Singapore – Converge ICT Singapore, the international unit of Philippine fiber broadband and technology solutions provider Converge ICT Solutions is now fully geared up to provide service to enterprise customers outside the Philippines.

And with this continuous growth and expansion, Converge appoints technology sales strategist Victor Koh to lead Converse SG as its general manager and head of international and wholesale sales

In his new role, Koh will be responsible for managing the company’s operations while driving revenue growth by extending connectivity services and fiber optic capacity to international markets.

Koh carries with him over 30 years of expertise in the information technology and telecommunications industries. He has a proven track record of developing strategies for penetrating new markets.

“Converge has a good opportunity to develop a strong presence in the international carrier space. I’m excited to fulfill my role and support Converge to become the partner of choice for regional international carriers especially as the market becomes more competitive in broadband services,” Koh said.

Converge attained a Facilities-Based Operations (FBO) Licence in Singapore this year. The license allows the company to deploy telecommunications infrastructure and provide connectivity services to wholesale and enterprise customers in the region.

“We realize the opportunities presented by wholesale as a driver for our enterprise business, and Converge will continue to capitalize on that,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO and co-founder of Converge

“Converge SG stands ready to enable telecommunication firms, carriers, cable companies, and other businesses in delivering intra-Asia and Trans-Pacific connectivity capabilities for their operations,” he added. 

Through its global subsidiary, Converge offers a variety of international connectivity services, such as Ethernet-International Private Line (E-IPL) service, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) service, and submarine cable capacities, among others.

Grace Uy, president and co-founder of Converge, said, “Converge SG was built on the premise of serving the wholesale needs of international carriers, ISPs and telecommunication firms. We hope to finally capture various growth opportunities for the Wholesale business.”

The fiber broadband provider also continues to expand its networks as it participates in the Bifrost Cable System and the South-East Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X), which are both set to be operational by next year. 

“With our investments in our international broadband network, we are ready to service and enable the growth of business clients in the region,” Converge SEVP and COO Jesus Romero shared. 

Converge now operates one of the largest international networks in the country with points of presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.

Singapore – Universal Music Singapore, a record label under the Universal Music Group (UMG), appoints music industry veteran Alice Kent as the new general manager to bolster the company’s presence in Singapore and across the region. 

In her newly appointed role, Kent will supervise all aspects of the company’s operations, including the company’s artist and repertoire (A&R) projects, marketing strategies, partnership ventures, and business expansion efforts. 

Alice Kent previously served as the marketing, partnerships, and business development director for Live Nation Entertainment Singapore. She also worked for Warner Music Group Singapore as their business development, sync, and partnerships director and for Sony Music Entertainment Asia as the regional marketing director. 

Calvin Wong, CEO of Southeast Asia and SVP Asia for Universal Music Group, commented on the appointment, saying,”We welcome Alice’s enthusiasm and industry savvy to Universal Music Singapore as General Manager.” 

“She brings with her a pioneering spirit and a wealth of experience from her decades of working in the music and entertainment industry, covering many aspects of the business from brand partnerships, label marketing, and artist management to sync deals, non-traditional sales, live shows, and concerts. All of which, combined with her passion for music, will help Universal Music Singapore drive continued growth,” he continued. 

Kent carries with her an expanded portfolio, which includes collaborations with Billie Eilish and the Singapore Tourism Board, partnerships with Singtel and PayPal, and even securing sponsorship agreements for K-Pop group BlackPink. 

“I am honoured and excited to be part of the dynamic and multi-faceted Universal Music team. I look forward to making a positive impact and bringing my industry expertise and creativity to the strong body of work and artist roster that Universal Music has,” Kent said. 

She further added, “Singapore is such a diverse and dynamic market, and this is where I will be focusing on the growth potential for all creative partnerships and brand deals. In addition, I intend to take a keen eye on domestic and regional artists’ prospects while strengthening our repertoire and artist development efforts, building upon Universal Music’s leading position.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – Vivek Satpathy, most recently the business director for Indonesia at Omnicom Media Group, has been named the new general manager for BBDO Indonesia. His appointment aligns with BBDO‘s aggressive expansion plans in brand management, advertising, and social & digital content.

In this new role, Satpathy will spearhead the expansion of client services and business development within the agency.

During his previous role at Omnicom Media Group, he managed key client accounts and fostered strong account partnerships across various creative and media functions.

Reflecting on his new role, Satpathy expressed his enthusiasm for BBDO’s growth potential under the leadership of Omnicom Media Group, 

“I am inspired by the tremendous growth opportunities and creative potential that BBDO holds. With the power of our network, we find ourselves at the intersection of data, insights, technology, and creativity. This unique positioning allows us to provide holistic creative solutions across complex consumer touchpoints. We are confident in our ability to shepherd this renowned brand into a prosperous future in Indonesia,” he said.

With the promotion of Satpathy, Aviani Primasari will be stepping up to assume the role of managing partner at BBDO Indonesia. With her extensive experience, strong leadership abilities, and unwavering dedication to excellence, Aviani will continue to drive BBDO Indonesia’s growth and success.

“With a renewed sense of creative vigour and a string of impressive new business wins, we are thrilled to announce Vivek’s promotion. His exceptional understanding of brands and unwavering entrepreneurial drive will be instrumental in propelling our future growth. With Vivek at the helm, we are confident that our agency’s offerings will expand, enabling us to deliver top-notch creative marketing solutions to our valued partners and clients. We are excited to maintain this exhilarating momentum throughout the entirety of 2023 and beyond,” Primasari said. 

Brisbane, Australia Media agency UM Australia has announced the appointment of Andrew Copeland as its general manager for Brisbane to help in sustaining the long-term growth plans in Queensland’s expanding market. He will report directly to Anathea Ruys, chief executive officer at UM Australia.

Copeland brings with him extensive experience in creating business strategies and growing revenues whilst discovering how clients can benefit from the media’s ability to connect consumers with brands. In his last stint, he was with Cummins&Partners as chief customer officer where he worked on media strategy and marketing science.

CEO Ruys said that appointing a digital native like Copeland will make UM “something different” in the Brisbane market whilst supporting its fully-integrated model and futureproof strategy.

“UM has fully integrated media across traditional and all forms of digital, technology and data. As we strengthen our national Futureproof planning approach to media, we want to ensure Brisbane is a shining example of delivering strategic dividends for our clients, our staff and our partners. Having a strong leadership team is key to making this happen,” she added.

Meanwhile, Copeland describes UM as an agency that has a wide range of capabilities in addressing and delivering better solutions for the business challenges of clients.

“Queensland marketers are some of the most commercially and technically savvy in the country and deserve an agency that can identify and deliver real solutions to real problems. That’s what we’ve built at UM and I’m excited about the work we’ll do this year,” said Copeland.

In January, UM Australia was appointed as the media agency of record of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT Government).

Singapore – Global creator company Jellysmack has announced that current ANZ and SEA country manager Ezechiel Ritchie, has taken on an expanded regional role as general manager for APAC. In his expanded role, he brings rich experience in brand partnerships, advertising, and digital content and leverages his deep expertise with content and creators to establish meaningful partnerships.

Ritchie, who joined Jellysmack last year as ANZ and SEA country manager, previously held executive roles at Google and Taboola, and was at the helm when Jellysmack launched its Creator Program in Australia last October.

Commenting on his new role, Ritchie said: “Creators across Australia, New Zealand and Asia are having incredible success, not just on a local level but with fans and subscribers across the globe. In Australia alone there are 6 million content creators, which has grown by 48% since 2020. There are 18.5 million content creators in Japan and 17.5 million in South Korea.”

He added, “However, there is a big difference between a content creator and a successful content creator who can make a living from doing what they love. This is where Jellysmack can help by growing new audiences and revenue streams for local creators and I’m looking forward to growing our presence in the Asia Pacific region even further.” 

Meanwhile, Youri Hazanov, chief international officer at Jellysmack, commented, “Growing the creator economy across Asia Pacific is a top priority for Jellysmack, and following the success Ritchie has driven across ANZ and Southeast Asia, we are delighted to have him take the reins of the region.”

Jellysmack has partnered with over Australian and New Zealand content creators since the company launched here last October, including some of the biggest YouTubers such as How Ridiculous, JoshDub, Whippy, Vincenzo’s Plate, Indigo Traveller, Living Big in a Tiny House and How to Cook That. 

The company has also expanded its Asia Pacific presence, signing popular creators such as Junya who is Japan’s biggest YouTuber, TikToker, JianHao Tan from Singapore and Food Kingdom in Korea. 

Singapore – Crypto.com, a Singapore-headquartered online platform that supports investors to invest in cryptocurrencies, has appointed Chin Tah Ang, former executive director and head at Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), to be its new general manager of Singapore. 

In his new role, Ang will be bringing his strategic business development experience in the technology sector and deep understanding of the Singapore market landscape.

Ang’s most recent role was at DISG, a joint office between the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). DISG’s aim is to build a great technology ecosystem in Singapore by anchoring global technology leaders, building local champions and nurturing future-ready talent in Singapore. Aside from this, Ang has also previously served in a variety of roles with EDB, advancing strategy and policy engagement for the EDB in various international markets.

Commenting on his appointment, Ang said that Singapore is leading the way as a vibrant hub for fintech and Web3 innovation, and he is thrilled to join a company at the forefront of these efforts.

“Crypto.com will continue to collaborate closely with our public and private sector partners to address critical issues, promote responsible digital asset innovation, and ensure the sustainable growth of Web3 in Singapore,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, shared that he is pleased to welcome Ang who brings a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of local market conditions, the competitive landscape, as well as regulatory matters and technological trends.

“Chin Tah’s proven leadership and expertise will continue to guide us in a critical market for the future of our business and industry,” said Marszalek. 

In June 2022, Crypto.com received in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for its Major Payment Institution License.

Manila, Philippines – Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Philippines has named Meryl Yap as the agency network’s new general manager, which bolsters the network’s leadership bench strength on the back of OMG Philippines Unilab’s win.

She will report to Mary Buenaventura, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Philippines, and will officially assume her new role immediately.

Yap has held client leadership roles throughout her career working in global and local advertising agencies. In her previous client leadership roles at Mindshare, she oversees the planning and strategy portfolio for various Unilever brands across the food, confectionery, oral and skincare categories.

Prior to her leadership in Mindshare, Yap was previously the head of digital sales and sales strategy at media conglomerate ABS-CBN, and was in charge of expanding and developing ABS CBN’s digital ecosystem selling strategy.

Her client leadership experience across a diverse portfolio of blue-chip clients such as Beiersdorf, Google, Nissan and Visa will see her lead OMG Philippines in the new era of growth.

In her new role as OMG Philippines’ general manager, Yap will be overseeing the agency’s client accounts, managing new business pitches and streamlining agency processes to ensure the continuous growth of its clients’ businesses. 

Buenaventura said, “Meryl’s extensive client servicing experience within the industry along with her knowledge and capabilities, makes her the right person to continue the success of OMG Philippines. With her on board, I am confident that OMG Philippines has the best team who are focused on building meaningful partnerships with our clients to help them accelerate their business growth.”

Singapore – Public relations firm Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has appointed Adeline Lee, former head of PR and comms and business director at ADK Connect, to step into the newly created role of general manager for Singapore.

In her new role, Lee will be focusing on driving growth and overseeing all aspects of the business operations and talent development. Her appointment will accelerate H+K Asia’s growth trajectory and complement the agency’s regional expansion plans. Lee will be reporting to Justin Then, CEO of H+K Singapore and Lumos H+K Malaysia.

Lee brings over 20 years of consultancy and in-house experience in communications management. Prior to her previous role at ADK Connect, she was the founder and owner of SG Story, a local boutique agency that specialised in audience engagement, content development and path-to-purchase marketing.

Lee shared that as content and storytelling continue to evolve, there is an increasing need for effective, compelling, and authentic communications that build relationships in today’s complex and ever-changing situations. 

“This is truly an exciting time for marketers, and I am looking forward to partnering with our clients to drive marketing outcomes that are aligned to their business goals,” she added.

Meanwhile, Then commented, “Adeline is a passionate leader with a proven track record of building successful teams and businesses. Her entrepreneurial spirit and deep experience in omnichannel campaigns make her a valuable addition as we continue to expand service solutions and offerings in Singapore.”

HS Chung, president of H+K Asia, said, “I am very pleased with Adeline’s decision to join H+K and her clear vision of how we can continue to build on an already exceptional team. Singapore continues to be an integral hub for our network and clients in the Asia market and this appointment bodes well for H+K Singapore’s growth.”

Singapore – Global web recommendation platform Outbrain has appointed Benjamin Steel, former head of business development for APAC at advertising agency Bench, to be its new general manager for SEA

In his new role, Steel, who will be based in Singapore, will be responsible for developing Outbrain‘s regional business strategy and digital growth, leading a successful business team and delivering revenue growth from both publisher and advertiser sales.

Steel has a wealth of experience in APAC, having spent eight years based in Singapore. Aside from his previous role at Bench, Steel has held senior sales management roles at eGentic and AB Tasty. Moreover, he has held various roles in Australia, including new business manager at Yahoo, where he was tasked with launching Yahoo Native.

Commenting on his appointment, Steel said that Outbrain is a rapidly growing company and now is an excellent time to join the team, as he aspires to make a positive difference here.

“Great content matters even more today than ever before. Outbrain publishers can expect continued support to better monetise journalism and independent journalism as we expand deeper into South East Asia regions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Andrew Burke, Outbrain’s managing director for APAC and growth markets (India, China, and Brazil), shared that Steel brings a strong track record of digital technology experience and is the ideal candidate to help lead the business in South East Asia, a region that is becoming increasingly important to their business.

“As Outbrain’s new general manager, we know Benjamin is committed to growing our existing presence in the market. He already has plans to expand the publisher base and deepen relationships with marketers and agencies using our innovative monetisation tools. In doing so, we’re working towards building a thriving native advertising ecosystem in the region,” said Burke.

He added, “His expertise in digital advertising and ability to collaborate in a team-oriented environment will advance our growth in the region, and we are very much looking forward to working with him.”

Sydney, Australia – Global strategic communications and public affairs consultancy Sandpiper has appointed Jasmine Hogg, former director and head of reputation risk at Apollo Communications Australia, to be its new general manager for Australia. This appointment aims to bolster Sandpiper’s presence in the ANZ region, adding senior expertise to the firm’s local offering.

In her new role at Sandpiper Australia, Hogg will be playing a key role in leading the firm’s insurance practice across APAC. She will also be leading an agile team of consultants in Sydney and Melbourne, and collaborate closely with Sandpiper’s New Zealand team.

Jasmine brings more than 20 years of experience in media and corporate affairs, helping organisations around the world prepare and respond effectively to crises and hostile campaigns. She is a specialist in identifying reputation risks for clients in highly regulated industries, including financial services, aged care, pharma, technology, and aviation, as well as security, and education. 

During her stint at Apollo Communications, her work included advising clients during the 2017-18 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry and the 2018-21 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. She has also previously held senior advisory roles at several multinational corporations, including Macquarie Bank, Chubb Security, and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Hogg shared that Sandpiper’s established presence across China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore gives them a unique platform to help Australian companies target growth and investment in the Asia Pacific region. 

“Similarly, our team of local advisers has the capability to help clients build their reputation capital here in Australia. I’m delighted to be joining such a talented team at an important growth phase for the firm,” she said.

Meanwhile, Emma Smith, Sandpiper’s chief executive, noted that Hogg’s appointment adds bench strength to their team as they build out their presence in Australia and add a senior capability to their firm. 

“We are excited by the growth opportunities for our offering in Australia, in particular in the financial services, energy, healthcare, and technology sectors where we have deep expertise,” said Smith.