Tag: Appointments

Manila, Philippines – Creative and communications network dentsu in APAC has appointed Mark Gabriel Chaves (Mako), former client partner and head of media, creatives, and analytics at insights and consulting company Kantar, to be its new head of media for dentsu Philippines.

Chaves brings with him over two decades of experience across relevant fields of expertise in media research, strategic planning, analytics, and creative development. He will be returning to dentsu after 14 years, where he first worked at Carat Philippines in 2008, and three subsequent stints at dentsu Malaysia between 2010 to 2016 as communications planning director, chief insight officer, and most notably, general manager for innovations. 

Aside from his most recent role at Kantar, where he was responsible for the set-up, go-to-market strategies, and revenue growth of media and digital, social analytics, and business analytics, as well as oversight of creative capabilities, Chaves was also the general manager at Zenith Media Philippines.

In his new role, Chaves will be responsible for driving synergies for dentsu Philippines’ media brands and working closely with the heads of iProspect, dentsu X, and Carat brands to ensure a unified representation of dentsu’s media capabilities in the industry.

Commenting on his appointment, Chaves said “There’s more to building brands – chief of which is mutual growth as partners around a central transformational idea. Our CEO JC has brilliantly put together a team of experts to realize his vision for dentsu Philippines and I’m humbled to be seen as someone who can complement an already-strong team of innovators and brand-builders.”

Meanwhile, JC Catibog, dentsu’s CEO for Philippines, shared that Chaves is a big picture thinker and highly-motivated contemporary marketer who fundamentally believe that building brands is multi-faceted and hard work, and trusts the unique role of media. 

“All of us in the Philippines are excited to welcome Mako back to the dentsu family and look forward to working closely together in scaling our media business to new heights,” said Catibog.

In February 2022, Richard Reid, formerly the head of consulting, data, and performance at integrated marketing agency Iris, has also been appointed as the new regional integrated strategy partner at dentsu for APAC, where he will be responsible for driving integrated strategy development for dentsu’s key clients as well as new business opportunities across the region.

Australia – Belong, the carbon-neutral mobile and internet provider in Australia, has appointed Amy Childs, former managing director of electric utility firm Momentum Energy, to step into the newly created role of chief customer officer.

Childs brings with her over 15 years of experience in the industry. Aside from her most recent position at Momentum Energy, which saw her lead an extensive transformation of operations and a 37% increase in customer growth during her time in the role, Childs has also led marketing, digital experience, and transformation operations at ahm Health Insurance, Medibank, and Red Energy. 

As the new chief customer officer, Childs will be responsible for the strategy and implementation of Belong’s customer experience capability, with the intent of delivering a best-in-class customer experience to better serve the telco’s customers. 

Commenting on her appointment, Childs said, “Belong is an incredible business with a huge opportunity to help redefine how customer experience can create more efficient, more accessible, and better outcomes for customers. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the team to meet and exceed our bold objectives for this year and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Jana Kotatko, Belong’s CEO, shared that Childs’ proven leadership across customer advocacy and business transformation will play a key role in Belong’s growth in 2022 and beyond.

“I’m looking forward to working with Amy as we implement our strategy to have the best customer experience in the country,” said Kotatko.

Singapore – Performance marketing agency M&C Saatchi has announced its new leadership team in Singapore, namely Madina Kalyayeva as managing director and Ali Shabaz as chief creative officer. Both hires will report to Richard Morewood, CEO for Asia at M&C Saatchi.

Both hires will be responsible for strengthening the agency’s integrated communications offering with a vision to rebuild it into a digital-first, Web3-ready outfit. A key focus for them will be to identify and develop the right people and partnerships to deliver impactful brand storytelling and innovative solutions across every touchpoint.

Kalyayeva joins the agency from R.S.V.P PR & Lifestyle Communications Agency, where she served as a managing director. Prior to this, she has had stints at Grey Group and McCann, working on clients that include Qatar Airways, Hotels.com, Coca Cola, and WWF, among others.

Speaking about her appointment, she said, “The foundation of new technologies like Web3 and metaverse are still being laid, and brands are still exploring the space. We are hoping to put the right expertise – people and partnerships – in place to navigate, create and lead meaningful changes, not just in the real world, but also in the metaverse.”

Meanwhile, Shabaz comes to M&C Saatchi with over 20 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry across SEA and the Middle-East. He has worked at multiple international agencies including BBDO, JWT, Grey and RAPP, and most recently the Chief Creative Officer at Publicis Groupe.

He said, “It is truly a fantastic time to be in advertising. There is a buzz in the air and we are seeing amazing, never-before creative opportunities to tell great brand stories. I’m very excited to join the team at M&C Saatchi. The agency has a great culture and strong vision of the future. Working with Richard, Madina and the whole team is going to be inspiring. I think we are definitely looking at some interesting times ahead.”

Commenting on the new appointments, Morewood said, “I’m so delighted that Madina and Ali are joining M&C Saatchi Singapore. They have an amazing plan for the agency, combining world class creativity with future thinking digital vision, which will be a real point of difference for clients both in Singapore and as part of the M&C Saatchi Southeast Asia hub.”

Lastly, Moray MacLennan, CEO at M&C Saatchi, added, “We welcome Madina and Ali who will be hitting the accelerator pedal on our Southeast Asia strategy – digital first, fully integrated, delivering meaningful change.”

Singapore – Global communications firm Edelman has appointed John Koay, former executive creative director of creative agency Ogilvy, to be its new regional executive creative director (ECD) for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand. 

Koay brings over 17 years of experience. He has worked at several of the large creative networks and produced award-winning disruptive campaigns that have resulted in business growth for brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Nike, Toyota, Panasonic, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Nestle, and Kellogg’s, as well as Johnson & Johnson, and Heineken.

In his new role, Koay will leverage his integrated thinking and channel-agnostic creativity to further enhance Edelman’s ability to deliver work that is rooted in culture. He will also be tasked with leading the firm’s creative team, as they develop earned creative for clients across its offerings.

Commenting on his new role, Koay said, “By embedding creativity and other integrated solutions into the core of its offerings, the agency’s work truly stands out in resonating with local audiences. I am looking forward to partnering with the talented team to continue pushing the envelope for what clients can achieve with the power of creativity.” 

Meanwhile, Tim Green, Edelman’s chief creative officer for APAC, shared Koay is an industry renowned creative maverick with an impeccable track record of delivering disruptive work.

“He joins us at a time when more and more clients are turning to us for creative solutions that swiftly respond to their business challenges and resonate with their consumers or audiences in a digital age. John is the epitome of multiculturalism and global thinking, while being fluent in the language of CMOs,” said Green.

Most recently, Edelman has also announced the appointment of Jamshed Wadia as its newest vice chair for digital in APAC, where he will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s growing digital practice and Edelman Studios’ operations in the region.

Australia – Digital creative agency Orchard has appointed Michael Di Natale, former managing director at conversational AI agency VERSA, to step into its newly created role of managing partner.

Di Natale brings with him 15 years of experience in the industry. Aside from his recent role at VERSA, Di Natale has held positions at the likes of Accenture and Isobar, before moving up the ranks to become dentsu’s executive director of experience, strategy, and consulting.

Moreover, Di Natale has worked across sectors spanning travel, finance, government, education, professional services, and utilities, as well as sport, and entertainment with clients including ANZ Bank, Australia Post, JB HI-FI, MCC/MCG, and NSW Government, as well as Qantas, amongst others.

In his new role, Di Natale will continue to build Orchard’s customer service offering and consumer division, leveraging the great momentum the agency has with existing clients Hyundai, Tourism Tasmania, and Westpac. He will be driving agency growth and creating connected experiences.

Commenting on his appointment, Di Natale said that the mix of talented individuals, excellent culture, and clear strategy and direction, has him very excited about what the future has in store. 

“Building meaningful, connected experiences is my passion and something that many talk about, but it’s rare you come across the team, capabilities, structure, and strategies in place to actually ‘walk the walk’ and bring it to life,” added Di Natale.

Meanwhile, Wai Kwok, Orchard’s CEO, shared that building connected experiences is at the core of their work and Di Natale has a proven track record in delivering digital experiences to a plethora of clients. 

“He has a passion for solving new challenges and building high-performing teams. With a diverse skill set, we are enthusiastic to see what he will bring to the table for Orchard in 2022. We know he will add not only great value to our business and our clients but to our people as well,” said Kwok.

Auckland, New Zealand – Public relations agency Mango Aotearoa has announced changes in their senior structure, namely Sean Brown stepping up as managing director, while group business directors Brianna Elder and Chloe Leuschke are being promoted to managing partners.

Claudia Macdonald, who established Mango over 20 years ago will be moving to a newly created role of executive director. This will see her working across Mango’s corporate clients and people processes as well as with the DDB Group, particularly on its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Brown, who has been with the agency for the past 10 years – six of those as general manager – says he is proud to be leading the best PR, experiential and social agency in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Elder and Leuschke will work with Brown to run the business, with Elder continuing to lead the agency’s experiential offering.

Speaking about his appointment, Brown said, “Mango is an incredible agency with the best talent and an enviable client list. Since joining, I’ve been privileged to work closely with Claudia who has been instrumental to Mango’s success and reputation as the leading PR firm in the country. The great thing about her new role is that we will still get the benefit of her skills and expertise.”

Meanwhile, Macdonald commented that it is an exciting time for them and the agency and that she is thrilled for Brown to lead the business alongside Elder and Leuschke.

“Sean has helped to deliver phenomenal growth for Mango; he’s a beloved member of the team and is absolutely ready to be Managing Director. It has been such a natural and seamless succession and I can think of no one better placed to build on Mango’s success and, with the support of Brie, Chloe and myself, take the agency to new heights,” she concluded.

Sydney, Australia – UM Australia, the media arm of media marketing network Mediabrands, has announced a series of appointments, namely Gareth Nicholls, the new managing director of UM Melbourne and Brisbane, Brett Elliott, the new managing director of UM Canberra and Government, and Ben McCallum, the new managing director of UM Sydney.

The elevated roles of the said managing directors are designed to ensure each market leader is able to reflect UM’s commitment to providing deep strategic counsel and partnership to clients.

Commenting on his new appointment, Elliott shared it is such an exciting time to be in the media industry, especially working on government business as they navigate through the fast-changing landscape of an election year.

“I have an enviable team of talented people with a thirst to succeed and thrive, and together we look forward to building the momentum of Canberra’s office and securing our place as the leading media agency in the market,” said Elliot.

Meanwhile, Nicholls said in such a fast-moving and evolving market, holding onto the best talent is the key indicator that your agency culture is strong. 

“Taking on this new role is incredibly exciting as it allows me to continue to grow our client relationships, drive new business growth and most importantly foster the great talent pool that we have in UM. All critical factors in ensuring the agency’s success,” added Nicholls.

Anathea Ruys, UM Australia’s CEO, commented that she was delighted to promote Nicholls and Elliott, promotions which were reflective of UM’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class management structure that provides the right level of leadership for its clients and its people. 

“We are in the business of investment – we work with our clients to invest in future-proofing their businesses and we invest in our people, ensuring that everything we do is based on delivering dividends for them in their wellbeing, their careers, and their growth. I’m so thrilled Gareth and Brett are taking on these new responsibilities to help drive the future growth of UM Australia,” said Ruys.

Singapore – Beverage company Diageo has elevated Wilson Del Socorro, former global director of government affairs at Diageo, to be its new corporate relations director for APAC. 

In his new role, Del Socorro will be working with the regional and market teams to lead Diageo’s corporate relations agenda covering public policy and government affairs, communications, and responsibility and sustainability efforts. He will also be playing a leadership role in driving the company’s ‘Spirit of Progress 2030’ ambition in the region, Diageo’s 10-year action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. 

Del Socorro has been with Diageo for almost 10 years covering a range of roles in Asia and the UK. In his recent role, he led an international team of policy experts and economists to develop and implement the company’s global strategy on public policy, international trade, and regulatory affairs. Before joining Diageo, Del Socorro was with consulting firm KPMG Australia, providing public policy and government relations advisory services to multinational clients across a range of industries.

Sam Fischer, Diageo’s president for APAC and global travel, shared that Del Socorro brings with him extensive public policy experience and industry knowledge as well as a strong track record of leading teams beyond borders.

“I am confident that Wilson will be influential in helping to drive the next chapter of growth for us in [the] Asia Pacific supporting our markets and partnering with our network of stakeholders as we continue to deliver on performance and create a positive impact in the communities within which we operate,” said Fischer.

Australia – Advertising agency Howatson+Company has appointed Dom Hickey, former head of planning at advertising firm DDB Group Australia, to be its new chief strategy officer.

During her stint at DDB Group Australia, Hickey has worked with various brands such as Westpac, J&J, Coles, and Unilever as well as Domain. She has led the strategy on Westpac’s life moments, the Matriarchs campaign for Carefree, and the Australian launch of Tylenol. 

Moreover, Hickey has worked across every dimension of marketing from brand transformation to brand experience. She also teaches strategy at Ad School and Miami Ad School, as well as co-hosts a podcast, The Junior Mafia, to give the perspective of young people in the industry a voice. 

Commenting on her appointment, Hickey said, “I’ve been watching Howatson+Company from afar, and I’m delighted to get the chance to join them. It’s an incredible team of lovely people, smart, sharp and on the tools. I’m excited about the work we can bring into the world by collaborating across all disciplines in one place.” 

Meanwhile, Chris Howatson, Howatson+Company’s founder and CEO, shared that Hickey is the perfect strategy leader as she is a modern planner and empathic to all marketing disciplines, and understands how these marketing practices come together across the brand and customer experience.

“Her first career was in the police force as a crime scene photographer. What a way to start a career in understanding human behaviour,” said Howatson.

Most recently, Howatson+Company has also appointed Richard Shaw and Jeremy Hogg, former creative directors at CHE Proximity, to be its new executive creative directors, aimed at bolstering the agency’s creatives.

Singapore – Global partnership management platform, impact.com, has elevated Ayaan Mohamud, former regional marketing director at impact.com APAC, to step into the newly created position of regional vice president of marketing for APAC.

Following this move, impact.com has also appointed Laurence Nelmes, former business development representative at impact.com ANZ, to the newly created role of marketing executive for ANZ. In addition, it has also added bench strength to its local customer success, partnership, and sales teams, namely Deborah Kan, the new partnership development manager for ANZ, Hayley Tse, the new customer success manager for ANZ, Kim Sippel, the new corporate account executive for APAC, and Diana Letran, the new pre-sales solution architect.

According to impact.com, the new hires and promotions aim to support its rapid growth across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, as well as to prepare for its launch into India in 2023.

Commenting on her appointment, Mohamud said that when she joined impact.com as their first regional marketing resource, she knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime to create a foundational APAC marketing strategy and build a local team to drive demand for a new category of marketing technology – partnership automation. 

“We’ve already exceeded our ambitious growth plans and I’m looking forward to leading our marketing team to new heights as we launch into Japan this year and India in 2023,” said Mohamud.

Meanwhile, Adam Furness, impact.com’s managing director for APAC, said that Mohamud has joined impact.com almost three years ago as their first marketing hire across APAC and has been a strategic and executional powerhouse since day one.

“She has been instrumental in helping drive our exponential growth across APAC with agile and innovative marketing initiatives that have helped raise awareness and understanding of the partnership economy. With more resources now available to her, the sky’s the limit to what she can achieve next,” said Furness.

In July 2021, impact.com has closed a US$150m round of funding at a US$1.5b valuation in preparation for an IPO, part of which was earmarked to enable the platform to double the number of its employees across APAC in 2022. To help nurture the significantly expanded team, Tanya Suna, former people development manager at impact.com for APAC, has been promoted to the newly created position of director of people and culture for APAC.