Tag: Appointments

Singapore – Leo Burnett Singapore has announced a series of appointments, starting off with the addition of Benoit Freyburger as general manager and the promotion of Arielle Brustein to head of planning. Brustein’s appointment is effective immediately, while Freyburger starts on 1 July 2022.

Under the leadership of Publicis Communications Managing Director, Joanne Theseira, the duo will work closely with Sharim Gubbels, executive creative director on leading and driving growth for the agency’s newly acquired clients – Singtel, Samsung, and a range of brands from Beam Suntory’s portfolio.

Freyburger joins Leo Burnett after three years at TBWA Singapore as Global Group Account Director. He brings 20 years of experience working across B2C and B2B remits on brands that include Standard Chartered Bank, Microsoft, Unilever, and Holcim across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. 

Meanwhile, Brustein has been with Leo Burnett for thirteen years, working at Leo Burnett Chicago, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, and has made her home in Singapore since 2018. With experience across a large portfolio of brands including McDonald’s, SK-II, Pfizer and Cathay, she will be bringing Leo Burnett’s HumanKind proposition to life across the agency’s client portfolio.

Theseira said, “Leo Burnett’s human-centred point of view is rooted firmly in what people want and care about. It’s an approach to business that has found deep resonance with clients, and fortunately for us, also with these fantastic talents. We’re very lucky to have them join us on our journey as we continue to see a period of significant growth.”

The agency has also strengthened its bench with the appointment of Wong Woei as account director, Michael Middleton as creative director, and the promotions of Adela Andrei to group account director, and Claudia Ribeiro and Weicong Chong to creative directors.

Singapore – Kinesso, the connected intelligence company under IPG, has appointed Matt Ware, the current managing director for APAC at Matterkind, to be its new CEO for APAC. With this appointment, Ware will still retain his leadership responsibilities at Matterkind.

In his new role as CEO for APAC, Ware will be streamlining support for Kinesso’s largest IPG partner, Mediabrands, and capitalising on growth opportunities as the company continues to evolve its business both inside and outside the IPG network.

Commenting on his appointment, Ware said that the new structure ensures clients have a single, simplified engagement experience with Kinesso and Matterkind, companies that work closely together as part of the data, technology, and media activation backbone for IPG.”

“I’m excited to bring to life our ability to design and deliver integrated solutions across the breadth of our offerings for clients across APAC,” he added.

Aside from Ware, there are three new regional CEOs, who will also retain their Matterkind leadership responsibilities, namely, Andy Butters, CEO for EMEA, Jorge Chavez, CEO for LATAM, and Sean Muzzy, CEO for North America.

Ware and the newly appointed regional CEOs will serve as a single point of contact for Kinesso and Matterkind services and solutions. Clients will benefit from the end-to-end solution sets and additional innovations Kinesso and Matterkind develop as they work more cross-functionally and globally.

Arun Kumar, the chief data and technology officer at IPG and the global CEO at Kinesso, believes that putting regional CEOs in place supports the kind of horizontal integration that will spark additional innovation at Kinesso.

“Innovation happens everywhere. Matt, Andy, Jorge, and Sean will give us a unified, global focus on the challenges we need to solve for our clients – including better connections between their martech and adtech – and will surely be a catalyst for further growth for Kinesso and our clients,” said Kumar.

Meanwhile, Erica Schmidt, Matterkind’s global CEO, commented, “I couldn’t be more thrilled for Matt, Andy, Jorge and Sean. They already have a track record of success leading Matterkind’s business in these regions, and I know they will continue to deliver excellence in their new roles.”

Manila, Philippines – Mediabrands, the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group, has elevated Raymond Dizon, who was previously the managing director of Reprise Philippines, to step into the newly created role of chief integration officer at Mediabrands Philippines.

In his new role, Dizon, who will be based in Manila, Philippines, will be leading strategic partnerships, direction, and digital product development and integration across the Mediabrands network of agencies including UM, Initiative, and Reprise, in addition to strategic business units such as Mediabrands Content Studio, Magna, and Orion. Dizon will also be retaining his strategic leadership oversight of Reprise Philippines.

Dizon brings with him 14 years of digital and media experience, the last six of which across Mediabrands agencies UM and Reprise. Aside from his previous roles at Mediabrands, he also worked with MediaCom, PHD Singapore, and UPFRONT MEDIA.

Dizon shared, “We are firmly focused on the goal to provide our clients with the most progressive solutions. As the market continues to evolve, and the array of tools, technologies, and synergies open up even more opportunities; we are looking to provide seamless synergy across crafts and a thoughtful blending of expert insights. I’m looking forward to the many possibilities that lay ahead.”

Meanwhile, Tricia Camarillo-Quiambao, Mediabrands’ CEO for the Philippines, commented that Dizon has a strong track record of commercial business building and specialised digital craft leadership which includes pioneering work in the e-commerce space.

“The creation of this new role is a testament to the evolving needs of our client partners which is reflected in the structure of our organisation. Raymond’s extensive expertise and experience across multiple craft and categories make him perfectly poised to take on the broader strategic remit across the network of agencies,” said Camarillo-Quiambao.

Just recently, Mediabrands has announced the launch of the media industry’s first major transformation of automated systems for more than two decades. To bring the 20-month project to life, Mediabrands partnered with global software company UI Path, and information and technology services company, Cognizant. The transition fully automates repetitive manual tasks across Initiative and UM using robotic technology, providing an enhanced career path for talent and a stronger value proposition for clients.

Singapore – Strategic communications consultancy, RICE, has added five new partners to its business. The new partners include Neil Mirano as director of client services; Donna Garcia as director and general manager for Myanmar; Mayda Jutahkiti is appointed to the position of general manager for Singapore; meanwhile, Agung S. Ongko is named as the director of strategy and insights; and Chai Zixin is appointed as the director for growth.

The long-term senior employees join Sonya Madeira, founder of RICE, and James Brasher, managing partner of RICE, as owners of the firm.

On the slew of new partners, Brasher commented, “Each of the new partners has been instrumental in building RICE into what it is today. We’re fortunate to have such exceptional people focused on the success of clients, and the team, every step of the way.”

He adds, “Ever since Sonya founded RICE, people have been at the heart of the business. A big part of that is recognising the sacrifice and contribution they’ve made. These five promotions are a significant step in expanding the ownership of the business as we enter our next phase of growth.”

RICE is a team of over 50 people across Asia, with offices in Singapore, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. Recently, RICE bagged tech firms UiPath and AI Rudder as new accounts.

Bangkok, Thailand – Publicis Groupe Thailand is moving its leadership structure to a co-CEO one, with current CEO Songkran Sethesompobe joined by Sorada Sonprasit, currently CEO of Brilliant & Million, and Paruj Daorai, currently Managing Director of Digitas Thailand.

The move to a co-CEO structure in the market is in line with the scale of the Groupe’s business in Thailand, aligned with the ambition in the coming years to make Thailand a real focus for Groupe transformation and acceleration, as well as representative of the potential in Southeast Asia of Thailand as a market.

Both Sorada and Paruj will report to Amrita Randhawa, CEO of Publicis Groupe, Singapore & Southeast Asia. The appointment is effective 1 June with the outgoing CEO overlapping for a smooth transition till the end of June. 

Sonprasit started Brilliant & Million after an illustrious career working with companies like American Express and Citibank. Always ahead of her time, she saw a huge opportunity for digital in 2007 and started Brilliant & Million. And in 2018 once again saw the immense potential of taking the agency to the next level by integrating Brilliant & Million into Publicis Groupe.

Meanwhile, Dorai began his career in advertising as a copywriter. From a small agency in Bangkok to a degree in graphic design in the US and stints in ad and design firms across the USA, Paruj came home to Bangkok to start the second phase of his career working at D’Arcy (DMB&B), Lowe Bangkok and Ogilvy & Mather Thailand. A move to the Leo Burnett Group Thailand shaped up the third phase of Paruj’s career. Moving from CD to ECD to launching Digitas Thailand.

Lastly, Songkran joined Publicis Groupe as CEO of Leo Burnett Thailand in April 2011. Together with his team, he has led Leo Burnett Thailand to become one of the most recognized and awarded agencies in Thailand. In May 2016, Songkran was appointed Country Head of Publicis Groupe Thailand.

Speaking on the new endeavour, Randhawa said, “I am delighted to see Sorada and Paruj step up into this role. Both are leaders who have been ahead of their time in developing digitally-led services for clients and work really well in partnership with each other, making them a very strong choice as we continue to transform the Groupe and its services in Thailand. I would also like to thank Khun Jod for his many years of service to the Groupe and for building strong relationships with our people and our clients. He is a trusted voice who will be missed.”

Singapore – Global web recommendation platform Outbrain has appointed Benjamin Steel, former head of business development for APAC at advertising agency Bench, to be its new general manager for SEA. 

In his new role, Steel, who will be based in Singapore, will be responsible for developing Outbrain‘s regional business strategy and digital growth, leading a successful business team and delivering revenue growth from both publisher and advertiser sales.

Steel has a wealth of experience in APAC, having spent eight years based in Singapore. Aside from his previous role at Bench, Steel has held senior sales management roles at eGentic and AB Tasty. Moreover, he has held various roles in Australia, including new business manager at Yahoo, where he was tasked with launching Yahoo Native.

Commenting on his appointment, Steel said that Outbrain is a rapidly growing company and now is an excellent time to join the team, as he aspires to make a positive difference here.

“Great content matters even more today than ever before. Outbrain publishers can expect continued support to better monetise journalism and independent journalism as we expand deeper into South East Asia regions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Andrew Burke, Outbrain’s managing director for APAC and growth markets (India, China, and Brazil), shared that Steel brings a strong track record of digital technology experience and is the ideal candidate to help lead the business in South East Asia, a region that is becoming increasingly important to their business.

“As Outbrain’s new general manager, we know Benjamin is committed to growing our existing presence in the market. He already has plans to expand the publisher base and deepen relationships with marketers and agencies using our innovative monetisation tools. In doing so, we’re working towards building a thriving native advertising ecosystem in the region,” said Burke.

He added, “His expertise in digital advertising and ability to collaborate in a team-oriented environment will advance our growth in the region, and we are very much looking forward to working with him.”

Singapore — Singapore-based Esports company Ampverse is preparing for accelerated growth, expansion into Indonesia and the Philippines, and development of its new Web3 business unit with a series of new hires and promotions within its senior leadership team. The updates include Tine Hansen as head of commercial partnerships; Thomas Jouanno as head of marketing and D2C; meanwhile, Robert Gaxiola is appointed as head of creative; and Jenny Hall is named as head of strategic partnership.

Following a successful US$12m Series A fundraiser earlier this year, Ampverse plans to strengthen and scale several key business units, including commercial, web3, marketing and strategic partnerships.

Hansen is a senior commercial executive with over 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry, focusing on IP and branded content. Hansen has worked across Europe, the US, Latin America, and APAC, holding director-level positions at the likes of Sony Pictures and NBC Universal.

Meanwhile, Jouanno is a digital and tech entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in digital marketing, e-commerce, data analytics, and product monetization. He has built and successfully exited several companies and previously served as president and CMO for Atmosol.

On the other hand, Gaxiola is a globally recognized and multi-awarded creative leader who will spearhead Ampverse’s creative direction and product evolution into original content and Web3 including bespoke metaverse experiences. He joins from Something Else, the digital content and NFT studio for the publishers Vogue, Esquire and Robb Report having previously held roles including executive creative director at Ogilvy & Mather.

A seasoned veteran with over 15 years of experience in business development and brand partnerships, Hall has been promoted to lead the company’s new strategic partnership business unit. She will develop new commercial products and partnerships across the group’s portfolio of IP.

Charlie Baillie, chief strategy officer of Ampverse, said, “When you’re building an innovative company in such a dynamic sector as gaming and diverse region as Southeast Asia and India, a world-class team is vital to realise the scale of our ambition. The latest additions to the management team all have their unique strengths but also share common traits – they are entrepreneurial, passionate, self-driven, and not afraid to challenge the norm.”

Over the last year, Ampverse increased its headcount from 60 to more than 100 employees and saw revenue grow during the same time period. Its portfolio of leading esports IP includes Thai esports brands Bacon, MiTH, and many more. 

Sydney, Australia – Global strategic communications and public affairs consultancy Sandpiper has appointed Jasmine Hogg, former director and head of reputation risk at Apollo Communications Australia, to be its new general manager for Australia. This appointment aims to bolster Sandpiper’s presence in the ANZ region, adding senior expertise to the firm’s local offering.

In her new role at Sandpiper Australia, Hogg will be playing a key role in leading the firm’s insurance practice across APAC. She will also be leading an agile team of consultants in Sydney and Melbourne, and collaborate closely with Sandpiper’s New Zealand team.

Jasmine brings more than 20 years of experience in media and corporate affairs, helping organisations around the world prepare and respond effectively to crises and hostile campaigns. She is a specialist in identifying reputation risks for clients in highly regulated industries, including financial services, aged care, pharma, technology, and aviation, as well as security, and education. 

During her stint at Apollo Communications, her work included advising clients during the 2017-18 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry and the 2018-21 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. She has also previously held senior advisory roles at several multinational corporations, including Macquarie Bank, Chubb Security, and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Hogg shared that Sandpiper’s established presence across China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore gives them a unique platform to help Australian companies target growth and investment in the Asia Pacific region. 

“Similarly, our team of local advisers has the capability to help clients build their reputation capital here in Australia. I’m delighted to be joining such a talented team at an important growth phase for the firm,” she said.

Meanwhile, Emma Smith, Sandpiper’s chief executive, noted that Hogg’s appointment adds bench strength to their team as they build out their presence in Australia and add a senior capability to their firm. 

“We are excited by the growth opportunities for our offering in Australia, in particular in the financial services, energy, healthcare, and technology sectors where we have deep expertise,” said Smith.

Mumbai, India – DDB Mudra Group’s media agency, 22feet Tribal Worldwide, has appointed Vishnu Srivatsav, former creative head of DDB Mudra’s South office, to be its new national creative director. 

The appointment of Srivatsav will take over from Debashish Ghosh, former national creative director at 22feet Tribal Worldwide, and will continue to report to Rahul Mathew, DDB Mudra Group’s chief creative officer. With Srivatsav at the helm, the agency aims to marry brand-first thinking with digital-first solutions as it gears up for the next phase of growth.

Since his appointment at DDB Mudra in 2015, Srivatsavhas led some of the Group’s award-winning campaigns that also sparked conversations. Under his leadership, DDB Mudra’s South office produced work such as Puma’s Suede Gully and Battlegrounds Mobile India’s Game Responsibly.

Commenting on his new role, Srivatsav said, “It’s been a terrific journey with the DDB Mudra group so far. And to lead an awesome team of creatives and be part of one of the most exciting names in digital – 22feet Tribal Worldwide – is nothing short of a privilege. Can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, Mathew commented, “Vishnu has been a great partner to the organisation in our pursuit of creative excellence. He recently led our South office to one of our best years creatively. I look forward to him taking this momentum and his infectious energy into the exciting opportunity at 22feet.”

Preetham Venkky, 22feet Tribal Worldwide’s president, shared that Srivatsav has always been a huge source of inspiration for the creative team at 22feet. 

“His grasp on culture, specifically internet culture, is arguably the best in the country and established through his work over the years. We are super excited to have him come aboard, to inspire, shape and establish the culture of excellent creative work for our clients,” said Venkky. 

Just recently, 22feet Tribal Worldwide has won the digital mandate of Porter, India’s marketplace for intracity logistics, with the primary focus on brand awareness and community building.

Australia – Independent agency Bastion has appointed Simon Langley, former national executive creative director and partner at advertising, content, and media agency Edge, to be its new group chief creative officer.

In his new role, Langley will be leading the creative offering of Bastion Creative, but his role will extend across the group to help define, drive, and unite, as well as support the creative ambition of other capabilities of the agency and ensure its clients benefit from seamlessly integrated ideas. 

Prior to his previous stint at Edge, Langley has spent over six years as the national CCO of Wunderman Thompson. He has also held creative leadership roles at 303 MullenLowe helping the agency double in size before the acquisition by Lowe. Langley has also spent over six years at BMF, three of which as a creative director.

Commenting on his appointment, Langley said that he is certainly wasn’t looking to make a move, but Bastion is a business he has been watching gain momentum in this market and beyond, and he is excited to be a part of an independent with a global reach and such a wide breadth of deep specialist capabilities, able to bring ideas and experiences to life seamlessly across every touchpoint. 

“It’s no surprise they’ve attracted truly great talent, some of whom I’ve worked with for many years, created great work with and just as importantly, had a huge amount of fun with. It’s this combination of factors that made it very hard to say no,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mike Godwin, Bastion Creative’s CEO, noted, “Simon has been successfully leading creative departments for over a decade. He has a reputation for being an open, positive collaborator both within the agency and with clients, and is equally passionate about delivering memorable and highly effective work.”

Jack Watts, Bastion’s global CEO, commented that they are thrilled to welcome a creative leader of Langley’s calibre into the Bastion group, as his track record of nurturing creative minds to deliver truly world-class work is amongst the best in the region. 

“Combining this with our creative firepower in New Zealand will elevate our business to one of the finest creative agencies in the region. We are confident this will not only take our creative work to another level, but the entire Bastion business globally,” said Watts.

In March 2022, Bastion has announced two new recent high profile hires, namely Angela Morris, the new national chief strategy officer, and Ana Lynch, the new managing partner for Sydney. Both are charged with taking the Bastion creative business to the next level, along with Langley.