chief executive officer Archives

Singapore – Himanshu Shekhar, most recently the chief executive officer for Southeast Asia at GroupM, has stepped down from his role this month, the company has confirmed to MARKETECH APAC when reached out to.

“After two and a half decades with GroupM, Himanshu Shekhar has decided to step down from his role managing our business in Southeast Asia this month. Himanshu has been a strong leader for us over the years. We’re grateful for his many contributions to our success in the region and wish him the best for the future,” a GroupM spokesperson told MARKETECH APAC.

Himanshu served as GroupM’s CEO for the region beginning in May 2023. Prior to this, he was the CEO of GroupM Indonesia and then expanded his role to also include the Thailand and Vietnam markets.

He also served as the managing director of Mindshare Indonesia in 2010 before being elevated to the position of CEO in 2012 and subsequently as its CEO for Southeast Asia in 2015.

The recent move also follows a recent shake-up in GroupM’s APAC leadership, which expanded the remits of Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom’s regional agency leaders to include responsibility for critical GroupM-wide functions and capabilities.

Australia – Amperity has announced the appointment of Tony Alika Owens as its new chief executive officer and member of the board. With over 20 years of experience scaling global sales and enterprise operations, Owens joins Amperity amid strong market momentum, as the company advances its mission to help brands transform complex customer data into business value.

Throughout his career, Owens has navigated the same customer data challenges that Amperity’s clients face today. This firsthand experience gives him a unique understanding of the pain points that Amperity solves – and the value it provides enterprises.

Owens brings over 20 years of experience in executive roles at Salesforce and Oracle, where he scaled enterprise operations and global sales. Prior to Amperity, he was the president of worldwide field operations at LivePerson, overseeing the company’s go-to-market strategy and teams.

Before LivePerson, he had progressive responsibilities running Salesforce’s field operations in the Americas and was a member of the executive committee. Owens also previously served as group vice president at Oracle. Tony serves on the board of directors for The Mandatum Foundation, SnapLogic, Pathlight, and CIPIO.ai.

Speaking on his new role, Owens said, “Customers are at the heart of Amperity’s success. Amperity has an incredible opportunity to help businesses unlock their customer data’s full potential. By leveraging AI to refine and democratise data, we’re empowering technical teams to shape business strategy and fuel unprecedented growth.”

Meanwhile, Derek Slager, co-founder, CTO and board member at Amperity, commented, “I’m incredibly excited and confident in Tony’s leadership as we enter our next phase of growth. We share an aligned vision for AI and data, focusing on what matters most – executing on valuable use cases and delivering rapid time-to-value for our customers.”

Lastly, Matt McIlwain, managing director at Madrona and Amperity board member, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Tony as the new CEO of Amperity. His extensive enterprise software experience in customer relationship management and data analytics, along with his leadership at a global scale, will be instrumental as he leads Amperity through continued growth. I am confident that Tony’s obsession with customer value will take the company to new heights in this AI and data-driven era.”

Singapore – Edelman has announced that Rakesh Thukral will succeed Warren Fernandez as CEO for the firm’s operations in Asia-Pacific (APAC). Fernandez will be stepping down from the role to pursue a new opportunity and will remain with the firm until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.

Thukral has a long-standing career with Edelman. As the current APAC chief operating officer and managing director of India, he has championed growth through a relentless focus on the firm’s clients, people and diversification of specialties and offerings across its portfolio.

Speaking on his new role, Thukra said.“We have a strong team across the region and great client relationships across sectors and markets. I look forward to working with our teams and clients to continue elevating our work, and ensuring our clients receive solutions that help them evolve and grow their businesses in these complex times.”

Meanwhile Ed Williams, Edelman’s President for International, spoke on the recent development stating, “I am grateful for everything that Warren has done for the firm, and for his leadership both regionally and globally. He has broadened and sharpened the firm’s capabilities in APAC, and his decades of experience in the news and media sector has been hugely important to many of our clients. We sincerely wish him all the best with his next move.

“The APAC region continues to present significant opportunity for Edelman and our clients, and therefore remains a key focus for us. Rakesh’s experience of partnering with global companies to enter the Indian market, and for Indian businesses to expand globally, will be invaluable to our clients across the whole region. He has a deep understanding of the business, political, and societal dynamics of the region, and I have confidence that under his leadership, our business will be well positioned”, continues Williams.

Lastly, Fernandez says, “I am grateful for having been part of the Edelman team and to have worked with some of the industry’s most talented and committed colleagues. A new opportunity has arisen which is hard to say no to; it is a role that plays to my longstanding interests in public policy, and where I will have the opportunity to engage on some of the significant political and geopolitical issues of the day.”

Thukral will report into Williams in his new role, and the appointment is effective immediately.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Zurich Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad (ZLIMB) has announced the appointment of Pauline Teoh as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 November 2024. She brings over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, having held multiple senior leadership roles across the APAC region with leading financial institutions.

Pauline is highly regarded in the insurance industry, with a proven record in driving business growth, digital transformation, partnership management, sales and distribution, and financial risk management.

Speaking on her new role, Pauline said, “I am honoured to lead ZLIMB and look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success. Zurich Malaysia’s dedication to innovation and customer-centricity resonates with my own values, and I am excited to work with the team to continue delivering best-in-class solutions that truly care for what matters most to Malaysians, as we create a brighter future together.”

Meanwhile, Junior Cho, country CEO and head at Zurich Malaysia, commented, “We are excited to welcome Pauline as the new CEO of ZLIMB. Her extensive experience, industry knowledge, and strong leadership skills make her the ideal person to drive ZLIMB’s business through growth, diversification, simplification and innovation. Pauline will report to me and be part of our leadership council to align with the OneZurich approach under Zurich Malaysia.”

He added, “Pauline’s dedication to delivering customer-focused solutions aligns perfectly with Zurich Malaysia’s mission to provide innovative insurance products that meet the evolving needs of Malaysians. We are confident that she will play a pivotal role in spearheading initiatives that strengthen ZLIMB’s competitive edge in the insurance sector.”

Singapore – Sundip Chahal, most recently the group chief operating officer at YouGov, has joined Milieu Insight as its new chief executive officer. Drawing on his extensive network and experience, Chahal will continue to strengthen Milieu Insight’s position in SEA while spearheading Milieu Insight’s growth into new global markets, starting with the US and UK.

He joins Milieu Insight following a remarkable 18-year tenure at research company YouGov, where he rose to the position of group chief operating officer and oversaw the company’s growth.

Speaking on his new position, Chahal said, “The opportunity to lead Milieu Insight at this juncture is thrilling and humbling. We’re not just looking to grow; we’re going to change how businesses understand and connect with consumers globally. Southeast Asia has been a key driver of Milieu Insight’s success, and I look forward to furthering that momentum as we push into new markets.”

For his part, Chahal is also eager to build on the solid foundation laid by Ang and the founding team.

“My focus is on enabling the vision already in place,” he explains. “We’re taking what’s been articulated locally and expanding it globally. The potential here is enormous, and I’m excited to help realise it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gerald Ang, the founder of Milieu Insight, sees Chahal’s appointment as a fantastic opportunity to accelerate the company’s global ambitions, freeing him to focus on innovation and business strategy, alongside the new CEO.

“With Sundip on board, we’re entering a new phase of growth. Southeast Asia is an important and exciting region for us, and we look forward to strengthening our partnerships here with his invaluable experience and network,” Ang stated.

Ang’s vision for the company also remains focused on product development and skill enhancement.

“We’ve built a great team and a powerful platform,” he says. “Now, with Sundip’s leadership, we can scale up rapidly while maintaining our commitment to innovation.”

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group agency PHD today announced the appointment of Eileen Ooi as CEO for Asia-Pacific. With over 19 years of industry experience, Ooi was most recently CEO at OMG Malaysia. Prior to that, she spent four years with PHD Malaysia as its managing director.

In her new role, Ooi will lead PHD business operations across APAC and work with clients from many of the world’s most well-known and successful brands, including Volkswagen Group, CHANEL, Diageo and Singapore Airlines. Ooi will report directly to Tony Harradine, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, APAC, and Guy Marks, CEO, PHD Worldwide.

With Ooi’s successor expected to be named in Q4, she will continue to oversee OMG Malaysia as CEO in the interim, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained momentum.

An avid advocate of talent development, Ooi actively contributes to the broader advertising industry by participating in local and regional speaking engagements. Additionally, Ooi was recently re-elected as President for the Malaysian Digital Association (MDA).

Tony Harradine, CEO at OMG Asia Pacific, said, “Eileen has a unique ability to identify strategic opportunities and effectively converting them into tangible results. Under her visionary leadership, OMG Malaysia has undergone a remarkable transformation, achieving significant business growth, with client and employee confidence at an all-time high.”

He added, “With her cumulative experience as well as her understanding of the business needs at PHD and at the group-level, Eileen will successfully steer PHD Asia Pacific towards a new era of growth.”

Meanwhile, Guy Marks, CEO at PHD Worldwide, commented, “PHD promises our clients that we will help them outthink, outpace and outgrow the market. With her record of driving growth for her clients and her agency alike, Eileen is the ideal choice to ensure that PHD APAC delivers on that ambition.”

He added, “She’s a practitioner with an eye for detail, she moves at pace and is a fierce collaborator – all things that will make her a great partner to our clients in Asia Pacific. I am excited to work with Eileen to make PHD’s new proposition, “Intelligence. Connected.” a reality in the region, delivering a competitive advantage for our people and our clients.

This appointment underscores OMG’s commitment to promote from within the organisation. It is also a testament of Ooi’s stellar track record for building businesses that are powered by strong client relationships and an unwavering commitment to drive growth and innovation.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Universal McCann (UM) in Malaysia has named Sue-Anne Lim as its new chief executive officer. Her appointment officially takes effect on January 1, 2024; and officially replaces the interim management following Audrey Chong’s departure from the agency.

Sue-Anne has a total of 20 years’ experience in designing growth strategy for business and brand transformation, having worked with established MNC and GLC brands, with experience spanning multiple verticals.

She has first-hand experience in post-merger cultural integration and raising business value for acquisition, and previously held roles at Trapper, Clear KL (part of M&C Saatchi Global Network), and Dentsu Aegis Network.

Speaking on her new role, she said, “I am excited to join UM and be part of this incredibly dynamic team. I’m here to build a solid business and a brand that people love, trust and respect, while ensuring that UM fulfils its pledge to be future-ready for our people, communities, and clients. It’s crucial for us to stay in tune with current trends, as they not only shape how people work, live, and engage, but also defines what matters most to them now and for the future.”

She added, “UM aims to be a trusted marketing partner that helps clients predict and create innovative strategies to not only protect existing business value, but also discover new opportunities. We cannot avoid economic and industry headwind, but we can prepare ourselves and our clients for it, and together, we will thrive towards the future, despite all uncertainties.”

Meanwhile, Bala Pomaleh, chief executive officer of IPG Mediabrands Malaysia said, “Sue-Anne is a welcome addition to the Mediabrands executive leadership team. Her strong capabilities in leading clients into growth spaces, strategic branding and marketing, and keen experience across data, tech and business transformation hold her in good stead as we look to build on UM’s future growth momentum. She is uniquely suited for this role given her ability to unite talents and deep relationships in the industry, and we look forward to her driving more success for the UM brand.”

Lastly, Kasper Aakerlund, President of UM APAC, commented, “I am pleased to welcome Sue-Anne to the UM network. She is an accomplished executive with a proven track record of success. I am confident she will help propel UM Malaysia to even greater heights as we navigate an ever-evolving landscape for our clients.”

Singapore – The World Wide Fund for Nature-Singapore (WWF-Singapore) has announced that Vivek Kumar will take over the role of the organisation’s chief executive officer role from R. Raghunathan, who held the role for more than three and a half years. The transition officially takes happen on January 1, 2024.

Kumar brings a wealth of diverse leadership experience spanning over two decades, including notable tenures at multinational corporations, and in Singapore’s public sector. Vivek was previously an assistant director-general at the National Trades Union Congress and a board member of Labour Movement entities such as NTUC Link.

He has also served as a board member at Enterprise Singapore, Infocomm Media, Development Authority and Assurity Trusted Solutions (a wholly owned subsidiary of GovTech Singapore).

Kumar joined WWF-Singapore back in 2021 as its chief marketing and communications officer and was promoted to the role of chief marketing, communications and fundraising officer in February this year. He is also the architect of the inaugural WWF Global Earth Hour Summit 2023.

Speaking on his new role, he said, “WWF-Singapore strives to bring people together to act for nature and our shared well-being. This purpose is more relevant for our planet today than perhaps ever before. It is an honour to be designated to lead a team of talented and dedicated fellow Pandas at WWF-Singapore. We will work with our donors, supporters, corporate partners, and policymakers to create a sustainable future for all of us.”

Meanwhile, Hsieh Fu Hua, chairman of the WWF-Singapore board, commented, “The Board appreciates Raghu’s dedicated service to the organisation. Under Raghu’s leadership, the organisation navigated the challenges posed by the pandemic and achieved growth in local conservation efforts and community engagements. We are confident that the organisation is poised to achieve an even greater impact under his successor, Vivek, and his team.”

Singapore – Parenting community network Supermom has appointed Luke Lim as its group chief executive officer for Southeast Asia. In his new role, Lim will report to Supermom’s board of directors and will work closely with Joan Ong, the founder of Supermom.

He will also work with representatives of the platforms’ two VC firms – Weisheng Neo from Qualgro and Adrian Tan from AC Ventures– to provide leadership and direction to the company.

Lim joined Supermom as an investor in 2015 and became a co-founder of the digital platform with Joan in 2019, transforming its original events business into a tech platform with a strong first party data, insights and crowd influencing offering.

His efforts have contributed to Supermom receiving a series-A funding of SGD $8 million from Qualgro and AC Ventures earlier during the year. He is also the founder of Louken Group, one of Singapore’s largest local brand and digital agencies with clientele across 8 markets in APAC. His achievements stem from his passion to see the local start up scene grow and he has been an avid tech start up investor, in-house incubator and co-owner of a venture investing arm.

Speaking on his new role, he said, “Combining our twin engines of community growth and AI-technology advancements, Supermom is on course to help brands connect to millions of parents in SEA and I am truly honoured to take on the reins as the Group CEO.”

He added, “My key area of focus as I take on this role will be on scaling the impact of Supermom’s tech-ecosystem to deliver authentic first-party data, sustainable user-generated content, bringing insights of families to brands operating in Southeast Asia.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Nizwani Shahar, most recently the chief executive officer of Ogilvy Malaysia, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Havas Malaysia. Shahar takes over from Andrew Lee, the current managing director for the group as he departs the agency following an early retirement.

In her new role, she will lead Havas Malaysia through a transformative journey of exponential growth. Her primary focus will be on fostering collaboration and partnerships, driving new business momentum, and building and leading future-ready teams.

The appointment is effective immediately, and she will report directly to Alberto Canteli, CEO and chairman of Havas, Nordics, CEE & Middle East, SEA, Korea & Japan.

She brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent 12 years at Ogilvy Malaysia and serving as their CEO for 4 years. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build strong brands and effectively integrate businesses and capabilities. Additionally, she is a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusivity, with a track record of driving profitability and talent retention.

Speaking on her new role, Shahar said, “Havas’ approach to integration sets it apart, and one of the primary reasons I chose to join this agency is its exceptional model supported by a high level of integration and robust digital capabilities. Moreover, the inspiring leadership at the helm, dedicated to realizing the vision of a truly integrated agency, further resonated with me. I’m truly excited to take on the new challenge and look forward to working with the team.”

Meanwhile, Canteli commented, “I would like to thank Andrew for his contribution to our Malaysia operations and wish him the very best for his future endeavors. He has played a pivotal role in driving and expanding our creative business in Malaysia.”

He added, “Nizwani’s extensive experience and proven commercial acumen and ability to foster business growth makes her a natural choice for the leadership role, and I am certain that under her leadership, we will further consolidate and strengthen our foothold in this important market.”

Lastly, Lee said, “It has been a privilege working with the team during an important period of transformation and growth. I am confident under the leadership of Nizwani, the agency will continue to drive growth and achieve success.”