Tag: Dentsu

Jakarta, Indonesia – Global marketing and advertising agency dentsu has appointed Elvira Jakub as CEO of dentsu Indonesia, taking over the baton from Prakash Kamdar, who has led the network’s Indonesia business since February 2022.

In her new role, Jakub will be delivering growth to dentsu in the Indonesian market, and will be supporting the growth of Indonesia’s digital economy and in uplifting the communities within it. 

Jakub enters her role as a  marketing transformation veteran with over 23 years of experience in the Indonesia market. She joins dentsu from Google where she was head of industry, helping traditional businesses in auto and tech/telco thrive during and post-pandemic through innovative transformation.

Speaking on her appointment, Jakub said, “Indonesia’s market is rapidly evolving, and our clients need adaptable, integrated solutions to meet their business goals. I am thrilled to join dentsu Indonesia at this pivotal moment. Our team has been pioneering an integrated approach to creative, media, and CXM, empowering our clients to become innovation powerhouses in the ever-evolving marketing landscape.”

“I am grateful to be taking on the helm of dentsu Indonesia from what Prakash has built with the entire team here and I look forward to charting new grounds with the foundations that have been laid,” she added.

India – Global technology company Lenovo has partnered with dentsu’s B2B marketing agency Merkle B2B and its out-of-home (OOH) specialist agency Posterscope India to launch its latest ‘Lenovo-F1’ campaign for Formula 1 fans in India.

Merging together both agencies’ specialties, the campaign featured 3D anamorphic billboards that were used to play visually stunning displays aimed at capturing the viewers’ attention and leaving a lasting impression.

The ‘Lenovo-F1’ campaign used exclusive and personalised digital screens strategically situated at prominent advertising locations such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore airports, which are major tech and business hubs.

Lenovo’s goal is to elevate the brand’s perception as a solutions and services provider, targeting IT decision-makers and tech optimists who are also Formula 1 fans. The eye-catching visuals spotlight the brand’s commitment to cutting-edge technology and underline its position as an innovation leader.

Having been chosen as Lenovo’s agency of record, Merkle B2B is overseeing the strategy, planning, and buying with a focus on data convergence, performance evaluation, and paid media.

Commenting on the campaign, Imtiyaz Vilatra, managing director at Posterscope India, said, “We are thrilled to introduce the Lenovo F1 campaign, highlighting the brand’s unwavering dedication to innovation while establishing a fresh standard for imaginative and strategic outdoor advertising. Through this campaign, our goal is to inspire individuals to effortlessly forge, unite, and cooperate in an increasingly digitalized world.”

Anubhav Tyagi, client partner at Merkle B2B India, also commented, “This activation perfectly aligns with our network’s core values of forward-thinking and innovation. What makes this even more special is the innovative technology that has been used to highlight the collaboration of two brands—Lenovo and F1, both of which are at the forefront of technology and innovation!”

Taiwan – Global marketing and advertising agency dentsu has announced the establishment of a new ‘Greater North’ cluster that brings Mainland China and three of the regions in Asia into one structure, with a new leadership team and Jennifer Tang to spearhead as the CEO. 

The new Greater North cluster will merge dentsu’s markets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan to form one management structure.

With the new cluster, dentsu also announced the appointment of its visionary team of leaders from the agency’s respective markets who are expected to drive success and growth for the new cluster.

Tang, who is currently serving as dentsu Taiwan’s CEO, will take the helm as Greater North’s CEO. She is recognised for her transformative management approach, transforming the Taiwan business with her six-year visionary journey and making it among the strongest in the APAC region. 

She is known for her unwavering focus on integration, innovation, data, and technology, which enabled dentsu Taiwan to capitalise on high growth opportunities by expertly predicting and navigating the changing expectations of consumers and delivering competitive advantage for brands in the market.

Together with Tang, Joshua Wong from dentsu Taiwan will serve as the new cluster’s CFO. He is an innovative and strategic leader who brings a critical commercial lens to investments and operations. Having worked with Tang, he was part of Taiwan’s transformation journey to deliver some of the strongest results in the group.

Chu Yin Mak will remain as dentsu China’s CEO and dentsu APAC’s executive committee member. With 25 years of career experience, his mastery of the varied imaginative value delivery, technology, data, and ecosystem landscape, along with his ability to identify and take action on significant growth opportunities from evolving market conditions, is expected to bring a significant advantage to the group.

Also working with the new group is Simone Tam, who is now appointed CEO for the Greater Bay Area. Tam has been overseeing both Dentsu Creative and dentsu Hong Kong as CEO since 2021 and has been growing both over the course of her career. 

In her new role, she will capitalise on the huge potential of the Greater Bay Area, overseeing a geo-centric business unit comprising the hyper-growth territories of Hong Kong, the Guangdong Province, and Macao as the new CEO. 

Lastly, Donna Kim, dentsu Korea’s CEO, will also join the Greater North cluster’s leadership team. With 30 years of experience building successful domestic enterprises for large global MarComms businesses, she is expected to further drive growth for the group. Her deep level of industry knowledge and thorough understanding of building brands in and out of Korea bring a strong media perspective to the fore. 

Rob Gilby, CEO APAC at dentsu said, “Jennifer is a vocal advocate of co-creation and collaboration, and together with her leadership team will deliver new untapped growth opportunities for both our clients and our business. Bringing together these markets into one management structure with an integrated cluster strategy will enable each leader to spearhead an agenda that benefits all markets, delivering new innovation and client opportunities, improved speed to market, greater autonomy to deliver solutions, and economies of scale aligned to market needs.”

He added, “Jennifer needs no introduction; she has won a number of accolades for her own leadership and the culture she has overseen in the Taiwan business, while her teams have been recognised on the global stage, from Cannes Lions to Spikes, Clios, Madstars, and RECMA. She is a passionate advocate of B2B2S and dentsu’s impact on the communities it’s a part of, living the values that are fundamental to the way we do business.” 

Commenting on her appointment, Tang shared, “We’ve been given a significant opportunity to drive unprecedented scale and build our business around our clients and their needs, which is unique to dentsu and our model in market. The formation of this cluster ultimately drives greater opportunity for our clients, giving them frictionless access to a collaborative community of experts across marketing, consulting, and technology.”

“I am excited to work with the exceptional leaders in Joshua, Chun, Simone, and Donna, who bring significant expertise across a range of specialisms. Together we will drive new growth for brands and opportunities for our people by delivering new services and solutions that tackle our clients’ greatest challenges, fueling our growth and broadening the horizons for professional development within our teams,” she added. 

Tokyo, Japan – International advertising agency dentsu has recently announced the launch of its ‘global practices structure’ along with key leadership appointments, led by Jean Lin, group president – global practices, Dentsu Group Inc.

These developments emphasise dentsu’s ambition to build highly integrated, people-centred, end-to-end solutions, as well as its commitment to its enduring global leadership brands including Carat, iProspect, dentsu X, Dentsu Creative, Merkle and Tag.

Moving on to the appointments, Yasuharu Sasaki becomes global chief creative officer, leading dentsu’s global creative practice. In this new role, Sasaki will be responsible for driving expertise to unlock the full potential of Dentsu Creative’s capability and impact across all practice areas. 

On the other hand, Will Swayne becomes global practice president – media, where he will be building a winning media practice community that delivers continued excellence in its offerings, driving client growth and transformation. 

Lastly, Pete Stein becomes global practice president – CXM, in this role, he will partner with all four Regions to ensure the implementation of the dentsu transformation agenda and global CXM practice initiatives in region and market.

Talking about the new global practice structure and appointments, Lin said, “With the creation of our Global Practices, dentsu is making a statement about what the future of integrated, end-to-end client solutions will look like. We’re removing the barriers and that will allow us to do just that in a way which very few others in the industry can match.”

“I’m so proud to bring together this new line-up of global practice leads and, in turn, their leadership teams, to do just that – unlock the potential of dentsu’s integrated capabilities to help our clients not only grow, but answer some of the greatest challenges of our time,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Hiroshi Igarashi, president and CEO, Dentsu Group Inc., said, “Under Jean’s leadership, within our Global Practice structure, we count many of the world’s most respected and historic agency brands, full of deep expertise and differentiated services. By creating a cross-service structure, we are simultaneously integrating those capabilities while ensuring clients can still benefit from distinct knowledge.”

Singapore – With almost 63% of marketers already using it, generative AI is expected to shape the industry in the coming months, a report from dentsu revealed. 

According to the new dentsu report, generative AI, together with monetization and integrity economics, are among the rising trends set to transform the media industry in 2024 and beyond. 

Around 63% of marketers have said they’ve already started engaging with generative AI in their company. With this, the report predicts that technology will take centre stage, covering areas such as creativity, media planning, and production.

The report showed three trends in generative AI. These trends are the rise of generative search, the augmentation of human creativity in fields like content and image development, and generative optimisations, where generative AI simplifies advertising production, targeting, and effectiveness.

The dentsu report also revealed key predictions pointing to the race to monetisation between tech platforms. These tech platforms are expected to double down on becoming more protective of their data, understanding their users, and stepping up their advertising offerings as they continue to monetize their services. 

This megatrend incorporates trends like a world of lookalike apps where platforms become progressively similar. Also part of these trends are the platforms having a more defensive stance on their data, doubling down on people intelligence, and expanding advertising to new areas for most platforms.

Lastly, the latest report also showed trends leaning towards integrity economics, where the focus is on brands and their sustainable contributions to society. Brands that can build more carbon-efficient, diverse, and safe online spaces for people and other brands may achieve more success.

According to the report, this trend is highlighted by media consumption becoming increasingly diverse and personal, new developments in brand assurance that create safer environments for both people and brands, and brands implementing carbon media efficiency strategies. 

The latest report highlights the key trends within each of these three areas of interest and provides suggestions on how brands can capitalise on them in the short and long term. 

Peter Huijboom, global CEO for media international markets at dentsu, said, “Our own client research has shown that more than 60% of marketers have said they’ve already started engaging with generative AI in their company. So, in our dentsu 2024 Media Trends report, it was important for us to identify and introduce the additive advantages, trends, and technologies to help them progress in this space.” 

Huijboom continued, “When we bring our experts together from our media agencies and from all around the world to create these predictions, it is essential that we showcase the most pressing topics and the best opportunities for the future. This report does exactly that, in a convenient and easily accessible way.”

Speaking on the report, Anita Kotwani, CEO of media for South Asia at dentsu, also said,  “Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword, but a game-changer for the media industry. It has the power to automate, optimise, and personalise various aspects of media planning, buying, and execution. It can also unleash the creative potential of media professionals by enabling them to generate new and engaging content, formats, and experiences for their audiences. This is what we call generative AI, and it is the focus of our 14th edition of the Media Trends Report.”

“At dentsu, we take pride in our insightful expertise that keeps us ahead of the competitive curve. We are always exploring new ways to leverage AI for our clients, partners, and employees. The Media Trends Report deep-dives into one of the most disruptive technologies, AI, taking us through the many trends that serve generative AI on a platter. It aims to enable readers to reshape their work dynamics, tapping into the untapped potential through its many facets,” Kotwani added. 

Singapore – International advertising agency dentsu has announced the appointment of Clay Schouest as chief strategy officer for client and solutions in APAC to handle the agency’s client portfolio in the region. 

Schouest is back in Asia and with dentsu after five years in Europe. As a dentsu veteran, he spent 11 years at the agency working on strategy roles in Shanghai, Singapore, and London.

In his newly created role, he will be based in Singapore and will lead the strategy and vision for dentsu’s client portfolio, building integrated, end-to-end solutions that deliver client revenue growth, profitability, and satisfaction.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the global strategy director for communications for Reckitt in 2021.

Schouest brings with him a unique experience after having worked in key markets across the world, including New York, London, Amsterdam, and Shanghai. He has devoted his career to building strategies that merge media and creativity, working with prolific brands including Coca-Cola, Unilever, P&G, Diageo, and L’Oreal.

Yusuke Kasahara, CEO for client and solutions in APAC, said, “Clay is a truly global citizen, having lived and worked across major markets in all three regions, giving him a unique ability to build hyper-relevant strategies that deliver long-term growth and loyalty for brands.”

He continued, “He will work closely with our Chief Client Officer and CEO, Media, APAC, Prerna Mehrotra, to build a culture of client-centricity and excellence in our business, drawing on his 25 years of experience to help our clients navigate the complexity of the marketplace with laser-sharp focus on delivering solutions to help them achieve their growth ambitions. I am delighted to welcome Clay back to dentsu and back to Asia.” 

Commenting on his appointment, Clay Schouest shared,  “Some of my most memorable and career defining years were at dentsu and I am delighted to be returning back to the business and a region I have missed and call home.” 

“There is no question that Asia is the most exciting region in the world, with its exponential growth in wealth and population creating significant opportunity for brands. But to thrive in this environment, brands have to truly understand the vast profiles of the Asian consumer and how best to engage with them, given the strength of local brands and the proliferation of channels these consumers chose to engage with. I’m looking forward to re-engaging with dentsu’s clients in Asia and partnering with them to deliver on their long-term priorities and identify new paths to growth,” he added. 

APAC – Advertising agency Dentsu Creative has released its 2023 Global CMO Report, ‘Creativity at a Crossroads’, revealing that the current industry landscape is at a crossroads, but it is one empowered by creativity and technology.

Data from the report indicates that 30% of CMOs prioritize strengthening customer relationships, while 28% focus on engaging with changing audiences, responding to evolving consumer behavior, representing diverse audiences, and adapting to new technology.

It also states that CMOs seek tech-human experiences, with 87% agreeing brands are forged through experiences and 88% valuing alignment between customer experience and brand promise. CMOs have begun to embrace new interfaces such as voice, gesture, AR and AI. 

Additionally, CMOs are now prioritizing entertainment for brand building, investing in platforms like podcasts and programming. 79% agree that advertising is easier to ignore, and 80% see technologies like live streaming blurring content-commerce lines. Humor is resurging, with 58% aiming for joyful moments in advertising amidst crowded, uninspiring messaging.

Talking about AI, CMOs cautiously embrace AI, appreciating its efficiencies but doubting its ability to deeply engage customers. Notably, while some worry about AI’s impact on their jobs, 75% think it can’t fully replace human creativity.

CMOs also increasingly care about balancing purpose and profit, with 62% worrying about their impact on the environment and society, while 64% express concern that their media funding could lead to political polarization. However, 81% believe brands can use their budgets to support diverse voices, maintaining that advertising can be a force for good.

Lastly, CMOs prioritize creativity in response to audience demands for brand integrity and engaging content with 85% seeing creativity as an economic catalyst. Unlocking the creativity needed to thrive in today’s connected world sits firmly at the intersection of brand, experience, and culture. Fortunately, sweet spots are now emerging for brands and businesses to connect with modern customers in the spaces and places that matter most.  

Patricia McDonald, chief strategy officer of Dentsu Creative, observed, “To own the audience, we need to connect in the spaces and places that matter most to them. The challenge is that audiences are changing: they have new expectations, new behaviors, and new values shaped by a deeply connected world.” 

“Their expectations have soared while their attention has polarized-they can dive deeper than ever into the things they love and find it easier than ever to ignore the things they don’t. So, brands must be built in new ways through experiences, through culture, and through action. The choice is simple: engage or be ignored,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Amit Wadhwa, CEO, Dentsu Creative India, commented, “Now, in a world where AI threatens to steal the spotlight from human creativity, it is reassuring to see that a massive 73% of India’s marketers firmly believe that Generative AI will never outshine the boundless brilliance of the human imagination. Frankly, I couldn’t agree more. The report underscores this crucial juncture where creativity, technology, and strategic insights blend – setting the stage for an exciting future in the world of marketing.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia –  Dentsu Malaysia has announced the appointment of Audrey Chong as its new CEO effective October 1, 2023. Chong will be taking over from Kien Eng Tan who will be retiring after having served as CEO since February 2021.

Previously having been the CEO of Universal McCann Malaysia, Chong brings 25 years of industry experience across media, creative, strategy and digital marketing with in-depth understanding and expertise of the Malaysian market. 

In her role, she will be responsible for growing and continuing the business transformation journey whilst driving integration across practices. Her perspective on building an agency model that delivers on clients’ needs will see new opportunities and growth.

Speaking on her own appointment, Chong said, “I look forward to joining dentsu Malaysia and foresee exciting times ahead. I strongly believe in dentsu’s strategy and the direction they are moving in, with new products, integrated servicing, and innovation to meet the market’s needs. They have strong momentum off the back of some significant market wins, and I believe Dentsu is poised to break away from the pack and build new growth and industry opportunities. 

Sanjay Bhasin, CEO of dentsu Southeast Asia commented, “I really wanted a hands-on practitioner who understood the market challenges and nuances; someone who could build upon the wins and momentum Kien and his team have created which have mostly been large local giants requiring deep understanding of the dynamic Malaysian market. Audrey’s reputation speaks for itself. She’s built a solid media agency now ranked number one in RECMA. She has a competitive skill set that will drive the business to new heights and is also a warm, intelligent, caring person who will make a great addition to our strong local Malaysian agency and our Southeast Asia leadership team.”

Meanwhile, Kien Eng Tan, outgoing CEO of dentsu Malaysia, said, “I’ve had an incredible journey with dentsu Malaysia and I’m happy to have spent my time here in the last few years of my agency career. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity I have had to lead such a talented and creative team and I am confident that the spirit of innovation and passion for creativity will continue to thrive. The industry is fast changing, and I eagerly look forward to seeing great campaigns under the guidance of our new leadership.”

Philippines – Dentsu Philippines has been selected as the integrated media agency of record for Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) to grow the company’s brand awareness and market share.

Jollibee Foods Corporation is the parent company of the Filipino fast-food restaurant chain, Jollibee. The company was founded in 1975 and has now established 18 brands and over 6,300 stores across 34 countries. 

David Cruse Beal, global chief marketing officer of JFC, said, “We are energized by the ‘one dentsu’ proposition presented by dentsu Philippines and the digital expertise and talent presented by Merkle Singapore. We look forward to working with the Dentsu team and leveraging shared media tools and systems to accelerate our customer journeys.”

Mako Chaves, managing director,media, for dentsu Philippines, shared that it is a privilege for them to work with JFC and that they are confident of what they can do for the company. 

“It is a privilege to work with JFC’s home-grown brands, including Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, and Red Ribbon and to help them with their very ambitious growth plans. With our expertise in digital marketing and transformation, access to human insight and point of purchase motivation as well as long-term planning and buying acumen. I am confident we will help them grow brand awareness and market share,” said Chaves. 

JC Catibog, CEO of dentsu Philippines, further commented, “This monumental win is testament to the dentsu value of radical collaboration, where we employ a borderless team based on where the specialization of the practice pillars relevant to JFC reside.”

“Our promise is to deliver agility and efficiency with this operating model that consistently brings the best of the dentsu network to all of the JFC brands. The media business further strengthens the JFC-dentsu relationship, adding to its current creative remit for Chowking, Mang Inasal, and Milksha, as well as global technology solutions assignments with Merkle Singapore,” he added. 

India – Manzoor Alam has been appointed the new executive creative director (ECD) of Dentsu Creative India. Manzoor will be located in the agency’s Gurgaon office and will lead creative teams dedicated to clients such as Honda Cars, Max Healthcare, Catch Spices, Royal Stag, 100 Pipers, Herbalife, Hamdard, and Carlsberg, among others.

He will directly report to Joy Mohanty, chief creative officer of North at Dentsu Creative India.

Alam’s focus will be on developing the agency’s creative talent pool, as well as establishing it as a point for innovative, and high-calibre work, with a strong emphasis on modern creativity and the goal of cultivating a vibrant and forward-thinking creative culture that will enable the agency to craft campaigns that deeply connect with its clients.

Alam’s 20-year career has included stints at agencies such as McCann and Rediffusion, as well as his most recent stint at Lowe Lintas, where he created creative works for a variety of brands. Specifically, he made Google’s products, including Google Search, Google Photos, Google Assistant, Google My Business, and Google Voice, as well as other businesses such as those of OLX, HP, Maruti Suzuki, and GoDaddy.

Speaking about the appointment, Mohanty said, “Manzoor’s exceptional journey showcases a wealth of experience and an extensive portfolio of accomplishments with leading brands such as Google and OLX, as well as numerous start-ups and tech ventures.”  

He added, “His unique ability to infuse his ideas with a strong sense of humanity has endeared him to brands across the spectrum. We are thrilled to have him on board and are certain that he will be instrumental in taking our goals of Modern Creativity to new heights.”

Meanwhile, Alam stated, “In today’s ever-evolving consumer landscape, it is important to consider both the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of every idea. This calls for a cohesive and integrated approach to deliver our concepts effectively. Dentsu Creative India’s philosophy of ‘Modern creativity’ synchs well with this emerging trend.” 

“The organization’s strong emphasis on digital-first, tech-driven initiatives, and data-backed solutions amplifies the potential for impactful ideas to flourish. This is exactly what has drawn me towards Dentsu Creative India. I am excited and look forward to embarking on this inspiring journey,” he said.