Tag: Leadership

Sydney, Australia – Regional technology public relations agency The PR Group has announced the appointment of former TechCrunch senior reporter Catherine Shu as its new director of content and media. 

In her new role, Shu will be based in Taiwan and will work closely with the VC and technology ecosystem. She will oversee the content services offered by the PR Group and is expected to play a key role in the agency’s growth across Southeast Asia. 

Prior to her appointment, she spent twelve years as a senior reporter at TechCrunch, where she extensively covered startups of various types and sizes, as well as breaking news from Asia and the United States. 

Shu gained recognition in the industry for her insightful analysis pieces on the Asian tech sector, effectively contextualising different markets, sectors, policies, and trends for global audiences. Additionally, her work has been featured in esteemed publications such as the New York Times, Barron’s, and the Wall Street Journal.

With this appointment, Shu will now be part of The PR Group, which has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Singapore and has supported the growth of some of the most innovative companies in tech across B2B and consumer, including Accenture, Rippling, Dropbox, Square, GoFundMe, Deliveroo, Temple & Webster, Fiverr, Indeed, RMIT, Domain, Etsy, SEEK, Nextdoor, and Zoho.

Caroline Shawyer, CEO and co-founder of The PR Group, said, “Catherine’s deep knowledge of the Asian region combined with her networks will enhance our ability to help global technology companies tap the immense growth opportunities that Southeast Asia affords while also supporting regional companies to expand into new markets.”

“Increasingly, we are seeing more companies turn to us for help in building their content hubs to drive deeper conversations across channels and audiences. Catherine will play a key role in growing this offering and enhancing our ability to help clients tell compelling stories with impact. We’re delighted to have Catherine onboard and look forward to further cementing our position as a leading technology PR partner for the best and fastest-growing companies in APAC,” she added. 

Also commenting on her appointment, Shu said, “I have worked with The PR Group’s team for over a decade now and have always been impressed by the calibre of their client base and the company’s approach to storytelling. When they approached me with the opportunity and outlined their vision for the region, it was something I knew I wanted to be part of and will allow me to continue to build upon my deep connections with startups and VCs. I am excited about the opportunity ahead.”

Singapore – Technology and data platform Channel Factory has announced the recent appointment of Kartik Mehta as its new head of Asia – growth markets amidst the company’s goal of expanding growth in India and Southeast Asia this 2024.

In his new role, Mehta will be solidifying Channel Factory’s position in emerging markets, whilst aiding Channel Factory’s sustained global growth through enhancing and localising its global strategy. 

He was most recently Silverpush’s chief revenue officer and chief operating officer, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the global business from its inception in 2017. Under his leadership, the company expanded its footprint to over 15 geographies, achieved double-digit million-dollar earnings, introduced new revenue streams through programmatic partnerships with the likes of IrisTV and Pubmatic, and garnered multiple industry awards. 

Since 2013, Mehta has gained invaluable experience across technology sales with his most notable achievements centering around market expansion. This includes launching and building out emerging markets in Asia/Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa for the likes of Vserv and YouAppi, as well as the expansion of Silverpush into North America and the UK. 

Prior to this extensive experience in technology sales, Mehta spent over a decade in global advertising agencies such as JWT, Ogilvy and Cheil. He is also a sought after speaker, having appeared at the likes of iMedia and MMA, so this role is the perfect culmination of over 20 years’ of strategic experience relevant to Channel Factory.

Speaking on his new role, Mehta said, “Channel Factory has undergone some really impressive growth over the past few years, but there are still so many opportunities ahead to expand upon this. It’s the opportunity to implement new strategies across emerging markets in order to drive growth that pushed me to join Channel Factory. I’m looking forward to taking this exciting challenge head on, and seeing, in real-time, the impact our team can deliver in these markets.”

Meanwhile, Robin Zieme, chief growth officer at Channel Factory, commented, “Advertising is one of only a handful of industries that is seeing continued and sustained growth in emerging markets, despite macroeconomic pressures. As such, it’s important that you seize the opportunities with many companies vying for dominance.”

He added, “Having Kartik join our global management team, with his impressive experience in expanding businesses into emerging markets, will enable Channel Factory to identify and grab as many opportunities as possible across India and Southeast Asia. I look forward to having Kartik elevate our global strategy in order to drive the greatest growth possible.” 

New York, USA – Ogilvy One announces new multiple global leadership and launches next-generation services targeted at cultivating more partnerships through purposeful design. Ogilvy uses a strategy to develop partnerships that deliver business, brand, and customer value, guided by creativity, powered by data, and augmented by AI.

Ogilvy One has named Kent Wertime as its global CEO. Roberto Fara continues to serve as Ogilvy Spain’s chief creative officer in addition to taking on a larger role as Ogilvy One’s global creative experience lead. Other notable hires include Mauro Caggiano (LATAM), Jason Davey (AUNZ), Ravi Pal (CTO), Ab Gaur (APAC & CEO of Verticurl; global chief data & tech officer, Ogilvy), Rajesh Midha (NoAm), and Clare Lawson (EMEA & chief client officer). 

Wertime has been with Ogilvy for almost 25 years. He led Ogilvy One in Asia before moving on to take on various leadership positions. He will continue to serve in his current role as Ogilvy APAC’s co-CEO. 

Devika Bulchandani, global CEO of Ogilvy, said, “When David Ogilvy first started talking about direct marketing decades ago, he recognized that some of the most effective marketing isn’t just directed at your target audience, it speaks to them on a personal one-to-one basis. Now we take that to a new level with a fresh leadership team for Ogilvy One and a commitment to designing relationships based on ideas that create enduring value exchanges between consumers and our clients’ brands.” 

Speaking about his appointment, Wertime said, “Over the last decade, companies invested heavy in technology, but that alone is not the solution. In today’s hyper-commoditized world, brands need to design relationships that create differentiation and relevancy with their consumers. That’s where the exponential power of creativity plays a vital role.” 

He added, “Today’s consumers, choose their points of interaction with brands, from discovery to purchase, and dictate more of the relationship. With a deep understanding of brands and full dimensional view of consumers coupled with award-winning creativity and a strong data and technology backbone, Ogilvy One is uniquely positioned to design valuable relationships for brands that are impactful, relevant, and enduring.”

Australia – Digital marketing and automation platform Constant Contact has appointed Gerard Smith as its new APAC head of partnerships, shortly after the recent appointment of Sam Whitmore as its new APAC head of commercial.

In their new roles, both Smith and Whitmore will be supporting the company’s commitments to rapid growth and the support of small businesses across the APAC region.

These appointments also follow Constant Contact’s recent designation of their new vice president for APAC.

Smith joins from WP Engine where he held the role of APAC head of agency partnerships. In that role, Smith was responsible for fostering greater growth among digital marketing, web development, e-commerce, and media agencies across the region, and engaging and growing the company’s reseller community.

Based out of Constant Contact’s regional headquarters in Brisbane, Smith will focus on providing support to the hundreds of resellers currently driving new business across Australia and New Zealand.

Whitmore on the other hand, held numerous executive roles at Salesforce in the United Kingdom, largely focused on SMB customers, most recently as the regional vice president for the travel, transport and hospitality industries.

Speaking on his appointment, Smith said, “I’m excited to join Constant Contact and look forward to unlocking new growth opportunities and fostering stronger collaboration with our partners across the APAC region.”

Talking about her appointment as well, Whitmore also mentioned, “I’m thrilled to have joined Constant Contact in APAC at this exciting phase and to be driving strategies that will support our customers and their own growth journeys.”

Meanwhile, Renee Chaplin, vice president Asia Pacific, Constant Contact, commented, “Our agency partners continue to be important drivers of expansion and we intend to double down on our commitment to them in-region to help their businesses be more successful in 2024. Bringing Gerard Smith on board as our APAC Head of Partnerships further demonstrates how important this region is to Constant Contact.”

“To add, Sam Whitmore is a commercial powerhouse and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring her on board to lead our customer success, customer support and inside sales functions for Constant Contact in APAC,” added Chaplin.

Singapore – PubMatic has announced that Peter Barry will be returning to Australia to serve as its vice president for addressability and commerce media for Asia-Pacific. He was previously based in New York as PubMatic’s global vice president for addressability and commerce.

Barry will report directly to Jason Barnes, chief revenue officer for APAC at PubMatic.

In his new role, he will be responsible for rolling out PubMatic’s commerce media solution, Convert, across the APAC region. Convert provides retailers, brands and advertisers with a unified audience monetisation and acquisition platform to maximise the reach and revenue of commerce media, one of the fastest-growing media channels. 

In addition to this, Barry will be responsible for working with publishers, advertisers, identity vendors and industry bodies to ensure PubMatic’s customers are maximising addressable opportunities across their businesses as signals shift and regulations change.

During Barry’s time in the U.S., he led multiple cross-functional teams, helping PubMatic’s partners to execute against addressability strategies to drive monetisation today, as well as future proof of their business. He helped launch the Convert platform in 2023, opening up a new set of opportunities for PubMatic and its customers. Prior to that, Barry was PubMatic’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand, leading the rollout of the company’s Addressability Suite across the region and working with data and APAC identity partners.

Speaking on his new role, he said, “I am excited to work with PubMatic’s APAC team again to drive the addressability and commerce media businesses across the region. I’ve learnt a lot from my time in the US, and now I’m looking forward to ensuring PubMatic’s customers make the most of both the onsite and offsite opportunities through our Convert product.”

Meanwhile, Barnes commented, “We’re delighted to see Peter return to APAC following his time in New York. His wealth of experience is invaluable and I look forward to seeing how his expertise impacts our ever-expanding commerce media offering in the region.”

Singapore – Lucas Ngoo, one of the co-founders at Carousell, is set to step down from the day-to-day management roles from the company. He will still retain his co-founder leadership role, and will transition to an advisory role. This move comes eleven and a half years since he co-founded Carousell alongside Siu Rui Quek and Marcus Tan.

In a recent LinkedIn post, he stated that he continues to have full vested interests in the success of Carousell as a co-founder, board director and shareholder, and have full confidence in their business and leadership team.

“My passion has always been to build the future with technology. It has been an incredible journey working with our CarouTeam to make selling secondhand even faster with machine learning and piloting features that shape our current recommerce foundations,” he said.

Ngoo added, “I believe there is more to learn, hence it is a personal decision of mine to take the chance to have a break to learn new areas of innovation and other industries, such as AI in biotech/healthcare, climate tech/energy transition and Web3.”

He also reflected on initial conversations with Quek and Tan on the founding of Carousell, and seeing how their idea grown into multiple brands facilitating tens of millions of users to participate in the circular economy and make secondhand their first choice.

“I am grateful for all the support over the past decade, especially to our user community for supporting us to choose secondhand, and sharing your inspiring stories and feedback to help us continually improve. This is just the start of our second decade of Carousell, and there is more to come,” he concluded.

Singapore – After serving as Flash Coffee’s head of marketing in Asia-Pacific for over three years, Deniz Kavak has announced that he will be moving to Propseller, a Singapore-based real estate agency, where he will serve as its head of marketing.

In a recent exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Kavak shared that his leadership will focus on two areas: team leadership and strategic oversight. In it, he will be dedicated to recruiting, managing, and developing a high-achieving marketing team, as well as crafting and executing the overall marketing strategy for Propseller.

“A significant part of my hands-on efforts will be directed towards growth marketing and brand-building initiatives. This means I’ll be closely involved in driving customer acquisition via performance marketing channels, enhancing our brand presence in the market, and establishing Propseller as the leading tech-powered real estate agency in Singapore. I aim to blend innovative marketing tactics with data-driven insights to propel Propseller’s growth and solidify its reputation among property owners and seekers alike,” Kavak told MARKETECH APAC.

Marketing capability focal points

When asked about his key marketing priorities for Propseller, he stated that he will focus on strategic areas essential for the brand’s growth and brand presence, including conversion rate optimisation (CRO) and customer relationship management (CRM).

For Kavak, their CRO efforts will be vital to enhance their lead generation efforts, ensuring that their digital touchpoints effectively convert visitors into leads. Meanwhile, their CRM efforts will aim to improve Propseller’s lead nurturing through personalised communication, making the customer journey as seamless as possible.

“To bolster these efforts, we’re excited to announce that we will soon be hiring for key positions in our CRM team. This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to contribute to a cutting-edge CRM strategy in the real estate sector,” he shared.

He also explained that they will expand their communications team, and that their focused efforts on CRO, CRM and communications will keep them busy over the coming weeks and months.

“Communications, encompassing social media, content marketing, and public relations, is equally crucial for amplifying our brand awareness. Through these channels, we plan to engage our audience, provide valuable insights, and showcase Propseller’s distinctive offerings,” he added.

Reflecting on previous stint at Flash Coffee

Kavak shared that during his time at Flash Coffee, he discovered the enduring power of branding alongside their highly optimised performance marketing campaigns. He also added that their previous investments in branding significantly contributed to reducing their overall customer acquisition costs in the long term, affirming the essential role of brand strength in growth strategies.

“Our experience with partnerships was equally transformative. Collaborating with prominent brands like Bumble, Oatside, and Barbie, we harnessed their extensive reach to connect with our target audience more effectively. These partnerships not only facilitated new customer acquisition but also supported our partners in achieving their marketing goals, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem,” he said.

He also shared that during his time at Flash Coffee, they underscored the critical importance of customer obsession in marketing. This means that every strategy, campaign, and initiative must be deeply rooted in understanding and serving the customer’s needs and preferences.

“This customer-centric approach will continue to be a cornerstone of my strategy at Propseller, guiding our efforts to redefine excellence in the real estate industry. As I transition to Propseller, the essence of strategic marketing and commercial partnerships remains important, although the nature of these partnerships will evolve to align with the real estate sector’s unique dynamics,” he shared.

Understanding what’s next for real estate marketing in APAC and Singapore

For Kavak, the evolution of real estate marketing is marked by significant advancements and challenges, as we adapt to meet the expectations of a digitally connected audience. Moreover, he explains that navigating through these developments requires a nuanced approach, focusing on enhancing tech-driven experiences, leveraging the power of video marketing, and honing in on hyper-personalisation and hyper-local strategies.

“In the forefront of tech-driven experiences within the real estate sector, AI chatbots represent a transformative tool for enhancing lead generation and customer acquisition. By providing instant responses to inquiries and detailed information about brand services, these chatbots play a crucial role in engaging potential clients from the first interaction. The challenge here lies in ensuring such innovations remain user-friendly and accessible to all, regardless of their tech-savviness,” he said.

One of those key opportunities for real estate marketing is having video marketing playing a pivotal role in the industry, which can be implemented in strategies such as virtual tours, property showcases, and neighborhood explorations. In fact, the company is exemplifying the use of said technology through its cinematic video tours that vividly showcase properties, challenging us to distinguish our content in a densely populated digital arena.

“Lastly, hyper-personalisation and hyper-local marketing stand as pillars for crafting marketing messages that resonate deeply with target audiences. An example of this is tailoring ads to showcase similar properties sold in a buyer’s neighborhood, making the content highly relevant and engaging. Tailoring communications to match the specific needs and interests of buyers is essential, yet it presents the challenge of gathering and analyzing data accurately while respecting privacy boundaries,” he said.

Meanwhile, his outlook for the Singapore real estate industry is focused on two pivotal trends: the increasing reliance on technology for seamless transactions and the enhanced role of agents in ensuring customer success.

He stated, “Firstly, technology is set to redefine the real estate transaction process, with customers increasingly expecting digital solutions to make their experiences more seamless and convenient. A prime example of this trend is the launch of the Propseller Mobile App, which significantly enhances the property selling and buying experience. It allows owners to track their sale process, monitor listings, and access offers in real-time, while enabling buyers to discover off-market listings and request viewings with just one click.”

“However, the role of technology does not diminish the importance of agents; on the contrary, it elevates the expectations placed on them. Propseller’s approach combines technological ease with the expertise and personal touch of highly skilled agents, supporting customers through every step— from professional photography and video tours to negotiation and paperwork,” Kavak concluded.

Singapore – Public relations consultancy Elliot & Co. has appointed Mayda Jutahkiti as its new managing director for Singapore and Jayeeta Mazumder as its new account director.

The new appointees will work closely to ensure the agency’s growth and success, ensuring that it remains relevant to the evolving needs of the industry.

In her new role as managing director, Mayda will spearhead the strategic direction, growth, and overall success of Elliot & Co. Singapore. She brings with her 20 years of experience in various capacities, fostering team dynamics and ensuring client satisfaction across industries.

She previously served as general manager at her previous agencies, Rice Communications and The Hoffman Agency. She had also worked on multiple startups like Remote, AI Rudder, and 3S Money, as well as established companies like Google, Salesforce, PayPal, LinkedIn, Audi, and MyRepublic, among others.

Meanwhile, Jayeeta, in her newly appointed role as account director, will work alongside Mayda to oversee the client portfolio and lead a team of PR and editorial experts.

She has a wealth of experience in PR and media, with 15 years of career in journalism and delivering effective communication strategies for global clients such as Netflix and WeWork. Prior to joining Elliot & Co., she worked with Monk’s Hill Ventures, where she collaborated with partners, founders, ecosystem builders, and thought leaders, gaining extensive knowledge of the media and PR landscape in Southeast Asia.

Jeremy Foo, founder and CEO of Elliot & Co., shared, “I am confident that Mayda and Jayeeta’s combined background across various industries, coupled with their diverse experience in serving a wide range of local and global clients, will steer the agency in this increasingly challenging and competitive space. They have already made their mark on the team, and I am eager to see how the agency evolves and flourishes under their stewardship.”

Commenting on her appointment, Mayda also said, “It is an exciting role for me where I feel empowered and can make a positive impact on the business. I’ve had the opportunity to work at two outstanding and people-centric organisations, so the focus on people and culture has really rubbed off on me. This will still be at the heart of all I do, even as we navigate a challenging environment, explore new horizons, and chart a course for a future of sustained success.”

Tokyo, Japan – McCann Japan has recently appointed Charlotte Auyeung as its new head of strategy. Her appointment took effect in February 1 this year. 

She has over 20 years of account management and strategic planning experience at global advertising agencies including McCann and Leo Burnett in Hong Kong, Beacon Communications, Naked Communications and TBWA/Hakuhodo in Tokyo, where she led the strategies for companies such as P&G, The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald’s, IKEA, Airbnb, H&M and more.

In 2019, she took on a marketing role at Netflix Japan, where she led campaigns for popular shows including “Stranger Things,” “The Naked Director,” and “Alice in Borderland.”

Speaking on his new role, Auyeung said, “I’m thrilled to join McCann, whose mission to help brands earn a meaningful role in people’s lives aligns deeply with my own. Alongside our talented strategists and embracing McCann’s philosophy of ‘Truth Well Told’, I am eager to cultivate a team dedicated to uncovering consumer insights and brand stories rooted in truth, crafting strategies that inspire actionable solutions and creative excellence across platforms, growing brand and business for our valued client partners.”

Meanwhile, Takashi Aoki, representative director and president at McCann Japan commented on the appointment, “I am very excited to welcome Char to our leadership team. She is the ideal strategist to help us evolve McCann’s one-of-a-kind mission and philosophy in a modern way. She brings the expertise, experience and leadership we need to redefine our digitally-driven integrated solutions to grow our clients’ businesses and accelerate our transformation to become a more innovative agency partner for our clients.”

Lastly, Shilpa Sinha, chief strategy officer at McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, said, “I am delighted to welcome Char to the APAC Strategy Leadership Community. Char brings a wealth of strategic experience, building power brands that have shaped culture. She also demonstrates the perfect combination of a thinking and doing growth mindset, a fundamental for strategy leaders of the future. I cannot think of a better person to drive meaningful and effective creativity for our clients.”

With INNOCEAN’s name being derived from the phrase ‘Ocean of Innovation’, it comes as no surprise that Chow Kok Keong, Innocean Indonesia’s chief creative officer, leads his team of creatives by cultivating an agency ecosystem that thrives on out-of-the-box thinking and bold ideas.

“Embracing the mantra of unlearning and learning, I always push my team to stay at the forefront of the industry and embrace new technologies to ensure our campaigns remain cutting-edge, fresh, and impactful,” said Chow.

As a creative leader who seeks to set their agency apart in an industry full of ideas, Chow has a unique way of encouraging his team members to think creatively, embrace diverse perspectives, and take risks rather than playing it safe.

Consistently staying out-of-the-box 

As the industry always demands fresh and unique ideas for new campaigns and initiatives, one of the biggest challenges faced by creative leaders is to always ensure that their team always has the creative direction to tackle a multitude of situations. Chow approaches this by seeing it as a challenge with a solution, and not a struggle. 

“Every challenge comes with a solution when we keep pushing ourselves and never give up until we find a way to overcome it”, Chow mentioned. 

As chief creative officer, Chow says that his role is to provide his team with clear creative directions when they are stuck in a rut when it comes to ideas. Additionally, he pushes his team to not settle for anything that they are too comfortable with.  

With this in mind, one of Chow’s strategies to drive creativity in the workplace is to include internal sessions among his team members on ‘Trend & Knowledge Sharing’ to always stay relevant on what’s new within the industry, and holding an ‘Open Brief Challenge,’ to allow collaborative effort between multiple entities to come up with a collective solution to the client’s demand.

Going into more detail, Chow remarked, “I conduct idea reviews every two weeks and regularly participate in brainstorming sessions with the team. Consequently, the best ideas will be produced and submitted to award shows, where exposure and involvement serve as the best rewards and motivation for the team members to stay passionate in their creative work.”

Creating memorable, iconic campaigns

With his style of leadership, Chow and his team always strive to make sure that they always put the similar creative intention and passion into every brief, as they see it as a significant opportunity for them to showcase their skills and make themselves proud of their work, regardless of how big or small the projects are.

When asked about the most memorable projects that he led as CCO, Chow said that he really appreciated doing Hyundai’s U17 project, which was a campaign that supported young football players in terms of transportation during the U17 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia.

“There are several projects that we produced in 2023 that I like, and one of them is the Hyundai U17 project where we believe every young footballer deserves an opportunity to shine. Hence, we empowered the youth with a series of programmes to inspire them to be champions of tomorrow for the nation,” he explained. 

Furthermore, another major project that Chow shared was the ‘Anti-Hate Keyboard,’ which was actually a campaign for corporate social responsibility(CSR) which helped raise awareness and stop cyberbullying through a creative way of modifying gaming keyboards.

“I am proud of the Anti-Hate Keyboard, a CSR project that stopped cyberbullying through innovation by reprogramming the firmware of the gaming keyboard. When bullies type out insulting words, the keyboard automatically swaps the negative words for positive ones”, added Chow.  

A rising force of creativity in Indonesia 

Founded in 2020, INNOCEAN Indonesia has seen its fair share of milestones and successes. On the creative side of things, Chow admits that there are still several things that they need to improve on to always stay on top of the industry, but there is no denying that Chow’s leadership contributes greatly in always pushing the agency to that goal. 

“Over the past 18 months, through the collaborative effort of my creative team, along with the unwavering support and guidance from our APAC regional CEO, James Lee, we’ve achieved several milestones.” 

“Although our creative output isn’t perfect yet, it has significantly improved, and we remain committed to pushing for even greater creativity. Additionally, we successfully secured new business through pitches and earned recognition in creative award shows, both regionally and globally,” concluded Chow.