Tag: CEO role

Cambodia – Global communications group Havas has announced the appointment of seasoned media and marketing specialist Rastislav Kanuch as the CEO of Havas Cambodia. 

Kanuch will lead Havas Cambodia through a journey of transformation and exponential growth. He will report directly to Alberto Canteli, CEO and chairman of Havas, Nordics, CEE and Middle East, SEA, Korea, and Japan. 

His responsibilities will encompass collaboration and partnerships, driving new business momentum, and nurturing and leading future-ready teams. 

Kanuch brings with him over 15 years of executive experience. Prior to his appointment, he served as a board member and CEO at UNIMEDIA, one of Slovakia’s largest national media agencies. With a significant emphasis on client service, empathetic leadership, and consistently exceeding customer goals, he had been credited with the agency’s increase in revenue and profitability. 

Commenting on the appointment, Alberto Canteli said, “Rastislav is a crucial addition to our team, integral to our ambition for this market as we strengthen our client-centered collaborative model. His extensive experience in leading agencies to success makes him the ideal candidate, and his expertise will build upon our achievements in Cambodia, propelling Havas Cambodia into its next phase of growth and expansion.”

Meanwhile, speaking about his new role, Kanuch said, “I am thrilled to be part of Havas. The group presents a distinctive integrated offering, supported by a wealth of resources across its global network. With a structure poised to deliver truly innovative solutions that today’s clients demand, I am eagerly looking forward to embracing this new challenge. My aim is to strengthen our commitment to creative excellence and intelligent media accountability, forging new opportunities that will accelerate our growth and momentum in the market.”

Singapore – Wunderman Thompson, a WPP agency, announced the appointment of Audrey Kuah as its new chief executive officer of Asia-Pacific. 

In her new role, Kuah will oversee the creative and strategic growth of the business across the APAC region. She will be based in Singapore and will report to Wunderman’s global CEO, Mel Edwards. 

Kuah’s expertise in marketing and advertising has been deployed across industries and geographies for more than two decades. 

Kuah joins Wunderman Thompson from OCBC Bank, where she formerly served as head, group marketing, global consumer and financial services, responsible for driving business and growth-focused marketing initiatives. During her time at OCBC, she delivered creatively driven, integrated campaigns that were inspired by consumer insights with personalisation at the core. 

She also partnered with OCBC’s group brand and communications team to design the consumer arm’s experience in Decentraland, OCBCx65Chulia. Kuah also spent eight years prior at Dentsu, where she was recognised as one of The Drum’s Top 100 Digital Marketers in the World (2019). 

Mel Edwards, global CEO of Wunderman Thompson, says, “Having worked both client and agency side, Audrey understands and appreciates the dynamics of working with leading global brands. We’ll have the best of both worlds for our people and our clients in APAC with Audrey at the helm, and I have no doubt she will bring her joy for creative problem solving to combine our creative offering and capabilities to drive growth in the region.” 

Meanwhile, Kuah also commented on her appointment, saying, “My journey in marketing and advertising jump started at J. Walter Thompson Singapore, I’m delighted to come full circle and lead the network’s operations across Asia Pacific. It’s not often this kind of opportunity presents itself, let alone for a network as progressive as Wunderman Thompson. The depth and breadth of the capabilities Wunderman Thompson has to offer is unmatched, and I look forward to working with both teams and clients to deliver their vision in one of the most dynamic and fast growing regions in the world.” 

Kuah will start her role at Wunderman Thompson at the beginning of September. She will be taking over from global president and EMEA CEO Ewen Sturgeon, who was acting as interim APAC CEO.

She is currently on the board of the Singapore Tourism Board and was most recently on the board of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore International. 

Makati City, Philippines – Global insurance and asset management provider Generali Life Assurance Philippines, Inc. (Generali Philippines) announced the appointment of Hak Hong Soo as the new president and chief executive officer of the company.

Soo will succeed Reynaldo Centeno after the latter announced his retirement on December 31, 2022. 

Soo has extensive technical and managerial expertise in product proposition and pricing, actuarial health portfolio and financial management, health business value chains, network and customer relations, and partnerships across the Asia region.

Before his appointment as the CEO of Generali Philippines, he was the regional head of health and an executive member of the International-Asia Regional Office. In his former position,Soo led the International-Asia Business Unit in strengthening the regional health business and accelerating the firm’s business transformation agenda. 

Jaime Anchustegui Melgarejo, CEO at Generali International, commented, “We are glad to confirm Dr. Soo’s appointment and his ability to lead our growth plans in the Philippines. The Asia region is an important engine of profitable growth for our Group, and we remain committed to investing in our people to drive this.”

Meanwhile, Rob Leonardi, international Asia regional officer at Generali, commented,”His extensive experience working across Asia will play a key role in leading his new team and driving our growth plans in the country. I am confident that under his leadership, Generali Philippines will continue to develop sustainably,” he added. 

In his appointment, Soo shared, “I am truly excited about this appointment by Generali Group. Generali has entrusted me to continue growing Generali Philippines and servicing our valued customers in the country. As their Lifetime Partner, I am confident that “We” at Generali Philippines will continue to provide sustainable propositions, value-added services, and a caring experience.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – CRIF Group, a global company in credit bureau, business information, and credit risk solutions, has named Nurman Rummel Sanusi as the new chief executive officer for CRIF OMESTI in Malaysia.

In his new role, Rummel will be responsible for growing CRIF’s broad range of information solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and SMEs, including credit reporting and credit risk data and analytics services in Malaysia.

“I am thrilled to have Rummel join the leadership team. He brings a wealth of experience, best practices, and skills which will be instrumental in leading the Malaysia team to drive CRIF’s success in this dynamic country,” Simone Lovati, managing director, Asia at CRIF, said on the appointment.

Rummel joins CRIF from eCOURTS, a division of OMESTI Berhad, where he held the position of chief operating officer. In his eight years of career at eCOURTS, he spearheaded the development and implementation of eCOURTS, the company’s proprietary digital court infrastructure solution.

Speaking on his appointment, Sanusi said that, “I am excited to join CRIF, and am committed to taking the business to greater heights. I look forward to working closely with CRIF Asia’s regional leadership to strengthen and grow the company’s presence and business in Malaysia.”

CRIF OMESTI, a leading credit report agency in Malaysia, is a joint investment between CRIF and technology solutions provider OMESTI, a Malaysia-based publicly listed company.

Philippines —The Globe Group has created AdSpark Holdings Inc. to consolidate initiatives around its adtech and data capabilities. It will be part of the 917Ventures’ portfolio of industries. To lead AdSpark Holdings is Nikko Acosta, who will serve as its CEO. Acosta also retains his position as chief strategy officer of the Globe Group.

Comprising the holding company are digital and mobile marketing solutions provider AdSpark, multi-channel messaging platform M360, intelligence-powered solutions provider iNQUiRO, and adtech startup Deep Sea. This initial portfolio forms a strong base foundation where the Globe Group’s digital advertising and data business can further thrive and scale.

On the other hand, Acosta, AdSpark Holdings’ new CEO, is one of Globe’s proven, steadfast, driven, and results-oriented leaders with nearly 20 years of experience across mobile, broadband, enterprise, international, and content. He has amassed general management experience working and collaborating with people.

Ernest Cu, CEO and president of Globe, said, “Our assets and capabilities in data, advertising, and Customer Relationship Management for B2B sit in various parts of the Globe Group and render solutions to customers independently.”

Cu adds, “But it has now become imperative to synergize and capitalize on their collective capabilities, increase operational efficiencies, build compelling solutions on data and ad-tech, and innovate at a macro level to maximize opportunities.”

Vince Yamat, MD of 917Ventures, the wholly-owned corporate venture builder subsidiary of Globe, shared, “With Acosta at the helm, we are confident that he can bring AdSpark Holdings to greater heights.”

The Globe Group’s growing portfolio encompasses services around telecommunications, ICT, financial technology, health, retail, outsourcing, entertainment, digital media, ad-tech and data. These allow its customers and partners to leverage digital and technology-based products and services for their business and lifestyle needs.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Former CEO of advertising agency Publicis Groupe in Malaysia, Kien Eng Tan, has been appointed by the Malaysian arm of global communications network dentsu as its CEO, effective February 8 this year.

Through his new role, Tan will be responsible for continuing the business’ transformation journey, driving integration across media, creative, and CXM service lines, building a strong culture with its people, and growth for its clients’ business. He will report to Ashish Bhasin, CEO of dentsu Asia Pacific.

“I am excited to be joining dentsu, with its strong heritage of innovation at such a pivotal time. The market has never been more dynamic with COVID-19 rewriting consumer behavior and therefore, expectations of the brands they engage with. Dentsu is excellently placed to capitalize on this pivot for its clients, and I am looking forward to working with the teams to develop and grow these opportunities,” Tan commented. 

Prior to joining dentsu, he also served as CEO to advertising agency Leo Burnett in Malaysia, accumulating more than 30 years experience in advertising and communications, and 15 years of senior leadership roles in the advertising industry.

“I am delighted to have Kien take over at such an important time. Over the years he has built a formidable reputation creating visionary work and growth for brands, as well as strong and united teams and I am looking forward to seeing him take Malaysia into its next era of growth. Nicky has been CEO at dentsu Malaysia for almost six years; I’d like to thank him for his leadership and wish him success with his future endeavors,” said Bhasin. 

Tan’s predecessor Nicky Lim is said to move on from his role to pursue other interests.