Tag: creative director

Singapore – McCann Worldgroup Singapore has announced the appointment of Dan Parmenter, who has joined the team as a creative director on the multinational accounts of Mastercard, Reckitt, Microsoft and Cisco. 

With 18 years’ experience in South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore, Dan will be instrumental in enhancing the agency’s creative vision and driving successful campaigns for clients.

Dan has previously worked with top agencies, including Ogilvy, TBWA, FCB, Y&R and M&C Saatchi and his work has been recognised at international and regional shows including Cannes Lions, Clio, One Show, London International, and The Loerie Awards. Some recent highlights include launching Sprite Zero’s first global campaign.

Speaking on his appointment, Dan said, “I am excited to join McCann Worldgroup Singapore and work alongside such a passionate and talented team. I look forward to contributing to the agency’s growth and pushing the boundaries of creativity to deliver exceptional campaigns.”

He added, “I’ve loved working across APAC, via Hong Kong, over the last few years and it’s exciting to continue that journey in Singapore. The weather is definitely hotter here, but I’m taking that as a sign that the work will be too.”

Meanwhile, Alfred Wee, ECD at McCann Worldgroup Singapore, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Dan to our team. His diverse background and creative energy are a perfect fit to bring a new spark to the team and drive fresh, innovative ideas through his leadership.”

Singapore – We Are Social Singapore, a socially-led creative agency, has strengthened its creative leadership by appointing award-winning creative director Rodrigo Mitma to co-lead its team.

With nearly 15 years of industry experience, Mitma brings extensive expertise in healthcare, having spearheaded local, regional, and global creative campaigns. His portfolio also spans diverse sectors, including FMCG, automotive, retail, and government, showcasing his versatility across various industries.

For the past seven years, Mitma has been based in Singapore, where he led creative teams at DDB and McCann Health. Before relocating to Singapore, he honed his skills at Grey and CARNE Prime Advertising House in Lima. His work has earned prestigious accolades, including awards at the Effies, Clio, LIA, and Spikes, along with shortlist recognitions at Cannes Lions and D&AD.

In his role, Mitma will co-lead the creative team alongside fellow creative director Daniel Foo, driving the development of social-first, innovative, and impactful campaigns for clients. He will report directly to regional executive creative director Omar Sotomayor.

Sotomayor said, “Rod brings invaluable expertise in regional and global campaigns for top-tier clients to our team. I’ve always admired his curiosity and resourcefulness in tackling creative challenges, from exploring new uses of AI to his attention to emerging trends in craft and design. He’s a true student of advertising.”

Also talking about his new role, Mitma shared, “I was drawn to the agency’s relentless drive to raise the bar on what is considered ‘social’ for brands and consumers. Working with Omar, Daniel, and the team is going to be a remarkable experience; I can’t wait to create work that ignites conversations and generates hype, both online and offline.”

Singapore – Socially-led creative agency, We Are Social Singapore, has bolstered its creative and strategy teams with two new senior hires, Daniel Foo as creative director and Darcy Mitchell as strategy director.

Foo joins the agency after nearly three years client-side with e-commerce company Lazada. Reporting to regional executive creative director Omar Sotomayor, Foo is responsible for leading the creative team to deliver social-first, innovative, and effective work for clients.

Foo is a seasoned creative with more than 15 years of experience working at agencies including BBH, Grey Group, JWT and McCann on clients across industries including tech, banking, tourism and retail. 

“Joining We Are Social has been an extremely exciting opportunity. I am enjoying the chance to deep dive into a discipline that directly engages our audience, one where we get instant feedback on the work we do – it’s the now and the future of marketing,” Foo said.

Meanwhile, Mitchell has been charged with leading social strategy and planning for key client accounts and innovation projects. He reports to We Are Social Singapore’s head of strategy, James Honda-Pinder.

Mitchell joins after several years of consulting adtech and SaaS companies on brand positioning and content strategy. A British native, Mitchell brings a wealth of experience working across strategy, social, content and business development in both London and Singapore with agencies including Iris and Dentsu.

“I am delighted to join We Are Social – and with that, rejoin the world of social – because of my conviction in the agency’s mission and the creativity, clarity and innovation of the team driving it. I’m looking forward to working across our Samsung and innovation portfolio and collaborating across departments and offices to unlock new areas of growth both in and outside of consumer tech,” Mitchell stated.

Nai Yen Wang, managing director of We Are Social Singapore, commented, “Daniel and Darcy are both excellent additions to the team, adding the right firepower and expertise that we need to continue delivering market-leading strategic, creative and innovative future tech solutions for our clients to recharge their marketing mix. We are thrilled to have them join the agency.”

Manila, Philippines – VML Manila has announced changes in its creative team, with the promotion of Maan Bautista as executive creative director and the appointment of Fran Palines as creative director. 

Maan began as a copywriter in JWT Manila back in 2005 and was a key contributor in most of the agency’s wins during this period. She moved to McCann Worldgroup in 2016 and was instrumental in turning the agency into one of the most awarded agencies in the country. 

In 2020, she returned to Wunderman Thompson (now VML Manila) where she has continued her winning ways, while inspiring a whole new generation of young creatives under her watch.

Joe Dy, chief creative officer at VML Manila, said, “Maan has built a career on always fighting for the best idea in the room. She is a special kind of creative leader, in that she combines a sharp strategic intelligence, a precise understanding of the client’s business with award-winning level creative excellence in order to push the work forward. Her impact as a leader is already being felt by the office.”

Meanwhile, joined the company from BBDO Guerrero and had previously been with NuWorks and McCann Worldgroup.

“Having worked with Fran at McCann, I have witnessed firsthand how adept she is at elevating the thinking and creative standards of every brand she takes on. We trust that she will continue her dedication to creative bravery and excellence as part of the VML family. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have her on board,” Dy added.

Hong Kong – Advertising agency DDB Group Hong Kong has named Izmael Crespo as its new creative director to bolster the agency’s creative firepower.

In his new role, Crespo will work on multi-market projects across DDB’s varied client base. He will report to Alejandro Canciobello, the regional executive creative director.

Crespo is an art-based creative director who has worked with major brands on projects across the globe. His experience brings not only talent and fame but also a multicultural perspective to his new role with DDB Group Hong Kong.

He moved to Hong Kong from Colombia this month and comes into the agency with an extensive list of major accolades to his name, not least of which include an impressive ten Lions. Crespo is notably a part of the team responsible for the Corona Lime campaign that gave China its first-ever Titanium Lion win.

Additionally, being a gaming streamer himself, he is known for creating campaigns that bring brands to gaming environments.

Crespo’s appointment is the second major hire in DDB Group Hong Kong’s creative department this year. He follows the appointment of Alejandro Canciobello last April, to whom he will report directly now.

These hires underscore the agency’s ambition and commitment to significantly elevate its creative offering and the hope of becoming world-class. This is a goal that Andreas Krasser, CEO of DDB Group Hong Kong, has publicly voiced.

Commenting on the new hire, Alejandro Canciobello said, “Recently winning HKMA’s Agency of the Year for the second year in a row, having won Hong Kong’s 2023 Grand Effie, and with a string of notable creative campaigns this year, the agency has some great momentum. Adding someone like Izmael and his immense passion to create campaigns with the power to move people and culture is going to help us propel forward in our pursuit for even better work and greater impact.”

Also in his new role, Crespo shared, “I’m a big believer in an agency environment where everyone has the freedom to express their own creative voice and inspires each other to roll up their sleeves, and I know DDB has created this culture. I am excited to be here in Hong Kong and feel especially excited about going into an agency that is emerging on the global stage. I can’t wait to play a role in the next chapter of that story.”

Manila, Philippines – Dennis Nierra has been appointed by BBDO Guerrero as its creative director. Nierra was previously with the agency back in 2009 to 2014 as its art director.

During his previous BBDO Guerrero work, he worked on several award-winning campaigns such as the Pepsi ‘Liter of Light’, the Department of Tourism’s ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’, and the Pepsi Pinas campaign. 

Following this, Nierra pursued a career in Shanghai, China where he worked with Fred & Farid and Ogilvy before the pandemic brought him back home in 2020. He has since done freelance CD work with Octopus & Whale, having a small part in their winning Save Our Sharks Campaign and a stint at Publicis JimenezBasic.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I could go and be lost anywhere in the world, but my feet will always take me back to BBDO Guerrero. It’s home, and I’m glad to be back.”

Meanwhile, David Guerrero, creative chairman at BBDO Guerrero, commented, “Dennis has a unique perspective on the work and we’re happy to have him back with us. I know he’s going to bring his best game to our clients, and be a great mentor to our teams.”

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 – Global creative and media agency VaynerMedia has bolstered its leadership in APAC with a slew of elevations in its creative team.

Former Creative Directors Mae Ong and JY Lay are now both Group Creative Directors, while previously Associate Creative Directors Krystle Morais and William Beale now hold the position of Creative Director.

Tim Lindley, managing director of VaynerMedia for APAC, said that they strive to build the most contemporary creative and media agency in the world, and this entails finding and nurturing people who are determined “to change the game.”

“We are proud of our 250+ strong VaynerMedia team across the APAC region and will do everything we can to help them build their careers. We congratulate everyone who has been promoted. This includes our next generation of creative leaders like JY Lay, Mae Ong, Krystle Morais, William Beale, and many other talented folks across functions,” said Lindley.

The creative leads will be reporting to VJ Anand, Head of Creative and Managing Partner. All the newly promoted creative leaders are based in Singapore, except for Morais who’s based in Thailand.

The agency said that aside from the four new senior promotions, there are more recent elevations that have been implemented across the company.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Digital marketing agency Lion & Lion Indonesia has appointed Jimmy Sutanto as its new creative director. In his new role as creative director, Jimmy will be driving the department’s digital-first strategy through integrated business solutions and connected brand experiences.

In addition, Jimmy will be responsible for leading the market’s creative department, directly reporting to John Campbell-Bruce, managing director, Lion & Lion Indonesia, as well as Cheelip Ong, regional chief creative officer at Lion & Lion.

Jimmy’s addition to the Lion & Lion Indonesia team continues the agency’s strong growth momentum, especially with regards to securing client partnerships. Among the new businesses that Lion & Lion Indonesia has acquired over the past year are biotechnology firm Novozymes and consumer brands Doublemint and Cool Air under the Mars Wrigley portfolio. Raising Lion & Lion Indonesia’s creativity to the next level 

Jimmy has more than 17 years of experience in the creative and advertising industry, having worked in agencies in Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Prior to coming on board with Lion & Lion, he was head of creative for Ogilvy Myanmar. 

He has worked for clients across multiple industries, including major brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, British American Tobacco, Samsung, Huawei, Nestle, and Myanmar’s second largest telecommunications provider, Telenor.

On his appointment, Jimmy said, “I am passionate about combining audience insights, data and technology to create a unique brand experience within the customer journey. I believe that creativity is about solving problems; not merely projecting good art, but seeing how well creative design in digital marketing answers the needs of clients or improves people’s lives.” 

Jimmy added, “It is an exciting time to join Lion & Lion. My goal is to bring Lion & Lion Indonesia to the next level in terms of creativity, which will be reflected in the industry awards we hope to win. To achieve this, I encourage my team to always keep learning, so we can improve our ability to craft effective brand experiences for our clients. I live by the mantra of always listening, staying curious, and continuously learning from the best in Lion & Lion and the industry, all while motivating my team to do better.” 

John Campbell-Bruce, managing director, Lion & Lion Indonesia, shared, “I am extremely excited that Jimmy has joined the den. He brings strong creative and strategic skills and I have absolute confidence that he will help drive our creative product to new heights. Welcome aboard, Jimmy!” says John Campbell-Bruce, Managing Director, Lion & Lion Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, Cheelip Ong, regional chief creative officer, Lion & Lion, commented, “Jimmy reflects the T-shaped talent we are always on the lookout for – strategic, digital-oriented, entrepreneurial, creative and a natural storyteller. With him onboard leading and working along the new digital-first talent we have been adding to the market recently, I am confident that the next chapter of innovation and growth for Lion & Lion Indonesia is in good hands.”

Melbourne, Australia – Creative marketing agency BMF has appointed Tom Hoskins to be part of its senior creative department as creative director.

He joins the agency with over 25 years of experience in the industry, and has worked across the UK, US, Asia, and Australia. He has also held senior and creative leadership roles at TBWA, Havas, Y&R, and iris, and worked with a premier suite of world class brands including Adidas, Afterpay, Apple, Diageo, Gillette, Nestlé, Netflix, NRL, Samsung and Sony.

Speaking about his appointment, Hoskins said, “Consistency is a vital ingredient in the best agencies, and BMF has it in spades. I couldn’t be more excited about joining Alex, the creative team and all the talented, gutsy and humble humans at BMF.”

Meanwhile, Alex Derwin, chief creative officer at BMF, commented, “Tom is a world class human with fantastic work and global experience under his belt. He’s already made a huge difference in the short time he’s been here, so we feel very lucky to be able to secure him for the long term.”

BMF has appointed previously new hires in their creative team in November last year, as well as new hires for the agency’s planning team.