Tag: Asia Pacific

Singapore – In a digital world where email remains a cornerstone of communication, programmable email allows marketers to go beyond static, one-size-fits-all messages and create dynamic, interactive experiences that drive customer engagement and boost conversions. But with users sometimes ignoring emails due to being bombarded with it constantly, how can marketers elevate their email marketing campaigns to correspond to individual customer experiences?

This June 21, MARKETECH APAC comes back with another discussion under its webinar series on customer experience ‘Connecting the CX Dots in 2023’ with the aim of helping brands and marketers alike carefully carry out an efficient and future-proof omnichannel journey mapping. The new webinar is the third of the series–following the first theme, conversational marketing, which tackled the challenges and opportunities marketers face in their conversational marketing efforts; and the second theme, omnichannel journey mapping, which tacked understanding of the omnichannel experience, and how marketers can make best use of it in their strategies.

Titled ‘Programmable Email: Connecting the CX Dots in 2023’, the webinar will feature a panel discussion with marketing leaders across the Southeast Asian region. In it, Alrick Oh, vice president of marketing at CoinHako and Nancy Almasco, marketing director at FlowerStore.ph–will be present to share their insights and tips for marketers in executing click-worthy programmable email marketing strategies.

The panel, titled ‘Making Your Way to Consumers’ Inbox: How to channelize customer behaviour to programmable email strategies’, will also discuss the following topics:

  • Understand: What do consumers really want to see in brand-led emails, how frequently do they want to receive them, and what timeslots are most optimal? 
  • Strategise: What email creatives and messaging are best for each generational cohort – Millennial, Gen Z, and Gen X? 
  • Personalise: How can brands develop a holistic email campaign that would deliver personalised messaging for each stage of the funnel? 
  • Repeat: How can marketers replicate success in their programmable email strategies and what pitfalls must they steer clear of?

Moreover, in a highly saturated environment, how can marketers create email campaigns that stand out from the rest? And how can a brand capture customers’ attention and differentiate themselves from competitors? To share more insights on how to elevate a brand’s programmable email marketing strategy, the webinar will also feature a keynote presentation by Geraldine Chen, business development manager at MessageBird. The presentation will further discuss the importance of competitive email intelligence which can be used to optimise campaigns and achieve better results.

Katherine Sy, regional head of content at MARKETECH APAC, said, “In the industry, a recurring phrase often heard is ‘email marketing is dead.’ Or are your customers simply ignoring one of the many emails they receive everyday? To truly make an impact, marketers must embrace creativity and forge emotional connections. Through authenticity and personalisation, the various generations of this era are sure to recognise the worth and value of your message. Join us as we uncover how to unleash the full potential of your email marketing campaigns and let these expert marketers prove this myth wrong.”

‘Programmable Email: Connecting the CX Dots in 2023’ is made in partnership with omnichannel communications platform MessageBird. Catch the third theme of MARKETECH APAC’s webinar series on customer experience on June 21, 2:00PM SGT by registering HERE. See you there!

Singapore – Branson Veal has been appointed as the new creative director of Now Comms Asia, a creative marketing and integrated corporate production house. Veal has over 20 years of experience in the creative industry.

His appointment is a strategic move for Now Comms Asia, as it looks to further elevate its creative offering in Asia-Pacific.

Veal’s expertise in crafting immersive campaigns aligns with the agency’s commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining experiential advertising.

Bryan Timothy Joseph, general manager at Now Comms Asia, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Branson to our amazing team. His vast experience and award-winning repertoire of creative-led content will undoubtedly boost our current offering and capacity for bringing big ideas to life.” 

Joseph also added, “We’re really excited at the fresh possibilities that are opened to us with Branson’s arrival. It also cements our commitment to our clients in the region and our constant pursuit of growth, enhanced creativity and the value we bring through quality delivery,”

Now Comms Asia is a full-service creative marketing and integrated corporate production company with a strong presence in the enterprise technology sector in Asia Pacific. With over 20 years of experience in the region, and 15 years as a incorporated company in Singapore, Now Comms Asia has a network of affiliates throughout Asia.

Singapore – Media agency Wavemaker has named Sindhuja Rai as its new chief executive officer for Asia-Pacific. She is based in Singapore and reporting to global CEO Toby Jenner. Her role will take effect in September this year.

In her new role, Rai will drive the strategy and execution of how Wavemaker positively provokes growth for their clients and people around the region. 

She will also join the Wavemaker Global Executive team, as well as the GroupM APAC Leadership Team ExCo, and collaborate closely with GroupM and WPP leaders across the region to connect the breadth and depth of the group’s capabilities to drive growth on behalf of Wavemaker’s clients.

Rai is recently with Mondelez International as its senior director for global media investment and AMEA consumer experience. She has been with the company for over 12 years and changed Mondelez’s media ROI, driven by creative excellence, engaging brand activation and a constant consumer centric approach. 

With over 20 years in marketing, her experience also spans media agencies, amongst others Mindshare and Publicis Media.

Speaking on her new role, she said, “I’m truly excited to join the many familiar faces at Wavemaker. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed the collaborative relationship with everyone at the agency, and I’ve been impressed by its culture of positive provocation.”

She added, “I’m now looking forward to building on this established success while utilising my client experience to drive meaningful growth for Wavemaker, it’s clients and our people in the region.”

Meanwhile, Jenner commented, “I’d like to thank Mondelēz and Jon Halvorson in particular for supporting Sindhuja’s transition from Mondelēz to Wavemaker. It’s all credit to Jon how highly regarded Sindhuja is. She is smart and driven with huge integrity. She knows our business well from our relationship with Mondelēz, and her regional leadership and global sensitivity make her ideally positioned to take Wavemaker to the next level.”

Jon Halvorsen, global SVP for consumer experience at Mondelez International said, “Over the past 12 years Sindhuja has been a standout performer within the Mondelēz organization. Under her leadership we’ve consistently delivered double digit ROI growth, led the industry/region in digital excellence and pioneered critical new capabilities in consumer data, personalisation and AI.” 

He added, “Her ability to drive volume and build strong brands through standout consumer experiences is unique and unparalleled. I know that in her new role she is going to be an amazing partner to many media leaders, category presidents and CMOs as she has been at Mondelēz.”

Singapore – Manulife in Asia has appointed Phil Witherington, most recently the group chief financial officer, as its new chief executive officer. Through this role, the current Manulife Asia CEO Damien Green will now chair the Manulife Financial Asia board.

Witherington will continue reporting to Roy Gori, president and CEO of Manulife, and remain on Manulife’s executive leadership team.

Before joining Manulife in 2014, Mr. Witherington was the Asia-Pacific head of finance for retail banking and wealth management at HSBC. He also held finance roles at AIA and was a financial services specialist at KPMG.

Speaking on the new leadership team changes, Gori said, “Phil has helped strengthen our solid financial foundation as we enter the next stage of our journey. We have bold ambitions for Asia and Phil’s deep appreciation of our team, market, and opportunity across the region will help accelerate our growth agenda for this critical part of our business.”

He added, “I’d like to thank Damien for his leadership of Manulife Asia this past year and our Hong Kong business before that. Throughout his tenure, his commitment to our customers, team and agents has helped secure our competitive position across the region.”

With Witherington leaving his chief financial officer position, Manulife has also appointed Colin Simpson to take over said position. 

Singapore – Global brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R is partnering with global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to enhance the organisation’s social and digital presence to increase awareness, funding and action for its climate-fighting projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

Through the mandate, the agency will be responsible for developing TNC’s new digital platform, which will be the central portal for the charity’s employees, volunteers, donors and other partners, providing crucial information on its strategic plan and 2030 goals, along with detailed information and progress updates on its various projects, both regionally and by country.

VMLY&R will also lead TNC’s social content strategy across the region, performing an in-depth social audit with data analysis to understand current awareness levels and perceptions of TNC. 

The agency will use the insights and analysis to streamline the charity’s ability to reach and positively engage with its key audiences in the region, including potential donors, members and partners, spanning high net worth individuals, corporates and business leaders, governments, academic institutions, other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media, influencers and more.

Genevieve Jiang, director of marketing and communications for Asia-Pacific at The Nature Conservancy, said, “Taking our digital and social presence to the next level is a crucial part of our organisation’s evolution in the region, allowing us to better connect with our teams and key target audiences to communicate the importance and urgency of the work we do.” 

She added, “This will help us drive funding, collaborations and partnerships – which are essential for creating real impact in APAC. We are delighted to be working with a purpose-driven agency that understands our goals and is dedicated to helping us achieve them.”

Meanwhile, Rhys Taylor, managing director at VMLY&R Singapore, commented, “At VMLY&R we are committed to creating connected brands that can have real influence. TNC has an important mission that affects us all, and we are privileged to be working to help them move the dial to combat the climate crisis.” 

Taylor added, “We believe that seamless, intuitive user experience is fundamental in creating a connected brand, and will be working with TNC to help them meaningfully engage with the right audiences, at the right times, in the right places, in order to maximise their footprint and create a greener, more sustainable future for all.”

New Delhi, India – Integrated communications consultancy Ruder Finn and digital marketing agency RFI have teamed up to launch a new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practice to help accelerate business growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Called ‘Ruder Finn Diversity Communications Practice’, said endeavour will provide dedicated and bespoke consultation services focused on DEI.

Moreover, it will tap into over a thousand world-class communications experts around the world. These accomplished professionals have an impressive track record of developing DEI strategies with a wide variety of clients, including the Singapore Ministry of Manpower, the Women’s Foundation and the upcoming Gay Games in Hong Kong.

For Elan Shou, CEO of Ruder Finn Asia-Pacific, the new practice is in alignment with the company’s recognition of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as with broader societal shifts towards more inclusive practices.

“For businesses aiming to develop DEI strategies, they must focus on more than just cultural capital. Today’s consumers perceive brands as the voice of their employees and support those brands that resonate with their values. This can be a daunting prospect for businesses, which is where our team of seasoned experts comes in to ease the journey,” he said.

Meanwhile, Atul Sharma, CEO of Ruder Finn India and head of Middle East, commented, “We believe that commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential for driving business growth and success in today’s global landscape. As communication professionals, it’s our responsibility to craft messaging that not only reflects the diversity of our society but also resonates with individuals from various backgrounds. 

He added, “With the launch of the DE&I Practice, we will drive focused communication strategies for our clients catering to their specific needs, providing them with tools and expertise required to build inclusive and innovative organisations.”

Singapore – Around 64% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific region are willing to engage with brands collecting data directly, with 57% of respondents open to sharing demographics data. This is according to the latest data from customer engagement platform Twilio.

According to the data, respondents appreciate the benefits of personalised experiences, with 65% acknowledging that personal data usage enhances their interaction with brand websites. Over 57% are comfortable or indifferent to social media platforms sharing their personal data with other brands or businesses.

Moreover, 60% of respondents expect clear and comprehensible information about data usage, emphasising the importance of transparency in building consumer confidence. 

However, only 15% were comfortable with all their data being shared with another brand. This figure has more than doubled to 34% amongst those who were generally aware how their data is being used, rising to 46% for those who had full knowledge of how organisations use their data.

The data also showed that 76% of respondents either accept all cookies or allow selected cookies, reflecting a willingness to engage in data sharing. This widespread acceptance appears to be mainly due to pragmatism, not ignorance, however. Most survey respondents understand that cookies are widely used to provide personalised experiences on a website or app. But they also say they would prefer that they are not used.

In fact, 72% of respondents believe consumers should avoid websites that collect cookies, indicating caution towards cookie practices. An overwhelming 90% agree that site owners must disclose their use of cookies and provide the option to opt out, or risk losing consumer trust. These findings underscore the need for brands to balance personalised experiences and consumer privacy, maintaining trust while offering tailored engagements.

Nicholas Kontopoulos, vice president of marketing for Asia Pacific & Japan at Twilio said, “Today, consumers expect brands to protect their data and be upfront about how their data is being used. The combination of scepticism towards third-party data and the willingness to share data with trusted brands is fueling new opportunities and forging the pathway to a healthy and sustainable data-sharing ecosystem across the region.”

Sydney, Australia – Adtech Kargo has announced that it is bringing its video advertising product suite to Asia-Pacific, more specifically in the markets of Australia and New Zealand, India, and Southeast Asia. Said solutions put brands front and centre with optimised creative ensuring that they are seen with the intended visual impact. 

Kargo currently has three video advertising solutions which includes:

  • ‘Branded Canvas’ – squeezes video back with additional product imagery and messaging, driving deeper awareness and memorability.
  • ‘The Split Card’ – offers large real estate next to the video ad, ideal for product showcases, promotional offers or oversized call-to-action prompts.
  • ‘The Interactive’ – adds subtle branding elements on top of the video for playful motion and bonus attention. 

According to the company, its video advertising solutions have the capability to deliver experiences on the small screen using proprietary technology design and deep integrations into their curated supply.

Neill Pitt, sales director at Kargo APAC, said, “Kargo understands what works for consumers and brands. Enhanced video ads make brands relevant, capturing attention and increasing performance against key metrics, even above industry standards. We’re thrilled to offer our video advertising in APAC, where digital advertising, particularly video, is in a growth phase. APAC advertisers can make a better impression with Kargo enhanced video ads.”

Kargo recently acquired connected TV (CTV) and over-the-top (OTT) platform VideoByte, as part of its mission to deliver differentiated interactions to audiences through various platforms.

Singapore – As part of its 150th year anniversary of the iconic ‘501 jean’, global clothing brand Levi’s has rolled out a slew of local celebrations across various markets in Asia-Pacific, as well as in other global markets.

A large chunk of the local event activations in the Asia-Pacific region came from the markets in Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Greater China.

In Singapore, denim lovers and fans enjoyed exclusive early-access to an all-new 501® denim line-up, live performances by homegrown DJs Clammr and TINC, workshops by sustainability-focused creative studio FIN Crafted Goods, and live customisation by the iconic Levi’s® Tailor Shop.

Meanwhile, over at Thailand, the experience was held at the newly-renovated shopping hotspot Siam Square, complete with live customisation at the Levi’s® Tailor Shop and handicraft studio Craft Creator, and digital art recreating the stories behind each consumer’s own Levi’s® offering. Moreover, Levi’s was involved at Pattaya stop of global music festival Rolling Loud, as part of the brand’s global partnership with the music festival.

In South Korea, the experience was celebrated with an exclusive, invite-only event featuring the brand newest global ambassadors, K-Pop girl group NewJeans. The event included a product archive showcasing the 150-year history of the 501 jean, as well as a music concert with performances by NewJeans and local music artists BIG Naughty and Zior Park.

Over at the Greater China region, the experience was done through dedicated brand experience space inspired by the fusion of American denim and Chinese characters, with included an auction for limited edition 501 jeans. Moreover, Levi’s worked with art installation group L+L to launch branded art installations.

Nuholt Huisamen, senior vice president and managing director for East Asia-Pacific at Levi Strauss & Co., said, “Through the years, Levi’s® stands tall as the original pioneer of denim, blending quality craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless fashion. We’ve dressed icons, rebels, and innovators alike, making our mark on history. More than a pair of jeans; we are a symbol of self-expression and authenticity.”

He added, “From the rebellious ‘50s to the rockin’ 80s and beyond, Levi’s® has been a trusted companion on every adventure and the brand remains very much at the center of culture and top-of-mind for youths.”

Singapore – Keso Kendall, most recently the head of regional strategic accounts for Asia-Pacific, has been promoted by TEAM LEWIS as its newest senior vice president for Asia-Pacific. In her new role, she will be leading the agency’s business in the region following a slew of business wins such as Pizza Hut, Circles.Life, and the Singapore National Youth Council. 

Kendall will play a vital part in driving the agency’s overall strategy – expanding its client base, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver results. She will also work closely with the global and regional executive team to further solidify the agency’s position in the market.

She replaces Fairil Yeo, who will be leaving the business for a new role after being at TEAM LEWIS for 8 years. Kendall’s promotion took effect in 1 June this year, and will report to Yvonne van Bokhoven, executive vice president for EMEA and APAC at TEAM LEWIS.

Kendall brings 12 years of experience in PR, marketing, public affairs, branding and communications to the role. With a background covering both B2B and B2C marketing, she has worked with brands across APAC to deliver local, regional and global campaigns that drive business impact.

Commenting on her new role, she said, “I am extremely excited and energised to be stepping up to lead our fantastic APAC team. As the marketing landscape continues to evolve and face new challenges, I know the team will continue to deliver exceptional, impactful and creative work.”

Meanwhile, van Bokhoven commented, “Her extensive experience, industry knowledge, and leadership skills make her the ideal candidate to take our agency to new heights. I have no doubt that Keso will play a key role in driving our continued success and helping us achieve our ambitious goals. We thank Fairil Yeo for his excellent contribution to our business and wish him well for the future.”