Tag: Country manager

Vietnam – Transparent programmatic and data-driven agency, Bidmath, has appointed Rakesh Singh, former head of digital, destination marketing and marcom at Hoiana, to be its new country manager for Vietnam and commercial head for APAC.

In his new role, Singh, who will be based in Ho Chi Minh City, will be responsible for leading the new business and solutions in Vietnam, as well as commercial partnerships across the APAC region. 

Aside from his previous role at Hoiana, Singh has also served as the managing director at Havas Media in Vietnam. In his career span of more than 18 years, he has always been associated with the large media and communications companies in the industry, having worked with agencies like Group M (Mindshare and Mediacom), Omnicom Publicis, and Havas Media Group across Asia and Africa markets, with more than 10 years in senior leadership roles. 

On his thoughts regarding the largest opportunity for brands in Vietnam, Singh commented that the share of programmatic advertising in several emerging markets in APAC is much lower than that of mature markets where more than 80% of the digital spend is bought programmatically, and the primary reason for this is the lack of exposure of brands to the several benefits of programmatic advertising and this is largely due to inefficiency and lack of capabilities prevailing within the industry primarily driven by traditional media agencies who are struggling to move from the traditional media buying approach to the new audience buying approach driven by data and technology.

He said, “With the advancement of technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), programmatic is now playing a significant role in the digital marketing ecosystem and with our huge expertise in this area, Bidmath is well placed to spearhead the growth in the region.”

Moreover, Singh also shared the key game-changers that he believes to be the future of online, which includes AI in marketing, the Metaverse, livestream commerce, AR, voice search optimisation, programmatic advertising, chatbots, and marketing automation, as well as micro-influencers, and shoppable content. Meanwhile, lack of resources, skills, and knowledge are amongst the key barriers for brands to achieve personalisation goals.

Singh noted, “I consider myself an emerging market specialist having had the opportunity to work across several emerging markets like India, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, and Vietnam. With the rapidly accelerating technological advances in digital marketing, the recognised value of data and increasing data literacy amongst brands and marketers, I’m looking forward to many more interesting experiences in the near future.”

Singapore – Advertising company Taboola has announced new appointments namely Robert Perry as regional director for APAC and Adam Payne as country manager for Australia and New Zealand. The new appointments are part of the company’s continued growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Perry was previously the company’s director of publisher partnerships for APAC. In his new role, he will grow the business in the fast-growing region, focusing on developing Taboola in the Australian, New Zealand, and Korean markets, and support both advertiser and publisher customers.

He brings an extensive amount of experience to the role having worked with Taboola since 2015 and with previous roles including interim VP for APAC. 

Meanwhile, Payne was previously the senior publisher sales manager for Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Through his new role, he will manage the growth and retention of agency advertising sales, publisher sales, and existing partnerships. This role will include building out the team further to reflect the country’s continued market growth.

He brings in 15 years’ experience to the role and has worked at Perform Group as ANZ vice president for media sales and both Nine Entertainment and 10 Network in senior sales and marketing roles. 

Speaking on the new appointments, Adam Singolda, CEO and founder at Taboola, said, “Taboola continues to grow, working with leading publishers and advertisers in the industry. Our success in the region is powered by our people, who establish great long-term relationships with partners and help to grow our support structure. The new roles for Robert and Adam and their leadership experience ensure we’re future proofing ourselves for growth.”

Australia – Programmatic digital advertising company PubMatic has appointed Dylan Robinson, former country manager for APAC at advertising company Taboola, to be its new country manager for Australia and New Zealand.

Aside from his previous role at Taboola, Robinson has held senior roles in Australia with Sizmek, SpotX, and Quantcast, where he led the APAC Publisher Development team. He has also worked on the publisher side of the digital media industry, holding sales roles in London for Telegraph Media Group and the BBC.

The appointment of Robinson comes after Peter Barry, former regional director for ANZ at PubMatic, moved to New York at the end of last year to take up the role of global VP of audience addressability at PubMatic.

Commenting on his appointment, Robinson said that he is excited to be joining an independent technology company that’s focused on connecting the ecosystem with robust audience addressability solutions and cross-screen targeting

“Our number one mission is to maximise value for our publisher and buy-side partners, while protecting consumer privacy. I am looking forward to continuing to drive PubMatic’s focus on BVOD, as publishers and media buyers increasingly look to technology partners to give them an edge in a competitive market,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jason Barnes, PubMatic’s CRO for APAC, said, “Dylan has more than fifteen years’ experience working for publishers and advertising technology companies which will add considerable value to our growth plans for the region. We are delighted to have him lead our Australia and New Zealand operations.”

PubMatic noted that the appointment of Robinson to lead the company’s Australia and New Zealand operations coincides with its new global campaign, ‘Built for You’, which focuses on delivering the future of digital advertising through innovation, transparency, and innovation.

Manila, Philippines – AI and data company ADVANCE.AI has appointed Michael Calma, former country general manager at corporate IT training provider DDLS Philippines, to be its new country manager in the Philippines.

Calma brings with him over 20 years of experience in software development, systems integration, managed services, complex deal structuring, and social enterprises, as well as IT education. Aside from his previous role at DDLS Philippines, Calma has also held senior leadership roles at Dimension Data, MDI-Novare, and NEC, as well as co-founded two tech startups fresh out of college.

As the new country manager, Calma will be leading and growing ADVANCE.AI’s commercial business.

Commenting on his appointment, Calma said that he is very excited to join ADVANCE.AI at a time when Filipino consumers are shifting en masse to digital channels and services. 

He further shared banks and financial services enterprises need a trusted and reliable technology partner who can anticipate and address potential friction points across the end-to-end customer journey.

“We strive towards bayanihan (communal unity) with other technology providers, enterprises, and regulators towards accelerating a digitally empowered and financially inclusive Philippines,” said Calma.

Singapore – Public relations and content marketing agency Mutant in Singapore has appointed four new key leaders, namely Matthew de Bakker, the new country manager for Singapore, Lina Marican, the new regional managing director, Byravee Iyer, the new head of content, and Rebecca Lewis, the new brand strategy director.

De Bakker is an experienced agency leader who has led Mutant’s PR business in Singapore since 2017. During his time as head of PR, De Bakker helped add a string of big brands and well-funded startups to the agency’s client roster, including Singapore Sports Hub, Experian APAC, Disney, and Ula, amongst others. 

Meanwhile, Marican was previously Mutant’s managing director, and has more than tripled the agency’s revenue and expanded its headcount to over 30 across its Singapore and Malaysia offices. In her new role, she will now be responsible for launching and scaling the agency in new and existing markets in Southeast Asia. 

And lastly, Iyer and Lewis, who will both step into newly created roles, will now be seeking to expand Mutant’s fast-growing content and brand offerings.

Joseph Barratt, Mutant’s CEO, shared that they have exciting plans to set up offices in new markets, with Indonesia and the Philippines on their horizon this coming Mutant’s 10th anniversary. 

“I am confident that Mutant’s leadership team will continue to build on our foundation of being communications partners that drive business results for our clients,” said Barratt.

Manila, Philippines – Toll Group, an Australian transportation and logistics company, has announced its opening of its first office in the Philippines to effectively support Philippine-based businesses in their supply chain needs, empowering them with a suite of in-class supply chain solutions and access to regional growth opportunities. 

As part of that new endeavor, Toll Group has appointed Benjamin Bathan as its country manager in the Philippines. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving go-to-market efforts and building the local team’s capabilities for future growth in-country. He brings in close to 20 years of supply chain experience, having held positions in sales and operations functions in the shipping and freight forwarding industries.

Toll Group has long maintained a presence in the Philippines since 2007, working mainly through local partners. This pivot towards a direct presence in-country provides Toll Group with more autonomy and control over operations and service quality, streamlining goods transition and coordination in line with industry best practices.

In addition, local businesses stand to gain access to Toll Group’s extensive global freight forwarding network, allowing them to tap new business opportunities that lie beyond the Philippines, such as regional manufacturing value chains. 

For Bathan, the launch of a local office enables Toll Group to fill in the service gap of offering businesses in the Philippines access to their extensive global network and Asia-centric expertise to strengthen their growth prospects amid the uncertainty arising from the pandemic.

“A key objective of our direct expansion into the Philippines was to enhance access to global opportunities for local businesses. Many freight forwarders in the Philippines operate through a partner-based model and do not personally own a global or regional supply chain network, creating challenges in visibility and quality control,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rajeev Sood, senior vice president for ASEAN and Indian Subcontinent at Toll Global Forwarding, commented that a direct presence in the Philippines reaffirms Toll Group’s commitment to helping businesses across Asia navigate supply chain challenges and contributes to the continued expansion of their regional network and presence.

“The arrival of COVID-19 has made diversification of supply networks imperative for businesses not just in the Philippines but across the world. Today, uncertainties and supply chain bottlenecks have made a multimodal approach to transport and the ability to access multiple suppliers and markets critical for business continuity and resilience,” Sood stated.

Bangkok, Thailand – Singapore-based buy now pay later service platform, Atome, has announced the appointment of Poompong Tancharoenphol, former country head of e-commerce platform Zilingo Thailand, to assume the role of country manager for Thailand.

Atome has expanded into other key markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and mainland China over the last 12 months, and it is currently available as a point-of-sale payment checkout option across 5,000 online and offline retailers, primarily in the fashion, beauty, and travel, as well as lifestyle categories. 

Tancharoenphol brings with him over 15 years of international experience in venture capital, B2C and B2B fashion, and e-commerce, as well as marketing, and fintech. Aside from his former role at Zilingo, he has previously worked as the investment manager at industrial firm AddVentures by SCG, and the digital business development manager at business conglomerate Siam Cement Group (SCG).

Commenting on his appointment, Tancharoenphol said that he is very excited to join Atome at this time and launch the brand in Thailand. 

“I’m also excited to introduce Thai consumers to the global buy now pay later movement, which is about a smarter, better, and more transparent way to shop and pay, and one in which both retailers and consumers win. My immediate focus will be building our local partnership, HR, marketing, and operations team to better support our merchant partnerships and enable their success,” said Tancharoenphol. 

Meanwhile, David Chen, the CEO of Atome, commented that they are excited to embark on the next phase of growth by expanding into Thailand, and with Nan’s leadership experience and knowledge of retail, digital commerce, and fintech, he will be invaluable as they scale their Thai operations and build on their rapid growth across Asia.

“Atome stands for “available to me” and we’re very excited to introduce a digital-savvy generation of Thai consumers to a better and smarter way to shop and pay and give them access and affordability to quality products and services,” said Chen.

Manila, Philippines – Insurance company Chubb in the Philippines has recently announced the appointment of its new country manager, Mari Rachelle [Cielo] Canta, effective starting 1 July.

Canta replaces incumbent country manager Peter van Ratingen, who has since then been appointed to the role of head of consumer lines for Australia and New Zealand at Chubb.

In her new role, Canta will oversee the operations and business development activities of Chubb’s key business lines in the Philippines namely, property and casualty as well as accident and health insurance. She will be also responsible for the management of regulatory relationships, strategic partnerships and affinity relationships.

Canta joined Chubb in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer for the Philippines. Her well-balanced acumen on all facets of finance, planning and controllership as well as operational risk is complemented by her strong general management skills. Prior to joining Chubb, she worked for a decade with insurance company AON, moving to roles of increasing responsibility in the Philippines as well as Singapore. 

In addition, she has extensive experience in the banking sector, from merger and acquisition integration to board and senior leadership team responsibilities.

She will report to Edward Ler, head of Southeast Asia at Chubb.

Paul McNamee, regional president for Asia Pacific at Chubb, said, “Cielo is a strategic and hands-on leader who has strong market knowledge and relationships. Our business will benefit greatly from her deep local experience to build sustainable partnerships with our distribution partners and customers.”

Indonesia – TotallyAwesome, the largest kids-safe digital advertising and content platform in the APAC region, has appointed Ridwan S Hidayat, former client services director at global data and measurement-driven media agency Essence, to be its new country manager in Indonesia.

Hidayat brings with him extensive experience from his previous senior media agency positions. Besides his former role in Essence, he has also worked as the senior media and production manager at Kraft Heinz‘s food and drink subsidiary Kraft Heinz ABC, the group head at media company Mindshare, and the senior media planner at marketing agency Armananta Group.

Commenting on his appointment, Hidayat said that he is very excited to be leading TotallyAwesome in the country and contributing to high-quality interaction between brands and young audiences.

“TotallyAwesome is a unique media business with a focus on helping kids and families connect with brands through safe and private interaction. Helping protect our youngest internet audiences and their families in the digital environment is a big focus for government and business,” said Hidayat.

Meanwhile, TotallyAwesome APAC’s CEO Will Anstee, commented that Hidayat’s credentials to lead TotallyAwesome have been shaped by his client service and planning experience.

“As the digital world evolves, there is a growing need for human assessment and guidance in how brands reach out to digital audiences, especially our Indonesia youth that make up over 30% of the population. We need to protect them and ensure brands are stepping up to play a more meaningful role in their lives. Ridwan will lead this for us in Indonesia. I’m excited and proud to have him join us on this journey,” said Anstee.

The digital platform provides a safe digital environment for children and their families to interact with child-focused products on the internet while acknowledging and supporting the world’s most advanced regulations protecting kids’ data privacy. In Indonesia, TotallyAwesome has been active since 2015 and has an audience of 35.2 million monthly active users.

Earlier this year, TotallyAwesome announced other new appointments, namely Mikio Kudo, the new country manager in Japan, and James Sawyer, the new managing director of AUNZ operations.

Manila, Philippines – Global payment solutions company Mastercard in the Philippines has recently appointed Simon Calasanz, former executive vice president and head of consumer lending at commercial bank Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), to be its new country manager.

Calasanz brings with him nearly 20 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. Aside from his position at RCBC, he also became the president at credit card issuance industry association Credit Card Association of the Philippines, and the senior vice president and head of sales at multinational bank HSBC Group’s Retail Banking and Wealth Management department.

In his new role, Calasanz will be responsible for accelerating the acceptance and usage of digital payments, especially for smaller merchants and businesses, while also expanding on Mastercard’s ongoing digital and financial inclusion initiatives in the country. He will also be boosting the uptake of contactless card payments and strengthening the company’s proposition as a multi-rail payments technology company.

“Calasanz’s ‘digital-first’ business acumen and two-decades long career in the Philippines payments industry will support the company to double down on work with partners in different industries,” said Mastercard Philippines.

Commenting on his appointment, Calasanz said, “In my previous positions, I’ve seen first-hand the important contributions that Mastercard has made to the Philippines economy. I look forward to advancing Mastercard’s commitment to creating a digitized interoperable world and introducing new technologies that will allow the Philippines to leapfrog some of the traditional stages of digital payments and become a leader in cashless payments in the region.”

Meanwhile, Ari Sarker, the co-president of Mastercard APAC, commented that Calasanz is an invaluable addition to Mastercard’s leadership team in the Philippines, as he brings with him unrivalled experience in the country’s finance and banking sector and a wealth of knowledge and strategic insights about the intricacies of the market and consumers.

“Simon will support Mastercard in doubling down on efforts to build an inclusive and digitized economy in the Philippines, while enabling customers and partners to better prepare for economic recovery and growth,” said Sarker.

The appointment of Calasanz comes as Rowell Del Fierro, former country manager, completes a distinguished tenure with Mastercard.