held managerial roles at technology company Dell and software development company One Identity.

Prior to joining Aerospike, she also worked as a marketing consultant for Silver Linings Consultancy. Her clients included Aerospike, Proofpoint, EnterprizID, DT Asia, and Hoonartek.

Aerospike is a data platform that enables organizations to act instantly across billions of transactions while reducing server footprint.

Bangkok, Thailand – Ogilvy Thailand has elevated Jiravara Virayavardhana, formerly its managing director, to be its new chief executive. She will be overseeing all aspects of business performance, people management, and client relationships for the company, as well as implementing the strategic direction of creativity that will be powered by data and technology. 

Virayavardhana first joined Ogilvy Thailand in 1995 and has been promoted to various senior positions. She brings with her wide experience in handling various blue chip international and local clients across industries, from consumer goods, food and nutrition, retail, health, beauty, fashion, and technology, as well as cooperation with large government agencies and NGOs. 

Throughout the past 27 years that she’s been with Ogilvy, the agency said she has demonstrated a profound understanding of clients’ brands and businesses and has always been able to use creativity, data, and technology to turn challenges into achievements, enabling phenomenal success and impact on clients’ organisations, people, and society.

Commenting on her elevation, Virayavardhana said that she is very pleased and honoured to be at the helm of Ogilvy Thailand. She further shared that for her and all Ogilvy people, what makes them different is their unique ability to use creativity to solve their clients’ problems – from the way they discover insights to the way they produce their works.

She added, “What I aim to do under this new role is to spread this belief to our clients and partners. Faced with today’s challenges, we could not simply rely on the same strategies and tactics to help us get by. We need to differentiate ourselves through our work and transform the ways we do our business.” 

“To help our clients at a challenging time, we will focus on making works that create an impact in three, vital areas – Impact for People: showing how the products and services make people’s lives better and easier. Impact for Planet: demonstrating the brands’ contribution in improving our community, society, and the world we live in. Impact for Performance: while accelerating growth for brands and businesses sustainably. We will be the driver for positive change through this Impact Framework, and we will bring our people, our clients, and our industry forward with us,” said Virayavardhana.

Meanwhile, Nopadol Srikieatikajohn, chairman of Ogilvy Thailand, noted that throughout her time with Ogilvy, Virayavardhana has devoted herself to the growth of the company and their clients’ businesses, and she has fully immersed herself to the challenges and risen above all with effective and sustainable solutions. 

“The works under her supervision did not only shape people’s affections, but also their thoughts and behaviours, and went on to create ripple effects that transformed our society for the better. She is a true female icon who is loved and respected not just within the Ogilvy network, but by the wider communication community. I believe that, with her new, well-deserved role, Jiravara will continue to empower her people and bring our company forward with her unmatched business and emotional intelligence,” said Srikieatikajohn.

In September 2022, MARKETECH APAC interviewed Virayavardhana for theseries ‘Agency Leadership Decoded’, where industry leaders share how they are innovating their strategies to keep the morale and engagement of their teams in tip-top shape.

“Leaders must have the courage – to embrace the unexpected, to try the untested, and to charter the unknown territory – and they will surely conquer the furious tides of change,” she said in the interview.

Sydney, Australia – As part of its new national structure development, creative agency M&C Saatchi has announced the promotion of Michael McEwan as CEO for the AUNZ region. He will be reporting to Justin Graham, CEO of M&C Saatchi Group AUNZ.

Prior to his new role, McEwan was managing director of the AUNZ team. Previous experience also saw him holding a managing director role at Ogilvy Australia for more than a year.

McEwan will be bringing his 25 years of experience working with some of the world’s most progressive brands locally and internationally. His appointment will help enable greater client accessibility to the agency’s diverse talent pool.

Speaking on his elevation, McEwan said, “I’m excited about the opportunity to further help lead M&C Saatchi’s growth, bringing our diverse and specialised thinkers together to create more brilliant work and exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

He added, “Equally, our industry in partnership with our incredible clients provides a unique responsibility and platform to have a voice to drive positivity and progress. It’s what I believe those in our team care about and where they want to focus their talent and energy. Opportunities to make a difference and apply our creativity are all around us, it’s certainly an exciting time.”

Graham also commented, “Michael has gone from strength to strength within the M&C Saatchi Group. Now elevated to the CEO role, he will run at multiple new business opportunities with our borderless creative offering.”

The national restructure began earlier this year with the promotion of Emma Robbins to national executive creative director.

M&C Saatchi has also been making leadership appointments in other countries, including Nisha Devina Roy’s appointment as managing director for Kuala Lumpur and the new leadership team in Singapore.

Singapore – Omnichannel communications platform MessageBird has recently appointed Rohan Chandhok as its new head of marketing.

Chandhok will be bringing his years of experience in the fields of B2B marketing, data-driven digital marketing, and media relations, amongst others, to his new role.

Before joining MessageBird, Chandhok was previously director of marketing at the multinational computer technology corporation Oracle, serving the JAPAC region. He was responsible for creating actionable marketing plans for revenue generation through integrated digital marketing, content marketing, and field marketing.

He also held senior and leadership roles at the IT company Dimension Data and IDG Media Pvt. Ltd., amongst others.

MessageBird is a communication solutions provider that helps businesses streamline conversations through their customers’ preferred channels such as email, SMS, WhatsApp, WeChat, and more.