Tag: Leadership

Singapore – AIA Singapore has announced the appointment of Afees Ashroff as its new chief technology officer with immediate effect, and he will report to Wong Sze Keed, chief executive officer at AIA Singapore. 

Ashroff is a highly experienced leader with a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years in both banking and insurance sectors. He has been with AIA Singapore since 2018 and has a profound understanding of the organisation, where he was most recently head of digital technology. 

With his new appointment, Afees will continue to focus on enhancing customers’ digital experiences by developing and implementing world-class, cutting-edge technology strategies aligned to deliver AIA Singapore’s vision and business priorities as a customer-centric leading life insurer.

Afees will succeed Peter Lee who has decided to step down to take some time to focus on personal matters.

Speaking about Ashroff’s appointment, Sze Keed said, “I am delighted to welcome Afees to the leadership team as chief technology officer. I am confident that Afees will be a strong addition to my management team and will continue to drive AIA Singapore’s digitalisation agenda across our organisation to deliver the best service experience for our customers. More importantly, with Afees’ appointment, AIA Singapore remains committed to our people-first culture; where talent development and internal mobility will ensure we give the best opportunities to our people.”

She added, “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Peter and his efforts in steering the team. Peter is a highly respected industry veteran and will be fondly remembered for his positive influence in creating a cohesive culture within the technology division and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.”

Singapore – Adobe has announced the promotion of Keith Eadie as its new general manager for Asia Pacific (APAC), where he will oversee and drive the company’s business operations across the dynamic market.

Eadie joined the company almost seven years ago through the acquisition of TubeMogul, where he was the chief marketing and strategy officer. At Adobe, he has led several divisions, including Adobe Advertising, Adobe Analytics, and Adobe Sign. 

In 2022, Eadie moved to Singapore to lead international product marketing for Adobe’s Digital Experience business. He most recently served as Adobe’s vice president of digital experience strategy and GTM for APAC and Japan. His expertise combines product and marketing innovation with strong business acumen and a passion for bringing people together to drive growth.

As the new APAC general manager, Eadie will report to Stephen Frieder, chief revenue officer of Adobe Enterprise.

Frieder said, “Keith Eadie is a transformational business leader with a track record of driving success across teams and value to our customers. Under Keith’s leadership, I’m excited to see the APAC region continue to build on its strong growth trajectory.” 

Also speaking on his promotion, Eadie shared, “As the digital economy continues to expand, and in the era of generative AI, business leaders across APAC are looking to deliver next-generation experiences for their customers. I’m excited for the opportunity to lead an exceptional team and to work with our customers and partners to empower them to drive experience-led growth.”

Manila, Philippines – Commercial banking company UnionBank has announced the appointment of Ana Aboitiz Delgado as its new president and CEO, effective on January 1, 2025.

Prior to assuming this role, Delgado is widely credited for leading UnionBank’s digital retail banking innovations such as the digital bank branch model and UnionBank Online.

She will be taking on leadership of UnionBank of the Philippines from Edwin Bautista, current president and CEO, whose 27-year career saw UnionBank go from becoming the front running digitised bank in the country to setting it on a path to become a retail bank leader.

Delgado joined UnionBank as a management trainee in November 2003. Over the course of her career, she led the business development of SME Banking and Retail Consumer Finance, which included credit cards and loans.

She was likewise tasked to lead the design of the customer experience across the Bank’s physical and digital touchpoints that will differentiate UnionBank from other traditional banks.

Delgado also expanded her role to head the bank’s Institutional Banking business on top of heading customer experience and digital channels and serving as a director of the UnionBank board and as chairman of the CitySavings Bank board.

Talking about the appointment, Erramon Aboitiz, chairman of the UnionBank Board of Directors, said, “We are looking forward to taking UnionBank to greater heights with Ana at the helm. Her experience and expertise will allow her to lead the Bank’s continued digital transformation which was started by Edwin and has put UnionBank on an accelerated road towards its aspiration to be a great retail bank.”

Singapore – Equativ, a global independent ad platform, has announced changes in its senior leadership team, with the appointment of Rueben Vijaratnam as its new managing director for SEA. 

Vijaratnam will join the Singapore office to develop a demand-focused strategy and guide Equativ to even greater success. With his strategic vision and leadership, the SEA team is expected to reach new heights, ensuring continued success and growth for the company in the region.

With significant experience in regional sales, Vijaratnam brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation.

His background includes six years at Yahoo, where he honed his skills in digital sales and marketing. He then spent two years at Oath, playing a key role in developing and executing strategic initiatives that significantly boosted demand and revenue. Most recently, Rueben spent 5 years at Quantcast, leading demand generation efforts and contributing to substantial market expansion and success.

Throughout his career, Vijaratnam has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to understand and respond to market needs, driving demand and fostering strong client relationships. His expertise in ‘demand leadership’ will be invaluable for Equativ as it aims to continuously innovate and expand its offerings.

Vijaratnam’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the APAC Business Unit, underscoring the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and growth. 

In his appointment, Vijaratnam commented, “I am excited to be joining Equativ at a very interesting point in our journey. The recent merger with Sharethrough springboards Equativ to a new level in the company’s global ambitions, and curation is becoming an ever more important solution to the challenges facing brands who are navigating the digital world today. We look forward to growing the Singapore office, expanding our footprint in Southeast Asia with existing and new partners, and truly delivering the promise of adtech in this region.”

Céline Gauthier-Darnis, EVP for MENA & APAC at Equativ, added, “I am confident that with Rueben as a leading figure, we will solidify our supply position as a key player in the region and accelerate and scale our ambitions with Demand by achieving success and exceeding expectations.”

Singapore – Global marketing and advertising agency dentsu has recently announced the appointments of Sanchit Mendiratta as chief growth officer, SEA and managing director of CXM at dentsu Singapore.

Concurrently, Trishe Goh has been promoted to senior director of Growth, Merkle.

Mendiratta and Goh’s appointments serve to bolster the expansion of its Customer Experience Management (“CXM”) capabilities across Southeast Asia.

Through its data-driven CXM agency, Merkle, dentsu’s Southeast Asia cluster will serve as a centre of excellence for analytics, customer data management, as well as customer experience and commerce for the network’s clients in the region.

Speaking on their appointments, Mendiratta and Goh jointly commented, “Our people-based marketing approach helps brands create a competitive advantage to thrive in the experience economy. We have local teams that keep a close pulse on the ground, and bring a strong understanding of the dynamics of each market in shaping transformative experiences that work for the right audiences.”

“But more importantly, our end-to-end integrated solutions seamlessly marries the best of creative, media, and CX to deliver winning strategies for our clients in an increasingly competitive consumer landscape. We look forward to helping more brands win in the era of Southeast Asia,” they added.

Commenting as well, Sanjay Bhasin, CEO, dentsu, Southeast Asia, said, “With our proven track record in delivering data-driven customer experience transformation and our hyper pulse on consumer behaviours on the ground, we are excited to reimagine the customer experience with brands who are ready for this journey. I am confident that Sanchit and Trishe will propel our growth in this segment across the cluster.”

Meanwhile, Chun Yin Mak, president, CXM, dentsu APAC, mentioned, “As incomes and consumption rise across Southeast Asia, consumer demographics will diversify as the competition for their time and attention intensifies. This is where we can help brands win with agility, technology, data, and experience. We have been at the forefront of driving innovation and transformation in customer experience around the world, and now, Sanchit and Trishe are well-placed to further grow our presence with our clients in Southeast Asia.”

Singapore – Erika Cleo Foo, formerly the vice president of communications at Singlife, has recently been named the new vice president of communications and brand experience for Asia-Pacific at ING. In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Foo shared that she will report to Christine Kam, head of communications and brand experience for ING APAC.

“Working closely with regional and country teams to ensure consistent messaging and positioning throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as well as ensuring the alignment and effectiveness of communications initiatives, will be crucial aspects of my role,” she said.

When asked about her strategies in her new role, she stated that she aims to focus on executing effective communication strategies to position ING as a regional leader in sustainable finance.

“ING has a strong foundation in APAC, and I’m eager to leverage that to elevate our position as a leader in sustainable finance. This is a crucial area for the future of the financial services industry, and ING’s expertise aligns perfectly with the growing demand for environmentally and socially conscious solutions across the region,” she said.

Prior to joining ING, Foo was with Singlife for two years, where she managed the company’s strategic communications plans in alignment with business objectives and brand identity.

She previously spent over five years with the National Heritage Board, handling various roles related to marketing communications and programming efforts.

“My experiences at Singlife and the National Heritage Board have taught me the importance of balancing innovation with tradition. From Singlife, I bring a strong understanding of digital-first strategies and the importance of integrating technology into customer experiences,” she said.

Foo added, “At the National Heritage Board, I learned the value of storytelling and creating emotionally engaging brand experiences. I believe these learnings have helped me create compelling and innovative brand experiences, leveraging both technology and storytelling to connect with audiences.”

When asked about specific brand experience challenges the banking and insurance industries face, she highlighted navigating the increasing regulatory landscape while maintaining a seamless customer experience, as well as ensuring data privacy and security in an era of digital transformation.

“On the opportunity side, the rapid adoption of digital technologies provides a chance to enhance customer engagement through personalized and convenient services. Additionally, there is a growing opportunity to build trust and loyalty by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, which are increasingly important to customers,” she said.

Discussing the opportunities the industry may see this year, she stated, “Customers today expect a seamless and personalized experience across all channels. This presents a challenge, but also an opportunity for differentiation through innovative and customer-centric brand experiences. Institutions that leverage advanced analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behaviour will benefit from more strategic decision-making, resulting in meaningful and tailored solutions for their end-users.”

Foo also added, “Building trust and brand loyalty will be crucial in the competitive APAC market. Transparency, ethical practices, and a focus on customer well-being will be key differentiators. Institutions that embrace a purpose-driven approach that aligns with the values of their audiences, such as sustainability and ethical practices, will find themselves a step ahead in building long-term brand loyalty.”

Singapore – Now Comms Asia has announced the appointment of Joe Sen as its new group managing director. In this role, he will spearhead regional operations across Asia Pacific and Japan – with a particular focus on Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Indonesia, to drive growth and strategic excellence.

Sen has a robust background in crafting and executing successful marketing strategies for the world’s top brands. His curiosity, passion for people and love for storytelling have driven his numerous successes, positioning him perfectly to hoist Now Comms Asia’s strategic capabilities. 

As group managing director, he will focus on elevating Now Comms Asia’s ability to bring even more quality to an exceptional track record on its operations and relationships; further improving the calibre that Now Comms Asia has in service delivery.

His role will also encompass an enhancement of service delivery quality to help foster stronger client relationships, and on casting out a comprehensive intergroup strategy that will ensure the consistent delivery of top-notch marketing services – ensuring a seamless integration across all subsidiaries. 

Speaking on his new role, Sen said, “Now Comms Asia has a strong foundation of delivering exceptional brand experiences that drive business results. Our clients continue to seek our agility and expertise in connecting with their customers across an increasingly complex landscape. I am excited to be joining the team at a time of great change, bringing a strategic lens to the next stage of our growth.”

Meanwhile, Andrew McArthur-Edwards, group CEO of Now Comms Asia, said, “Anyone who knows Joe recognises his unique approach to driving growth – a #kindadifferent marketing leader. As a commercially minded strategist he is the perfect person to lead the company on its next level of expansion in the region. I’m excited to give this opportunity to such a brilliant mind and incredibly happy that he has accepted the position, stepping up from the strategy roles he proved himself in to take the helm and steer our business.”

Singapore – Iris, a global creative network, has appointed Shea Warnes as the new chief strategy officer of Iris Singapore. In the new role he will report to Rebecca Nadilo, managing director of Iris Singapore, responsible for leading integrated strategy and further propelling Iris’ social and content product, Iris Inc–which stands for Igniting New Creators.

Warnes joins from Dentsu Creative, where he was head of strategy based in Singapore, working across key clients that included Activision Blizzard, Amex, Toyota, Manulife and the Singapore government. 

He has worked in New York, London, Australia and Singapore, and brings unique experience that bridges tech, social and brand from over 15 years in senior roles at companies such as Meta, BBH London and Havas, as well as launching Media.Monks for ANZ in 2020.

Speaking on his new role, Warnes said, “What I’ve found in Iris is an agency committed to the simple and powerful idea of building brands people want to talk about. I’m in awe of the talent, skillsets and agility here to get to different shaped ideas that work, which is critical when so much of what our industry pumps out is wallpaper and noise.”

He added, “I’m looking forward to working with Becs and the teams here to refine the inputs and outputs to get to culturally-fit creative. That requires a new creative OS that better marries fame with performance, and I’m excited to partner with our clients to deliver growth and value.”

Meanwhile, Nadilo commented, “When there’s a cost of media crisis going on, and 4 out of 5 people are more influenced by people than ads, we need someone who thinks about the conversations we want people to be having and then marry audacious creative ideas with social, content and creators, and Shea does exactly that.”

She added, “I’m beyond excited to welcome Shea to the Iris Singapore team. Not only does he have great creative instinct and a way to reduce problems into one line, or deliver simple truth bombs, but he is also a great human who will lead with empathy, collaborate brilliantly and continue to shape Iris Singapore into a place where people do and feel their best.”

Tokyo, Japan – Creative innovation company R/GA has promoted Anthony Baker to the role of managing director of R/GA Japan. In his new role, he will focus on expanding long-term strategic partnerships to deliver creative solutions for clients that drive business growth in new ways. 

This strategy centres on intersecting expertise in strategy, brand, design, communications, and technology in unique and effective ways. 

In the past year under Baker’s leadership as general manager, R/GA Japan has achieved double-digit profit growth, while expanding its workforce by 30%. R/GA will continue working with Japanese brands to compete locally and internationally, while helping global clients expand in the Japanese market and reach new audiences. 

Some of the company’s recent collaborations include a disruptive Black Friday activation with gaming company PONOS, leading to an expanded partnership across the US, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea and earning international recognition at D&AD. R/GA has also strengthened relationships with long-term partners Nike and Google and brands including Shiseido, Fujitsu and Sapporo focusing on digital transformation, product activations and loyalty initiatives.

Speaking on his promotion, Baker said, “It’s rare to find strategic agency partners who grasp Japan’s distinct culture and bring together diverse, global teams, and network capabilities. R/GA stands out in offering exceptional talent and applying network accelerator tools in AI, cloud computing, search intelligence, and data in both Japanese and English. I deeply appreciate R/GA’s trust in me and my team’s support, as we take our work and operations to new heights.”

Meanwhile, Michael Titshall, chief executive officer for Asia-Pacific at R/GA, commented, “Anthony has driven R/GA Japan to achieve new levels of success, delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients. Our collaboration with PONOS, and global brands like Google, Nike and Fujitsu in groundbreaking work, underscore Anthony’s exceptional leadership. We look forward to continued impact under his guidance as R/GA enters its next phase in North Asia.”

With more than 25 years of global experience as a digital lead and technologist, Baker co-founded R/GA Japan, establishing key client relationships and strategic partnerships across APAC, driving business growth and securing international accolades. Anthony moved to Japan in 2017 from R/GA London having expanded the London office from 30 to 350 members in six years with clients like Nokia, Microsoft, Google, and Nike. 

California, USA – Global financial services company PayPal has announced a new roster of new leadership appointment following the company’s goal of creating an advertising platform as well as strengthening the company’s consumer value proposition. The new leadership appointments include Mark Grether as SVP and general manager at PayPal Ads and John Anderson has joined as SVP and general manager fo consumer group.

Both Grether and Anderson will report to Diego Scotti, EVP and general manager fo consumer group and global marketing & communications at PayPal.

Grether has been a leader in the advertising industry for more than 20 years. He joins PayPal from Uber, where he was recently the vice president and general manager of Uber Advertising. Prior to Uber, he led the product strategy for Amazon’s advertising business, and he served as CEO of Sizmek, one of the largest independent advertising platforms globally, which was sold to Amazon in 2019. He was also the co-founder and global COO of WPP’s Xaxis, which became a leading programmatic media company.

“Commerce and advertising are deeply connected, and we believe that the advertising platform we are building at PayPal will become a must-use marketing channel for merchants big and small. I’m thrilled to have Mark join our team and lead this important work,” Scotti said.

Meanwhile, Anderson has spent over 20 years at the intersection of technology platforms and payments. He will be accountable for PayPal’s consumer business, including product strategy for PayPal and Venmo globally. Anderson joins PayPal from Plaid, where he was head of product and payments. Prior to Plaid, he spent a decade at Meta in numerous product and leadership roles, including head of product for Oculus, head of Facebook Japan, and head of product and operations teams for payments, commerce, and risk.

“John brings strong experience in developing groundbreaking, personalized consumer experiences to PayPal, which will drive relevance of our brands, fuel our innovation pipeline, and give more reasons for consumers and merchants to choose PayPal,” Scotti said.

The advertising business, which will include PayPal’s advanced offers platform, will use customer insights to build a dynamic, truly personalised platform that will drive better advertising spend performance for merchants while delighting consumers with compelling offers.