Tag: Leadership

Singapore – IPG Mediabrands has confirmed the appointment of James Hawkins to the newly-created position of chief client officer at IPG Mediabrands APAC.

“IPG Mediabrands remain focused on delivering innovative and exceptional client experiences in a rapidly evolving media landscape. We are excited to deploy James’ in-depth knowledge and transformative experience across the Asia-Pacific region,” Leigh Terry, CEO at IPG Mediabrands APAC said.

Hawkins was most recently the chief executive officer of PHD in Asia-Pacific, and held the role from October 2018 to October 2024, when he recently stepped down.

He was also previously the managing director of dentsu X in Asia-Pacific, and also held other C-Suite positions for dentsu across Asia-Pacific.

His appointment comes after Omnicom Group has confirmed that its board of directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement pursuant to which Omnicom will acquire Interpublic Group (IPG) in a stock-for-stock transaction.

Singapore – Himanshu Shekhar, most recently the chief executive officer for Southeast Asia at GroupM, has stepped down from his role this month, the company has confirmed to MARKETECH APAC when reached out to.

“After two and a half decades with GroupM, Himanshu Shekhar has decided to step down from his role managing our business in Southeast Asia this month. Himanshu has been a strong leader for us over the years. We’re grateful for his many contributions to our success in the region and wish him the best for the future,” a GroupM spokesperson told MARKETECH APAC.

Himanshu served as GroupM’s CEO for the region beginning in May 2023. Prior to this, he was the CEO of GroupM Indonesia and then expanded his role to also include the Thailand and Vietnam markets.

He also served as the managing director of Mindshare Indonesia in 2010 before being elevated to the position of CEO in 2012 and subsequently as its CEO for Southeast Asia in 2015.

The recent move also follows a recent shake-up in GroupM’s APAC leadership, which expanded the remits of Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom’s regional agency leaders to include responsibility for critical GroupM-wide functions and capabilities.

Sydney, Australia – Consulting-led digital marketing agency Orange Line has appointed Brian Collins as head of growth to lead the global expansion of its innovative product offerings, with a strong focus on scaling in the United States. 

Bringing 14 years’ experience in digital strategy and growth marketing, Collins excels in securing global accounts, scaling teams and driving revenue. 

Reporting to Aishling Farrell, general manager at Orange Line, his role will focus on identifying growth opportunities, building new business and enhancing Orange Line’s presence across international markets.

Prior to moving to Australia, Collins was Head of UK Digital for Ogilvy in London where he worked with brands including Mattel across EMEA, Vodafone, Nokia, Bacardi and British Airways. 

Collins previously held other senior leadership roles at ContentCal (acquired by Adobe) and Strong Roots (acquired by McCains). Since moving to Australia, Collins has worked on brands like Oroton, Eckersley’s Arts & Crafts, and Charter Hall.

Speaking on his new role, Collins said, “I’m thrilled to join Orange Line at such a pivotal moment in its journey. I was blown away by the agency’s exceptional product suite and their proven execution capabilities set the agency apart in the digital marketing space. I’m excited to strengthen our leadership in the Australian market while establishing a robust footprint in the U.S.”

Meanwhile, David Klein, co-founder at Orange Line, commented, “We are delighted to have Brian on board. His extensive experience in scaling businesses and passion for innovative growth strategies aligns perfectly with our vision. Brian will play a critical role in enhancing our capabilities and accelerating our expansion into new markets.” 

Collins appointment comes as Orange Line builds on its recent milestones, including major client wins such as Abano Healthcare, Fantastic Furniture and Skyscanner. 

Singapore – Achint Setia, most recently the chief revenue and marketing officer at ZALORA, has stepped down from his role after more than two years with the company, according to an announcement he made on LinkedIn.

“Today, I completed another chapter in my journey with memories, learnings and lots of gratitude for the wonderful folks at ZALORA Group. Back to homeland now in the new year for a new adventure,” he stated.

During his tenure at ZALORA, he led the marketing and ad sales functions for the ZALORA Group across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines. He also served as ZALORA’s country managing director for Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, overseeing the PnL responsibilities for these markets.

He also oversaw the monetisation of ZALORA’s ad inventory, delivering value for fashion brands while advancing adtech solutions in e-commerce. He also played a role in customer acquisition, retention, and lifecycle management for the company, emphasizing churn prevention and lifetime value (LTV) growth.

Moreover, he drove ZALORA’s brand-building efforts, including digital marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), social media, and optimizing the onsite app and web experience. 

During an interview with MARKETECH APAC’s Milestones series, he previously remarked that the biggest challenge in his ZALORA leadership was driving business outcomes in a very volatile macroeconomic landscape in Southeast Asia.

“Throughout this period, I am extremely thankful to be a part of a caring organisation surrounded by highly talented colleagues, and for the presence of a strong family support system to help me through this transition,” he said back then.

He also remarked how he wanted to further understand the consumer behaviour in the region by being part of ZALORA’s mission.

“My personal passions include investments in building deeply segmented experiences using advanced analytics, along with driving a multi-channel engagement ecosystem to inspire customers to shop at the convenience of their fingertips,” he added.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Lion & Lion has announced the appointment of Cheelip Ong as its new group CEO following the announcement of Fredrik Gumpel stepping down from his role after five years with the company.

Cheelip will assume said role by early 2025. Moreover, this decision has been carefully planned throughout the year, allowing ample time for a seamless leadership transition.

“Cheelip has been instrumental in our success and embodies the creative excellence and leadership required to steer Lion & Lion into its next chapter,” Fredrik said.

During his tenure, Fredrik led Lion & Lion through significant challenges, including navigating a major financial turnaround, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and other unprecedented crises. Under his leadership, the agency overcame substantial adversity, solidified its operational foundation, and emerged stronger and more resilient.

Meanwhile, Daisuke Suefuji, Septeni Group senior executive officer, praised Fredrik’s leadership, stating, “Fredrik’s tenure has been nothing short of transformative. He took on the challenge of a significant operational overhaul and successfully repositioned Lion & Lion as a competitive player in the industry. We deeply value his contributions and are confident in Cheelip Ong’s ability to carry forward this momentum. Cheelip’s appointment ensures continuity, trust, and a creative vision aligned with our future ambitions.”

Singapore – Weber Shandwick has announced strategic leadership appointments to accelerate growth and innovation across its Asia-Pacific operations. They include Polka Yu as APAC chief integration officer (CIO) and managing director for Hong Kong and South China (Shenzhen); Carolyn Devanayagam as managing director of Singapore; and Robert Magyar as APAC head of healthcare.

Yu will work closely with the regional team to drive and execute integrated marketing communications strategies. She will focus on driving organic growth with top-tier clients while building new client relationships across the region. 

Additionally, Yu will lead the expansion of the Hong Kong market and oversee the China Go Global initiative, managing international communications for China-based clients from the agency’s Hong Kong and Shenzhen offices. Yu brings 20 years of experience in strategic consultation and planning for integrated global campaigns, business development, and team management in APAC, especially Hong Kong and mainland China. 

Meanwhile, Devanayagam will focus on accelerating the agency’s growth by enhancing its capabilities in key business areas. She recently celebrated 25 years of service with the agency, marking a distinguished multi-decade career spanning Southeast Asia, China, and the United States. 

In addition to her new role, Devanayagam will continue to serve as the Head of Corporate Affairs in the region, providing strategic counsel to key global clients, partnering with corporations, NGOs, and industry leaders to drive impactful initiatives.

Lastly, with over 20 years of experience advising senior executives in strategic communications and healthcare across multiple markets, Magyar will focus on driving growth, enhancing client relationships, and developing talent with the firm’s healthcare vertical. 

The trio will be reporting directly to Tyler Kim, CEO of Weber Shandwick APAC.

“These leadership appointments reflect our unwavering commitment to providing world-class services to our clients and partners. Polka, Carolyn, and Robert’s deep understanding of our markets and industry verticals will be instrumental in driving our strategy forward and ensuring we stay at the forefront of the communications landscape in Asia Pacific,” Tyler said.

He added, “As we enter the next phase of our growth, we are focused on embracing change and making strategic improvements to deliver exceptional results for our clients. These appointments, along with our increased focus on industry-specific expertise, position us optimally for continued success in the region.” 

Australia – Tara McKenty has joined AKQA Australia as executive creative director, further strengthening the agency’s leadership team as it continues its integration with whiteGREY.

In her role, Tara will collaborate closely with AKQA Australia’s senior leadership team, including Tim Devine, executive creative director; Iona Macgregor, chief strategy officer, and Justine Leong, general manager for Sydney, to continue driving excellence and growth within the region.

She brings over 16 years of creative industry experience across the APAC region, including a decade leading Google’s creative team across APAC. Her work has been celebrated globally, earning awards at all major festivals, including a coveted Gold for Creative Innovation at Cannes Lions.

A thought leader in the local and international creative community, Tara has served on high-profile juries such as the Cannes Lions Innovation Jury. She is also the founder of D&AD RARE, a global initiative supporting underrepresented groups thriving within the creative industries.

Speaking on her appointment, Tara said, “AKQA is renowned for creating work that blends creativity, technology, and humanity in meaningful ways. I’m looking forward to working with a strong team of leaders and partnering with our clients to build innovative and impactful experiences that truly make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Leong commented, “Tara is an exceptional talent whose creative excellence and leadership have left an indelible mark on the industry. Her commitment to innovation and inclusion aligns perfectly with AKQA’s mission to create a better future. We’re delighted to have Tara join us and are excited about the impact she will bring to our clients and team.”

Sydney, Australia – Global freelancing marketplace Freelancer.com has announced the promotion of Marko Zitko as its director of marketing and communications. In this newly created role, Marko will head up all brand marketing, communications and investor relations for Freelancer globally.

Since joining in 2022, Marko has played an integral role in leading Freelancer’s public relations and communications department. In his three years at the company, he achieved record highs for total media coverage, growing year-on-year ten-fold and developing strong media relations across global publications. 

Marko also had led several brand marketing and content initiatives since taking over the marketing department earlier in the year. 

Marko has worked in public relations and marketing for over seven years. He initially joined Freelancer in January 2022 as its communications manager. Marko was promoted in May 2023 to take over investor relations for Freelancer Limited and its subsidiaries, and then again in December 2023 to lead marketing as the senior marketing and communications manager. 

Prior to joining Freelancer, Marko worked at WE Communications Australia where he progressed to a senior account manager level managing key enterprise technology and consumer technology clients, including Adobe Creative Cloud, GIGABYTE, Sony Mobile and UiPath.

Speaking on his promotion, Marko said, “I’m thrilled to continue growing at Freelancer with the new role as director of marketing and communications. It’s an exciting time at the company, especially with the improvements the team is making on the product side and the ways AI is elevating the talent on the platform.”

He added, “It’s never been easier to start a business and I’m reminded of this everyday seeing clients all around the world making their dreams real. From a marketing and comms perspective, our team will be focusing on refreshing the Freelancer brand and exploring new, innovative ways to tell our story globally.” 

Meanwhile, Matt Barrie, chief executive at Freelancer.com, commented, “Marko’s promotion reflects our commitment to innovative marketing strategies and strengthening our global communications approach. His track record of elevating our media presence and strategic communications makes him the ideal leader to drive our marketing efforts forward.”

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Global digital agency DEPT has appointed David Neal as its new global chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, David will bring together the global finance and operations team, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business. 

David brings substantial experience as a chief financial officer, with a proven track record in the marketing and advertising sectors across South and Southeast Asia and global leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Dentsu’s production unit, Tag. 

In his new role, David will be based in London. He will leverage his extensive background to redefine the finance department as a strategic ally within DEPT, enhancing collaboration with other business units—especially operations, and people & culture. Neal will also harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation. 

Speaking on his new role, David said, “During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within DEPT. I realized this is a place where we can do things differently. I hope to transform finance into a true strategic partner, providing insights, analysis, and driving commercial growth.”

Meanwhile, Dimi Albers, global CEO at DEPT, commented, “At DEPT, we’re all about keeping innovation at the core of everything we do. By bringing our finance and operations teams closer together, we are merging two key business areas to drive strategic growth. David will help us unlock new opportunities and ensure that innovation remains at the heart of everything we do.”

David is stepping into the role as Mickey Kalifa moves on after two years with the company. 

“Mickey has been instrumental in creating a more integrated and connected finance team, but his contributions go far beyond the numbers. He’s been an invaluable part of DEPT®, leaving a lasting mark on our culture and everyone he’s worked with. We’re deeply grateful for all he’s done and wish him great success in his next chapter,” Albers said.

Singapore – Operational machine learning (ML) and performance advertising company Moloco has announced the appointment of Nopparat Yokubon as Moloco Ads lead for Southeast Asia and ANZ as well as Jason Bagg as commerce media lead for ANZ.

These appointments highlight Moloco’s commitment to expanding its presence across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region as it continues to meet the growing demand for ML solutions in the digital advertising landscape.

Nopparat, a seasoned adtech veteran with over 16 years of experience in digital advertising and monetisation across APAC, will spearhead Moloco’s growth initiatives in Southeast Asia. Her extensive regional expertise and proven track record in scaling advertising technology solutions positions her perfectly to drive Moloco’s next phase of growth in this dynamic market. 

“Southeast Asia represents a pivotal mobile first market with emerging opportunities in app development, particularly in markets such as Vietnam and Pakistan. As businesses navigate the current economic landscape and seek sustainable growth, our mission is to help them overcome complex challenges in user privacy, AI transparency and ad fraud,” Nopparat said.

She added, “We are already seeing a strong traction with financial services, gaming publishers and consumer apps across the region and we are committed to evolving our Machine Learning powered solutions to meet the region’s diverse marketing needs.”

Meanwhile, Bagg possesses unique insights as both a former platform customer and industry veteran, positioning him to best lead Moloco growth in the sophisticated ANZ market. He also has deep experience in transforming retail media operations and driving advertiser success.

“Having experienced Moloco’s platform capabilities as a customer, I witnessed firsthand its transformative impact in scaling commerce media advertising. The team’s commitment to innovation and product excellence made this a compelling opportunity and I’m excited to work with retailers across Australia and New Zealand to help them build and scale their media businesses with a focus on driving sustainable, long-term growth and returns,” Bagg said.

Meanwhile, Ikkjin Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Moloco, commented, “These strategic appointments underscore our deep commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. Nopparat and Jason’s extensive experience and deep understanding of local markets will be invaluable as we continue to deliver innovative, machine learning-powered solutions that empower businesses to navigate and thrive in an evolving digital advertising landscape.”