Tag: Chief Marketing Officer

Singapore – Yahoo has announced the appointment of Josh Line as chief marketing officer to lead the company’s global marketing strategies, brand positioning, user acquisition, and customer engagement initiatives. He will report directly to Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone.

A seasoned chief marketer, Line was most recently Paramount global’s chief brand officer, where he led enterprise-wide marketing efforts and played a key role in the launch of Paramount+ and the growth of the direct-to-consumer streaming business. 

He steered the company’s marketing transformation, building a multiplatform marketing capability across brands like CBS, MTV, Paramount Pictures, and Pluto TV. Line chaired the company’s marketing council, led the establishment of marketing centers of excellence in media, production operations, marketing technology and social strategy, and spearheaded the company’s rebrand from ViacomCBS to Paramount Global.

Before serving as Paramount’s chief brand officer, Line led marketing, creative and digital studios at Comedy Central, Paramount Network, and TV Land. His commitment to creative excellence and customer-centric innovation was cultivated at agencies Scratch, Droga5, and Anomaly, leading engagements with GM, BMW, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Disney, amongst others.

Speaking on his new role, Line said, “At 30 years young, Yahoo is one of the internet’s most storied brands, and its mission to be a trusted guide through the digital wilderness is as relevant as ever. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to reignite love and cultural impact for this iconic brand and drive growth for its portfolio of leading products. I’m thrilled to join Jim and the team to help build the future of Yahoo.”

Meanwhile, Lanzone commented, “With a strong track record of scaling both emerging and iconic brands, combined with his ability to build and lead high-performance teams, Josh is the ideal leader to propel the Yahoo brand forward during this critical moment in our journey. I am excited to welcome Josh to Yahoo, where his expertise in driving brand strategy and fostering collaboration across every facet of marketing leadership will be crucial.”

Manila, Philippines – Local telco giant Globe Telecom has named Roche Vandenberghe as its new chief marketing officer. She joins Globe Telecom following a 10-year stint with FWD Insurance Philippines.

In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Roche stated that as the newly appointed CMO for Globe Telecom, she will focus on amplifying the brand’s effectiveness by enhancing coverage, sharpening their master brand impact, and driving brand lift to solidify competitive edge. 

“More than just connectivity, we are committed to creating wonderful experiences—empowering people with choices, helping them overcome challenges, and enabling them to discover new ways to enjoy life. By strengthening our brand presence and delivering meaningful innovations, we aim to continue uplifting the lives of Filipino customers and businesses,” she stated.

Lessons learned

Roche was most recently the chief marketing and digital business officer for FWD Insurance, stemming from an expanded role of her previous chief marketing officer role back in April 2022. 

During her time at FWD Insurance, she spearheaded local campaigns highlighting the greater need of insurance amongst Filipinos. In addition, she also led initiatives to target specific demographics, such as gamers, to decode their consumer behaviour and how insurance can help in their daily life.

Looking back, Roche highlighted three key principles that she will bring to Globe: Customer-Centricity at the Core, Data-Driven Marketing, and Embracing Experimentation.

“Understanding and anticipating customer needs is paramount. I will ensure that every marketing initiative is designed to create wonderful experiences, empowering Filipinos with choices that enhance their digital lifestyles,” she said.

Speaking about data-driven marketing, Roche added, “Leveraging data analytics will enable us to craft more personalised, relevant, and impactful programs and campaigns, strengthening customer engagement and brand loyalty.

Meanwhile, she also further added, “Innovation thrives in a culture that dares to challenge the status quo. By fostering agility and continuously testing new ideas, we can uncover groundbreaking ways for customers to enjoy life through Globe’s products and services.”

On industry jump and what’s next for Globe

When asked about her industry jump from the insurance industry to telco, Roche said, “Before moving to insurance, I spent several years driving advertising strategies for leading tech and telecom brands across the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This experience gave me a strong foundation, allowing me to quickly integrate insights from both sectors to drive impactful marketing initiatives.”

Prior to her 10-year stint with FWD Insurance, Roche was the general manager for TCP-TBWA\ Indonesia from 2009 to 2012, and has handled the marketing consultancy mandate for pay TV operator TelkomVision. Prior to that, she was also a global brand director for BBDO Worldwide from 2007 to 2008.

On the other hand, when asked about the key marketing trends that we will be seeing more locally this year, and how does Globe aim to respond to these trends, Roche said, “Globe is committed to pursuing Customer Experience as our differentiator. As we do so, we will deliver more purpose-driven marketing that resonates, foster more authentic and personalised one-on-one connections that build trust, and drive more innovation for incremental growth to keep enhancing the way people live and connect.”

Singapore – Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI), the data science and AI start-up arm of the Aboitiz Group, has announced that Felicia Li-Gaillard is taking on an expanded role as its chief sustainability officer on top of her existing role with the company as its chief marketing officer, a role she took when she first joined ADI in February 2023.

In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Felicia said that her expanded role will focus on helping ADI map its ESG roadmap and sustainability synergy.

“In my expanded role as chief sustainability officer (beyond my CMO remit), my responsibilities also include developing ADI’s sustainability framework which aligns with the Aboitiz Group’s sustainability synergy and ESG roadmap, ensuring regulatory compliance, fostering external partnerships, and educating ADI employers on our sustainable practices,” she explained.

How she intends to lead ADI’s marketing and sustainability efforts

When asked about her marketing strategy with ADI, Felicia notes that she is focused on ADI’s ambition to become the go-to partner for making AI work in their expanded markets beyond the Philippines and Singapore. 

“When we say “making AI work,” we mean addressing the gap between the hype and the practical implementation of AI in business operations. Many organisations struggle with understanding the foundations of AI or how to integrate it effectively. This is where ADI comes in, with a mission to provide real-world solutions that empower organisations across diverse industries,” she said.

Meanwhile, Felicia says that her sustainability leadership focuses more on ADI actively partnering with government agencies, industry partners, and communities to contribute to ESG goals through our expertise in data science and AI. A recent example of this initiative is ADI’s collaboration with OceanPixel and Baringa on a whitepaper titled “Future Blue Economies”. Said whitepaper explored how leveraging marine resources can drive sustainable development, promote sustainability, and create significant economic opportunities.

“ADI’s role is to offer insights on how data, AI, and technology can be utilised to optimise these efforts. We welcome similar collaborations from other organisations to partner with us,” she added.

Reflection on marketing leadership at ADI

Felicia is no stranger to handling senior marketing leadership roles for various companies across Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining ADI, she was Meta’s interim head of marketing for Facebook Gaming and Audience Network in Asia-Pacific. Prior to that, she also held other marketing roles with Integral Ad Science (IAS) and MoPub, Twitter’s mobile advertising network that was sold to AppLovin in 2021.

For her, what she loves most about her role as CMO is the autonomy and trust that allows her to excel at what she does best—building a fully functioning marketing team and fostering its growth.

“Given that ADI operates like a startup compared to other business units within the Aboitiz Group, we embrace a flexible mindset and often wear multiple hats. This dynamic environment offers my team members incredible opportunities to learn on the job and work across various areas within the marketing spectrum,” she said.

Under his leadership, ADI had also introduced a series of data science and AI products and capabilities, including Alternative Scoring, Transaction Monitoring, Customer Intelligence, and AI for Climate/ESG, tailored for the financial services, industrials, and public sectors. An example of this AI-powered product is ADI’s AVA AI.

“Most recently, we launched AVA AI, our generative AI (GenAI) platform designed to empower enterprises across both the public and private sectors. We have an exciting lineup of new products and markets in the future. This kind of high growth really ignites me and my team to continue pushing boundaries and achieving new results,” she explained.

She also explains that she is a staunch supporter of fostering a great team culture, particularly in connecting employees across 14 countries, and have collaborated closely with their talent team on various initiatives designed to enhance team building, promote company culture, and strengthen employer branding.

“We also prioritise transparent communication and regular updates to ensure all team members feel connected and informed, regardless of their location. Building a strong culture is not just about creating a positive work environment; it is a critical component of our continuous growth and success,” she added.

Tackling marketing challenges in the AI, data scene–the ADI way

When asked about what she thinks is the biggest challenge the AI and data industry face this year, Felicia says that the challenge is building trust, especially in traditional industries and large corporations.

“At ADI, we serve clients primarily from the banking, financial services, power, industrial, and public sectors. While these organizations recognize the need to adopt AI in their operations, they often struggle with data dispersed across multiple sources and systems. This fragmentation leads to missed crucial insights and hampers strategic decision-making,” she said.

Another particular challenge she highlights is data privacy and security; where relying on GenAI platforms that depend exclusively on publicly-available information is prone to generating irrelevant or inaccurate answers and increasing security risks for enterprises.

“These inefficiencies can stifle team productivity and overall operational effectiveness. All these attributes to the cautions about the adoption of AI solutions or finding the right solutions that can meet their unique business needs,” she said.

Felicia further added, “That’s why we launched AVA AI, our GenAI platform designed for enterprises, with the sole purpose in mind to simplify how enterprises interact with their data. By streamlining processes and enhancing workflows, we enable them to not only make informed decisions swiftly and efficiently, but also to uncover valuable insights.”

She also noted that as marketing teams have always been early adopters of the latest trends and technologies. She believes that most marketing teams are now using various GenAI platforms to create AI-powered content. Moreover, she also encourages her team to embrace new technologies, learning to use them to their advantage to improve efficiency and generate highly targeted insights for their audience.

“As a revenue-driven marketer, I am particularly excited about leveraging AI for predictive lead scoring and sales forecasting. By utilising AI to analyse data patterns, we can predict and recommend the next actions for our marketing and sales teams, allowing us to prioritise our efforts on the most promising opportunities,” she said.

Felicia added, “Having an enterprise-grade GenAI interface within the organization is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s business landscape. At ADI, as a data science and AI company, we are constantly testing new ideas, and I am looking forward to deploying these innovations in our day-to-day operations.”

Singapore – Multinational brewer company Carlsberg Group has announced the appointment of Yves Briantais as its chief marketing officer, as well as being appointed as a member of the Executive Committee.

Briantaisis a seasoned executive with 25 years of global, regional and local experience across marketing disciplines. He was most recently with Colgate-Palmolive as its global executive vice president of design and creative capabilities.

During his time with Colgate-Palmolive, he held a range of senior leadership roles with marketing responsibilities for clusters, regions, categories, and global functions, including as vice president global design and packaging, vice president marketing for Europe, and executive vice president of marketing for Asia-Pacific.

His appointment is also done alongside the promotion of Esther Wu to the role of chief information officer as well as being member of the Executive Committee. Wu’s role took effect on June 3 while Briantais’ move will take effect on August 19.

Both appointments are made possible as part of Carlsberg’s Accelerate Sail strategy.

Jacob Aarup-Andersen, group CEO at Carlsberg Group, said, “I am very pleased to welcome both Esther and Yves into their new roles and as members of the Executive Committee. With their solid experience and global background, they are well positioned to enhance and support the further execution of our Accelerate Sail strategy.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Ravi Shankar Mallavarapu, most recently with Carsome, has been recently appointed as the chief marketing officer of AirAsia MOVE, airasia’s travel and lifestyle app–and formerly known as airasia Digital.

In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Ravi said, “I am entrusted with shaping and implementing our comprehensive branding and marketing strategy. This strategy is designed to enhance brand recognition and become a top-of-mind travel companion for ASEAN travelers, aligning with our business objectives.”

He also noted his particular interest in adopting AI strategies to AirAsia MOVE’s marketing strategies, stating, “I am particularly keen on leveraging AI in our marketing strategies. This includes leveraging AI across multiple marketing functions to increase productivity; prioritising the adoption of AI will help us stay competitive and relevant in the rapidly evolving travel market. The other priority is to build a community of creators who are loyal to the brand and keep generating content for us.”

Prior to this new role, Ravi was recently the chief marketing officer at Carsome for over two years, where he handled the brand’s marketing, digital, social media, public relations, growth, market research and customer experience. He also worked closely with Derek Tan, chief brand officer at Carsome, on brand, creative, production and sponsorships.

It is also worth mentioning that this marks Ravi’s return to the airasia ecosystem. He was with AirAsia for five years, where he had served various leadership roles that included group head of digital marketing and chief growth officer.

“My tenure as CMO at Carsome taught me how difficult it is to build a brand and that it is not just a marketing responsibility. I’m looking forward to working with the fantastic team [at AirAsia MOVE] and working on the vast amounts of data,” he stated.

When asked about challenges and opportunities related to AI-integrated marketing strategies, Ravi said that adapting strategies in Gen AI presents both opportunities and challenges, and it depends on how fast the industry leverages and implements them in daily work.

“In 2024 and beyond, I foresee a continued emphasis on personalised travel experiences. At AirAsia MOVE, aligning with these trends involves adopting more sustainable practices in our operations and marketing and utilising technology to tailor unique travel experiences that meet evolving consumer expectations,” he concluded.

Singapore – Multi-channel advertising platform StackAdapt has announced the appointment of Ryan Nelsen as chief marketing officer.

In his role at StackAdapt, Nelsen will lead a world-class team and take responsibility for all aspects of marketing, including product marketing, brand growth, digital strategies, communications, public relations, experiential marketing, and design.

Nelsen brings 17 years of strategic marketing expertise and leadership to his role in support of StackAdapt’s mission and remarkable client and company growth. His impressive leadership journey spans four key posts, including strategic marketing leadership roles at both Qualtrics and MX. 

At Qualtrics, he served in product marketing, ABM, field marketing, and enterprise marketing. While there, he was instrumental in launching the Qualtrics Customer Experience business, which quickly became the fastest-growing product line and contributed to the company’s first $1 Billion US in revenue. In his role as executive vice president of marketing for MX, Nelsen built a world-class team and led all aspects of marketing and brand, including product marketing, demand, communications, field marketing, and creative.

Nelsen’s move comes at a time when StackAdapt is experiencing rapid global expansion and its recognition as a leader in AI and machine learning within the advertising industry. His role will be crucial in leveraging this momentum, positioning Nelsen perfectly to further innovate and scale the company’s global impact, competing against established tech giants.

Speaking on his own appointment, Nelsen said, “StackAdapt is setting the pace in AI-powered advertising technology. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the team, the technology, and the value StackAdapt is delivering to clients and brands. With a perfect product-market fit and our unmatched speed of innovation, I’m excited to build as we serve the best agencies and brands around the world.”

Meanwhile, Vitaly Pecherskiy, co-founder and CEO of StackAdapt, said, “We are excited to add Ryan to our leadership team as we continue to deliver on massive client demand around the world and scale StackAdapt. He is a proven winner with the strategic experience and record of success we need to further round out our executive team and hit our growth goals.”

Singapore – TBWA, has announced today the appointment of Ellie Brocklehurst to chief marketing officer for Asia. This is a new role for the agency, a key member of the leadership team responsible for elevating the branding, communications and marketing efforts of the agency.

She was most recently the head of growth marketing at Wunderman Thompson/VML. During her four years at the agency, Ellie was responsible for the growth marketing & communications function across Asia, including lead-gen marketing initiatives, client events, media relations and thought leadership. 

Most recently, her scope included working with in-market leaders and client teams to identify key growth opportunities with APAC’s top clients. 

Prior to her Wunderman Thompson/VML stint, she was the regional communications lead for BBDO, leading all internal and external communications for Asia. During her time here, she also supported regional clients in their content efforts by offering her expertise and leadership on key accounts such as AIA and Hilton.

Brocklehurst has over 13 years’ experience working in leading PR and Marketing agencies, with nearly a decade spent in Singapore. In addition to her expertise in growth marketing and communications, her knowledge and understanding of the nuances across each market in the Region and the ability to leverage these is what makes her a great new addition to the regional leadership at TBWA. 

Speaking on her new role, Brocklehurst said, “TBWA has always been a creative powerhouse in Asia, and globally, and I feel incredibly privileged to be joining such a strong and successful agency. Being the Disruption® company, an agent for change for brave clients looking to grow and succeed, is a clear and very cool value proposition. I’m excited to dive right in and work with the team on a growth strategy that will take our clients and agency to great new heights.”

Meanwhile, Sean Donovan, TBWA\ President, Asia, comments, “As a means of achieving a greater share of the future for our clients, for the last few years we have migrated the way we work toward a more borderless mindset. The creation of a CMO role, and particularly Ellie’s appointment to it, gives us even better ability to leverage the power of the collective across Asia to bring Disruption® to life across the total brand experience for our clients.”

Singapore – Carro, an AI-driven used car marketplace based in Singapore, has announced the promotion of Katherine Teo as its new chief marketing officer, moving beyond her recent role as the regional head of marketing for the company and its subsidiaries across Asia-Pacific.

In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Teo shared her continued plans for the marketing and branding efforts for the company.

“I will continue to drive strategic marketing and branding efforts for the Carro Group, with a focus on strengthening synergy across our ancillary businesses, such as for insurance, our after sales arm Carro Care, and Genie Financial Services,”

She also added, “We are prioritising new, emerging markets such as Japan and Hong Kong, and our ancillary businesses in finance, insurance, and after sales. “

It is worth noting that Carro had recently acquired Beyond Cars, a Hong Kong-based user cars buying and selling platform; as well as marking its expansion into Japan with a partnership with SoftBank back in 2022. Moreover, Carro had also announced an investment with production house Driven Communications, and even received funding from DRB-HICOM for its Genie Financial Services.

When asked about her learnings that she will bring to her senior role, Teo said, “Continue to foster a culture of creativity. 
It’s really simple: we want to make great ads that people want to see. We want to continue to put out quality campaigns that are rooted in strong consumer insights. And to do so, I believe in cultivating an honest, open team that can sprout radical, refreshing, and fun ideas. After all, our marketing campaigns are a culmination of many minds put together.”

Under her recent marketing role at Carro, the company has seen multiple marketing campaigns that she oversaw, including its first regional brand film alongside TBWA\Singapore, as well as the launch of multiple short drama series in its regional markets to celebrate Carro’s eighth anniversary.

Teo also added, “We should be marching to the beat of our own drum. 
Trends come and go, especially in the digital space and social media. As APAC’s largest online used car ecosystem and market leader, I believe we should always explore and do what works for us.”

When asked about the particular marketing challenges for the used car industry in the region, she explained that with more platforms bringing more unique selling points (USPs), there is a challenge for brands in the space to come up with new ways to stand out from diverse markets.

“More and more used car marketplaces are starting to communicate the same USPs. Soon, there will appear to have no clear point of differentiation to the consumers. This is a unique challenge because we’ll need to find a way to stand out and help customers know us, like us, and choose us,” she stated.

Part of Carro’s selling point is the assurance to its customers that the pre-owned cars are certified by the company’s in-house inspectors, making sure that the cars pass up as good as new.

“We’ll start to see more offering of certified pre-owned cars. As the industry leader, our focus remains on offering Carro Certified cars that are as good as new. As trust and transparency continue to be the main thrust of the industry, we will continue to ensure that our customers’ trust sit at the heart of all that we do. Beyond just Marketing, the company will continue to invest in technology, data, and talent that go into building quality products and a Carro Certified car that is as good as new,” she concluded.

Singapore – Sun Life has announced that Mahima Tankha Marwah has been named as the new chief client experience and marketing officer for Asia. In her new role, Marwah will lead Sun Life Asia’s marketing strategy, brand development, philanthropy activities, client listening and measurement and the development of new solutions to enhance client propositions.

She brings over 20 years of experience in channel management, brand management, digital marketing, customer experience and insights in life, health, and general insurance in Asia. Prior to joining Sun Life, Mahima held senior insurance distribution, client experience and marketing roles at global financial services providers, FWD and Allianz.

Speaking on her appointment, Marwah said, “I am excited to join Sun Life to continue to grow their world-class Client Experience and Marketing function. I am excited to work with new colleagues across Asia to drive business growth and deliver solutions that will help client’s meet their health and wealth goals.”

Meanwhile, David Broom, chief client and distribution officer for Asia at Sun Life, commented, “I’m thrilled to welcome Mahima to the team. Her extensive experience and proven track record in brand and product marketing, customer experience and insights, and digital sales will enhance how we connect with our clients and ensure we continue to deliver exceptional experiences and drive growth across Asia.”

Singapore – Global security intelligence company LogRhythm has announced the appointment of Joanne Wong as the new interim chief marketing officer to lead the charge on the company’s brand and marketing strategy. 

In her new role, Wong will lead LogRhythm’s global brand and marketing strategy, with a key focus on collaborating with sales to grow pipelines, elevate brand visibility, and empower customer satisfaction. 

Wong is among the pioneers who were with the company when it started its operations in Asia Pacific with a regional headquarters in Singapore. She brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent over nine years working on successful marketing initiatives at LogRhythm. 

Prior to her role, she served as the vice president of international markets for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions. She is also a lawyer by training and has built most of her career in the technology sector, with over 25 years of experience in the industry. 

Furthermore, beyond her role, Wong actively promotes gender equality and diversity in tech. As a founding member of LogRhythm’s Global Diversity Council, she spearheaded efforts for workplace inclusivity. Her work earned her nominations for the Women in Security ASEAN Region Awards and the Channel Asia Women in ICT Awards in 2023.

Wong’s appointment not only bolsters LogRhythm’s leadership but also highlights the company’s dedication to cultivating an inclusive workplace where people from diverse backgrounds are offered equal opportunities. Her promotion reinforces the company’s commitment to employee advancement through strategic internal promotions.

As LogRhythm celebrates International Women’s Day, it reaffirms its pledge to nurture a culture that cherishes and leverages the distinct viewpoints and contributions of every employee. 

Wong will join the executive leadership team and report directly to Christopher O’Malley, president and CEO of LogRhythm.

Commenting on the appointment, O’Malley said, “Joanne’s strategic mindset and proven ability to deliver growth at scale will be critical assets to a revitalised LogRhythm. As we continue to innovate, Joanne will play an integral role in leading the future of LogRhythm’s brand and connecting us with our customers in meaningful ways that drive accelerated growth for our security solutions.”

Also speaking on her appointment, Wong shared, “I am both thrilled and proud to step up as the Chief Marketing Officer. LogRhythm is a company with both a strong legacy and great potential in the SIEM market, as well as a great culture where every professional can thrive. It is an honour to lead the charge in shaping our brand’s story globally, and I look forward to working with our talented teams across the world in our pursuit of making security easy for our customers.”