Tag: Appointments

Sydney, Australia – The Australian arm of out-of-home (OOH) advertising company JCDecaux has announced a new programmatic offering across its clients, in which the offering will be supported by the company’s newest hires and appointments.

The new programmatic offering called ‘JCDecauxPROGRAMMATIC’ will offer brands access to OOH with control and flexibility. Advertisers and agencies can execute and optimize campaigns in real time, with the company guaranteeing supply for programmatic advertisers, setting aside at least 5% of its digital networks to be published via its exclusive supply side platform (SSP), VIOOH.

JCDecaux’s sights are set on programmatic making up 2% to 4% of digital revenues in 2021 and 15% by 2023.

“Programmatic out-of-home is now part of the broader digital universe, sitting alongside programmatic online in omnichannel buying platforms. This gives us an opportunity to take a share of the US$9.5B invested in digital media in Australia each year,” said Steve O’Connor, CEO of JCDecaux ANZ.

As part of the wider programmatic offering, JCDecaux Australia has also announced new appointees namely Cassandra Cameron, who has been promoted into the expanded role of executive general manager, revenue strategy and operations; Brad Palmer as national programmatic director; and Kasey Climpson as programmatic operations manager.

Prior to their new positions, Cameron has worked with media company APN Outdoor as national training director and as a member of the DOOH council of the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Meanwhile, Palmer has worked as the national programmatic manager at both digital publisher Allure Media and youth media group Pedestrian Group, and Climpson has worked with APN Outdoor as well as campaign delivery executive.

“Programmatic out-of-home used to be just an idea, now it’s a reality and we are excited to be the pioneers in Australia. Our business is primed and ready to change the conversation, giving advertisers a solution for buying out-of-home that’s as easy, and as sophisticated, as web or mobile audience buying. By reducing operational barriers, we anticipate a range of new advertisers will leverage the power of this valuable channel,” Cameron stated.

In regards to their appointments, O’Connor said that these changes align the talent’s organization’s aim to deliver on their business strategy.

“Our unique programmatic offering changes the way advertisers can plan and transact out-of-home and reflects our strong commitment to growing the Out-of-Home channel and leading through change,” O’Connor stated.

“Today, more than ever, our clients look to us to understand the future, and the future is now. Advertisers can be confident that when they plan a programmatic Out-of-Home campaign with JCDecaux they will have access to Australia’s most desirable outdoor formats and locations, whenever they choose to be active,” Cameron added.

Australia – The Australian Professional Leagues (APL), a soccer league agency in Australia, has recently appointed three new senior executives to put in place the league’s commercial and marketing functions, which is part of APL’s growth strategy.

The new appointees are Ryan Sandilands, the first commercial director of APL; Rob Nolan, the new head of marketing and data operations function, and Stacey Knox, the new executive member of the marketing team.

Sandilands brings his 20 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry to the agency. He previously led commercial growth and strategic planning for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Women’s Tennis Association, and City Football Group, as well as AEG. Sandilands will now be responsible for supercharging the commercial and operational capabilities of APL and club commercial teams.

Meanwhile, Nolan comes with 20 years of global marketing experience, working with companies such as Kayo Sports, News Corp, and iflix. He previously built data capability with data agency Digital Alchemy to fuel growth, done in collaboration with various telcos, such as Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, and O2. Nolan will now lead the marketing and data operations function of APL, and will attempt to engage football fans on a one-to-one basis. 

Along with Sandilands and Nolan, Knox also joins the APL marketing team. She will be responsible for transforming the agency’s operational capability to ready the execution of APL’s direct-to-consumer strategy. Knox brings with her over two decades of experience in global marketing organizations and agencies, previously working with Coca-Cola, News Limited, and Inchcape, as well as a coach and mentor to industry bodies and not-for-profit organizations.

According to Ant Hearne, the chief commercial officer of APL, “This team is here to innovate and supercharge the commercial and marketing capabilities of the APL, as we realize our reinvention as a leading football entertainment company. We’re seeing the most entertaining football on the pitch and it’s our job to take that directly to fans with a world-class fan experience and content offering.”

The agency has also announced other new hires, namely Danny Townsend, the new managing director, and Michael Tange, the new digital director, as well as Tracey Scott, the new deputy commissioner in the APL leadership group.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Annalect, the data technology, and analytics division of Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has promoted Daler Kendzhaev as the head of Annalect Malaysia, following the network’s commitment to bolstering its data and technological capabilities to deliver effective, efficient, and differentiated marketing solutions for its clients

Through his new role, Kendzhaev will be responsible for Annalect’s growth in the market as well as building the division’s new capabilities in Malaysia by overseeing the increased adoption of Omni, OMG’s people-based marketing and insights platform, across OMG Malaysia and its agency brands. He will also spearhead advanced tech initiatives and build on global and regional partnerships while unlocking new local opportunities.

Prior to his new position, he joined media buying company PHD in Malaysia as business director, where he manages portfolios of local, regional, and global brands including HSBC, Volkswagen, LG, Warner Bros and Singapore Airlines. 

“I am truly excited for the opportunity to lead Annalect and to support both PHD and OMD in driving our client’s businesses via advanced data, analytics and tech solutions. With current complexity and changes in the digital media ecosystem, now, more than ever, brands in Malaysia are looking for digital transformation and consultation, and I am thrilled to be part of this journey in helping brands with their digital acceleration,” Kendzhaev said, regarding his appointment.

He will report to Eileen Ooi, chief operating officer at OMG Malaysia.

“Daler has played a critical role in building PHD’s data and technology ambition as well as elevating our clients’ digital maturity. “I am excited to have Daler lead OMG’s Annalect division in Malaysia as we continue providing holistic data-driven solutions for our clients’ marketing needs,” Ooi stated.

Singapore – Lesley Renton, the general manager and director for marketing of Singapore-based agency Clearwater Communications, has bid farewell to join another marketing agency, Green Park Content (GPC), but this time, taking a region-bound role as the agency’s new head of new business for APAC.

GPC is a global digital-first marketing agency whose APAC-based offices include Jakarta and Singapore. GPC said the acquisition of new hires comes as it continues to scale up and grow its operations seeing an increased demand for its content marketing, SEO, technical services, and social media services. 

Renton will assume her responsibilities under the leadership of GPC’s Managing Director Marcelo Bittencourt. She is charged with the task to drive new business and “turbo power growth.” She will be managing a growing team within the function to increase the momentum of GPC’s business wins and regional client acquisition. 

Just recently, GPC has also added to its team a new Head of Client Services for APAC Martin Niens well as the promotion of Fe Husaint to the creative director role for APAC. 

Renton held her most recent position at Clearwater Communications for a little over a year. She brings with her a wealth of expertise from over 20 years in Asia, working in a variety of leadership roles in global brand marketing, agencies, and events, for hypergrowth startups and MNCs; including hospitality development company Travelodge Hotels Asia, event services Pico, brand experience company Freeman, and F&B Harry’s, among others. 

Commenting on her appointment, Renton said, “I am delighted to join the GPC team and look forward to helping our progressive, world-class clients and regional new business prospects own their customer relationships and audiences at every stage of the customer journey, through the power of search, and brand publishing.”

Green Park Content is headquartered in London. Since entering the APAC region in 2017, the agency has activated projects in a number of Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. 

Bittencourt said, “We are delighted to have Lesley Renton join GPC as Head of New Business. Lesley’s wealth of expertise in business development, global brand marketing, digital marketing, communications, events, and content marketing will make her an asset to our clients and our team for turbocharging GPC new business wins.”

Sydney, Australia – Global communications and marketing agency WE Communications (WE) has appointed two key hires for its Digital and Experience Technology (DXT) team in Australia. 

The new appointees for the DXT team are Brian Keenan, the new head of strategy, and Mike Nikotin, the new art director. Both will report directly to Nichole Provatas, group head of the DXT team Australia.

The agency believes that the appointments will strengthen its integrated marketing services for clients, which include data-led creative, paid social, and performance marketing, as well as brand and content strategy, and influencer marketing, among others.

Keenan has previously worked as a senior vice president of planning and head of business intelligence for public relations firm Weber Shandwick. Throughout his career, Keenan has led campaigns for brands like ALDI, American Airlines, and IBM, as well as Mastercard. Keenan will now be responsible for analytics, content, and brand planning, as well as agency IP for WE’s DXT team in Australia, bringing with him his 10 years of experience in creative and client strategy.

Meanwhile, Nikotin has previously worked as an associate creative director for media company Enigma Communications. Nikotin brings with him 20 years of experience in the creative and art direction sectors, working with agencies such as WiTH Collective, The Works, Allianz, and American Express, as well as Toyota, and Virgin Mobile, among others. His appointment will see him moving WE’s Creative Studio to greater heights, made up of animators, designers, editors, and producers.

Commenting on the two new appointments, Provatas said that the addition of Keenan and Nikotin to the DXT team further expands the senior bench as the team continues to invest in the specialist craft and respond to the changing nature of the way people consume content following the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Dan Woods, managing director of WE Australia, also shared “It’s paramount for communicators to understand how the world’s rapid motions impact consumer behaviors and embrace new media for brand storytelling. Brian’s strategic insights combined with Mike’s creative capabilities will further enhance our counsel and available capabilities to clients as we collectively navigate today’s fast-changing reality.”

Singapore – Global hotel chain Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has named a new senior director for its Marketing & Loyalty in the Asia Pacific region, its very own Lynn Poh. 

Prior to the role, Poh was the hotel chain’s director for Marketing & Loyalty in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. Following the elevation, Poh will be leading and managing all aspects of Wyndham’s loyalty program, Wyndham Rewards, in APAC including overall brand marketing, e-commerce and PR activities. 

Speaking to MARKETECH APAC, Poh said that for the new role, she will be focusing on integrating the marketing and loyalty teams in APAC and developing strategic marketing and loyalty campaigns that will support the needs of its hotels across the region.

She further shared that the hospitality giant’s APAC strategy will be focused on driving integrated campaigns with a sub-regional approach. This includes strategic marketing and digital and social media initiatives across various markets to drive engagement and awareness for Wyndham Rewards. To bolster loyalty from existing members, Poh shared that Wyndham will be launching loyalty based offers including ‘member appreciation months’ offering bonus points with bookings, as well as the fast-tracking of member levels through the reduction of qualified number of nights to gain new status amid softened travel in the new normal. 

Poh comments on the appointment, “I am excited to be leading the marketing and loyalty strategy for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in our newly integrated Asia Pacific division and I am looking forward to creating dynamic multi-channel campaigns that drive customer engagement and satisfaction.”

Poh reports into Rex Loh, the vice president for Commercial in APAC. 

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is one of the biggest hospitality chains in the world with brands across upscale, midscale, and value segments. The APAC leg currently comprises over 1,500 hotels, and within the running quarter of the year alone, the region has announced new additions to its portfolio with a new property in India state Gujarat, and inaugural entries in Nepal and Cambodia.

APAC – Global beauty brand Mary Kay has appointed Wendy Wang, its former chief commercial officer, to become the new president for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region team.

The appointment will see Wang providing strategic vision and leadership while working on the company’s growth expansion in the APAC region. 

Prior to Wang’s new position, she worked at Mary Kay’s Corporate Legal Department in 2002 as counsel for the APAC region. Shortly thereafter, she began a multi-year assignment in China and upon her return to the global corporate headquarters in 2012, she was promoted to the position of vice president and associate general counsel, where she was responsible for legal work and compliance in all four regions.

Furthermore, in 2019, Wang returned to China for a new assignment and was promoted to the position of chief commercial officer for APAC in 2020, developing and driving the implementation of commercial strategies, and leading the APAC team in support of sales, marketing, business technology, and operations.

Commenting on her appointment, Wang said, “Supporting Mary Kay’s independent sales force is my greatest honor and it always brings me hope, love, and confidence in our future. We are a people business with a mission to enrich women’s lives and a vision to empower the Independent Beauty Consultant. My team and I are committed to delivering the very best business opportunity, building upon the values Mary Kay upholds as cornerstones of our corporate culture and mission,” said Wang

David Holl, chairman and chief executive officer of Mary Kay, said that the company is thrilled as Wang transitions into her new role as President of Mary Kay APAC, saying that she is passionate about the independent sales force and is a proven leader. 

“During her tenure, she has tirelessly built a strong and talented legal team that created a culture of compliance and compassion for China and the entire Asia Pacific Region. We are thrilled to welcome her as a member of the executive committee as we build on our efforts to enrich women’s lives around the globe,” added Holl.

Mary Kay Inc. which is headquartered in Addison, Texas, U.S.A. has been known for manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances.

Singapore – The Singapore arm of global communications agency Sandpiper Communications welcomes two new appointees being promoted to take charge of the agency’s business operations in the country.

The new appointees are Sarada Chellam, Sandpiper Singapore’s new general manager and Elizabeth Chu, the agency’s deputy general manager. Both will work closely with COO Kelly Johnston, and CEO Emma Smith to drive forward the business in Singapore and across the rest of Southeast Asia.

Chellam has worked previously with the Singapore arm of marketing communications company Ketchem as its senior vice president before joining Sandpiper in 2018 as a director. She specializes in corporate, brand, and crisis communications and provides strategic counsel for clients working across a range of industries including healthcare, technology, travel, and consumer brands. In addition, she brought with her almost 20 years of experience in communications and journalism and has played an integral role in growing Sandpiper’s healthcare practice and digital-first communications offering across the region.

Meanwhile, Chu has been with Sandpiper in Singapore for close to three years and specializes in the financial, technology, and professional services sectors. She set up and grew Sandpiper’s operations in China, spending time between Beijing and Shanghai before returning to Singapore full-time in 2020. She has more than a decade of experience working in corporate communications across Greater China and the Southeast Asia region.

Commenting on their promotions, Chellam said, “I am excited to lead our Singapore office and build on our achievements and growth in recent years. We are fortunate to have hugely supportive clients and an incredible team with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to deliver great work and drive innovation in our industry.”

Meanwhile, Chu commented, “As Singapore strengthens its status as a global business and financial hub, we are well-positioned to serve our clients in this market and to grow the business alongside them. I am honoured to take on this new role, and to support Sarada and the team in continuing to deliver strong results for our clients.”

For Johnston, working with the two appointees has been a privilege, noting that “they are both talented consultants who lead from the front.”

“[They] are strong ambassadors for our culture and values, and have built trusted partnerships with clients. With our Singapore team doubling in size over the past year, their appointments will help drive forward our continued growth and success,” Johnston added.

Manila, Philippines – Global communications network dentsu, has announced the appointment of two key business leaders for its operations in the Philippines.

Quad de la Paz joins dentsu Philippines as head of Digital, while Koji Akabane has been promoted and joins the group’s Philippines operations as head of its Media Service line.

De La Paz is a seasoned digital marketing practitioner with over 17 years of industry experience. Quad has been tasked to drive the agency’s digital growth across both the Media and Creative Service lines. Quad’s previous experience includes website development as well as project management with AsiaOnline, and digital services directorship roles in Dentsu Indio and MRM Worldwide. He has also held a digital media director position at Starcom Mediavest as well as taking the helm as regional performance operations director at Adglow. 

Meanwhile, Akabane brings with him 14 years of marketing and communication experience across the Asia Pacific region, with expertise in integrated digital marketing, commerce strategy, data solutions, and tech innovations. Akabane joined dentsu in 2017 and has been driving the digital business for the network in a regional capacity. Prior to joining the network, Akabane spent 10 years with WPP’s GroupM in Japan and Indonesia, where he led the regional client management team on accounts with Japanese-born brands across a wide industry spectrum, ranging from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), fashion, retail, luxury to automotive, among others.

In his new role, Akabane will be tasked to lead dentsu’s integrated agency network dentsu X, and look after key Japanese client accounts in dentsu Philippines. He will also be responsible for driving business growth and digital transformation of the Media Service line, working closely with the Media leads, and ensure the line’s alignment with regional as well as global teams.

Commenting on De La Paz’s appointment, JC Catibog, CEO at dentsu Philippines, said, “Quad’s professional expertise has always been focused in the digital space, spanning different segments, such as production, customer relationship management (CRM), digital strategy, digital media, search as well as performance marketing. Quad’s approach to digital is dynamic, agile, and data-driven, but collaboration and synergy across all methods, disciplines, and channels have been the constant thread.”

“He is strongly inclined in the usage of data and tools and believes it is a key component for success. There is no one better Quad to take on this role. I have confidence he will do a stellar job in transitioning traditional ways of working, into one that is tandem with the digital era,” added Catibog.

Meanwhile, on Akabane’s appointment, Catibog commented, “We are delighted to have Koji-san join the team. He has a wealth of experience across not only the network but also the region. Koji-san’s sophisticated digital expertise supports our digital ambitions. Without a doubt, I am certain he will take our business from strength to strength.”

The appointments will commence with immediate effect.

Sydney, Australia – Data analytics and brand consulting company Kantar in Australia and New Zealand has recently appointed Jon Foged to the newly-created position of managing director for Kantar ANZ’s Insights division.

Prior to his new role, Foged had a 17-year tenure with Kantar and is renowned for his strategic, commercial, and people-focused leadership across APAC. He has been CEO of the company’s Insights division in Australia since 2018 and was previously chief strategic and business development officer for the APAC region and CEO for Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia. He has also held managing director roles for Kantar in Singapore and Malaysia.

Wayne Levings, APAC president for Kantar’s insights division, said the newly-created managing director position is the company’s culmination of a multi-year transformation of its presence in the region.

“Kantar is at the intersection of brand building and technology, enabling our clients to deliver growth in a fast-changing environment. Jon and his leadership teams have a clear history of building strong performing businesses across APAC. He has a core mantra focused on our people, our culture and our clients and we are looking forward to his leadership to continue the growth of our businesses in Australia and New Zealand,” Levings stated.

Foged’s new position comes after former CEO of Kantar New Zealand Jason Shoebridge sets to leave the business in April, after more than a decade with Kantar and its predecessors. 

“I am really excited about working with our New Zealand team and extending the outstanding legacy of Jason [Shoebridge]. I would like to personally thank Jason for his leadership and the role model behaviors he has demonstrated over his many years at Kantar. He has always been a strong and vocal supporter of the New Zealand business and as an outcome, Kantar has the market leadership position and reputation,” Foged commented.

Meanwhile, speaking on his departure, Jason Shoebridge commented that Kantar New Zealand is in good hands with Jon, a fellow New Zealander.

“I leave Kantar in a good heart. I believe the people at Kantar are among some of the best in the business and are incredibly adept at providing our valued clients with quality insights to drive growth and success,” Shoebridge stated.