Tag: Leadership

Singapore – DHL Global Forwarding, the freight specialist arm of DHL Group, has announced three strategic leadership appointments in Asia Pacific: Karsten Michaelis as the new president and representative director of DHL Global Forwarding Japan; Edwin Pinto as managing director of DHL Global Forwarding India; and Praveen Gregory as the new SVP Ocean Freight of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific. 

The new appointments are in line with the upcoming retirements of Kelvin Leung, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, and Charles Kauffman, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding North Asia and South Pacific (NASP). He will step down from his role after more than five decades of valued service to the group.

Kaufmann will hand over country responsibility for Japan to his successor, Karsten Michaelis, while continuing to look after the cluster until the end of the year.

Michaelis will take over Kauffman’s role as president and representative director at DHL Global Forwarding Japan. In his new role, Karsten will be based in Japan and report to Charles Kaufmann.

Michaelis carries with him an extensive career spanning over two decades in the logistics sector. He has been based primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, in locations such as Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Australia, and Singapore. Since joining the group in 2011, Karsten has taken on several managerial roles for Ocean Freight in Asia Pacific, including his most recent position as SVP, Ocean Freight DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, in 2017.

On the other hand, Edwin Pinto’s appointment as the new managing director for DHL Global Forwarding India comes after the promotion of Niki Frank as the new CEO at DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific. He is set to assume his new role by September 2023 in India, and he will report directly to Niki Frank.

Pinto is currently serving as the head of sales and marketing at DHL Global Forwarding in Thailand and Indochina. He joined DHL in 2001 in India and has since worked in several management roles across DHL Global Forwarding. 

Working for the automotive sector, Pinto gained experience across various positions until being named sector director DGF for the South Asia, Pacific, and Africa region in 2010. As of 2012, he was promoted to head of key account management at DGF India. Prior to his current role, Edwin relocated to Thailand in 2014, working as Director of Commercial and Customer Program Management at DGF. 

Meanwhile, Praveen Gregory will also assume his new position as SVP Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific by September 2023.

In his new role, Praveen will be based in Singapore and will report directly to Niki Frank, with a dotted line to Casper Ellerbaek, the EVP Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding.

Before joining DHL Group in Dubai Ocean Freight Operations in 2008, Praveen had worked for Maersk. In 2010, he relocated to Germany and held several roles in market intelligence and strategy and product development. He moved to Hong Kong in 2018 to take on regional management roles in Ocean Commercial Center and Account Management ISC. In 2022, he assumed his current position as VP Order Management Solutions Asia Pacific.

Speaking on the appointment, Niki Frank said, “With Kelvin and Charles retiring this year, it has opened up a few key positions that we had to fill, and I am glad that we could do so with candidates from the network. This goes to show that we can nurture and retain talent while providing the right opportunities for growth to our employees.” 

“All of them bring the right experience, the required expertise and will provide a fresh perspective to these roles,” he added. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Mercedes-Benz has appointed Amanda Zhang to the roles of CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia and head of region of Mercedes-Benz Cars SEA II. This took effect last 1 August.

Zhang’s appointment marks a progression of the current CEO, Sagree Sardien, who will advance to the position of head of region overseas at Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Germany.

Prior to this, Zhang served as the CEO at Mercedes-Benz Romania overseeing four business divisions. During her tenure, Zhang and her team generated significant momentum, achieving a robust double-digit growth in both sales and customer services. She also effectively implemented the electrification strategy within a demanding market landscape and played a pivotal role in revitalizing the dealer network in the Romanian market.

Speaking on her roles, Zhang said, “I am truly honoured to take on this new role in Malaysia and SEA II. Having been part of Mercedes-Benz’s remarkable journey in the Central & Eastern Europe Cluster, I am now eager to lead the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia team and join forces with our retail partners to continue our pursuit of excellence for this dynamic and vibrant market. 

She added, “I firmly believe that innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainable growth are the cornerstones of success, and I am committed to fostering a culture that embraces these values at every level of the organisation.”

Meanwhile, Sardien commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Amanda Zhang to the helm of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. Her extensive leadership experience and strategic acumen will undoubtedly further support to drive our company forward in the dynamic Malaysian market. I am confident that under her guidance, the company will continue to flourish and uphold its reputation for innovation and excellence.”

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – Publicis Groupe Vietnam has announced key changes its senior leadership which will aim at boosting the agency’s strategic, creative and growth offerings in the local market. They include Pepper Feraren as its chief strategy officer, elevations of Paolo Garcia as chief creative officer and Julian Brzoska as chief growth officer; and Chandu Rajapreyar as executive creative director.

Feraren joins Publicis Groupe Vietnam to raise the rigour and progressiveness of its strategic planning product and build a strong culture of effectiveness. He comes with two decades of experience that covers multiple planning disciplines from brand to transformational channel strategy. 

He has spent most of his career at BBDO Guerrero Manila with a stint at BBH Singapore, a Publicis Groupe agency. He has led campaigns that have won a variety of strategic and creative awards.

“Vietnam is an extremely dynamic and fast-growing market making it a hotbed for creativity. I’m excited to join Publicis Groupe, which is at the forefront of this with a talented and decorated planning team. Together we will continue to provide human understanding of a rapidly changing consumer and direct this energy into creative business solutions for our clients and their brands,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garcia brings with him 24 years of creative experience and a portfolio of work that has been awarded across international creative festivals. Paolo has also served on the jury at the world’s biggest award shows including Cannes Lions. He has become an influential creative force in the market and continues to be instrumental in placing Vietnam on the global radar for work and talent. 

Prior to his elevation, Paolo was the creative leader for Leo Burnett for over a decade. In his Groupe role, Paolo will continue to raise the creative bar while cultivating the diversity of over 100 creative talents at Publicis Groupe Vietnam. 

He reports directly to Ajay Thrivikraman, chief creative officer for Southeast Asia at Publicis Groupe.

“Paolo stepping up as CCO for the Groupe in Vietnam feels like the most natural thing in the world. It’s a role that he has made his own through over a decade of sleeves-rolled-up commitment not just to the creative product, but to helping build an agency, expanding its capabilities and skillsets, nurturing, and growing talent and consistently delivering fresh and innovative work on our biggest clients, all in one of the fastest-evolving environments in the region,” Thrivikraman said.

Chandu is a multi-awarded creative bringing home wins for Leo Burnett’s key clients Heineken and Samsung. His passionate and perseverant outlook towards life has led him to take up new challenges at Leo Burnett Vietnam over the past five years since joining as creative director.

Lastly, Brzoska started in the digital and innovations unit of Leo Burnett in 2012 and helped establish the Groupe’s bespoke operations for Samsung before setting up Digitas Vietnam in 2019. In his new role, he will continue architecting synergies between the Groupe’s data, tech and commerce solutions to power up creative, media and digital operations and spearhead go-to-market plans that deliver sustainable success and fulfil Publicis Groupe’s promise to help clients thrive in the platform world.

Kate Bayona-Garcia, CEO of Publicis Groupe Vietnam, said, “After our winning streak last year, we need to set the next benchmark. Publicis Groupe has been the vanguard of the industry’s digitalization and transformation in Vietnam and it’s even becoming more crucial to lead its evolution by weaponizing data, commerce and technology fused with human centric experiences that build brands in this modern era.”

She added, “Paolo and Julian have been phenomenal  partners over the last decade pioneering groundbreaking first-in-market work in the country. The  pivotal addition of Pepper to power up strategic thinking is imperative for unlocking the immense opportunities and overcoming the pressing challenges that our clients face today.”

California, USA – John Warnock, one of the co-founders of global computer software company Adobe, has passed away at the age of 82, the company has publicly announced. Warnock was one of the company’s co-founders alongside Charles Geschke. Together they founded Adobe in 1982.

In a publicly-released letter by current Adobe chair and CEO Shantanu Narayen, he said that Warnock’s passing has been a sad day for the Adobe community and the industry for which he has been an inspiration for decades.

“While the impact that his innovations have had are countless, it is his indomitable spirit, passion and belief in building a company with strong values that has impacted all of us who have had the good fortune of working at Adobe. John was incredibly insightful on which technologies would delight customers as well as create business value,” he said.

He also added, “As I reflect on this loss that will leave a huge void in our lives, I think back to a few months ago when I saw John for the 30th anniversary of Acrobat. After the event, where we celebrated the impact of Acrobat and PDF on the world of communication, we talked about the potential of Firefly to transform the next generation of creative technology. With a twinkle in his eye, he said that he was amazed with the progress and as always had feedback on how we could make it better.”

When Warnock and Geschke founded the company, their first product was Adobe PostScript, which helped spark the desktop publishing revolution.

Warnock retired as CEO in 2000 and he was chairman of the board, a position he shared with Geschke until 2017. He was a member of the board of directors at Adobe since then.

Singapore – Tin Pei Ling, an elected member of the Singaporean parliament, has announced her exit from Grab as its director of corporate development, seven months after she took said role.

In a LinkedIn post, she said that she looks forward to embarking on a new journey in her career, and take on a more external-facing and commercial role in the tech sector.

“In the time that I have been with Grab, I am privileged to meet many talented Grabbers with great personalities and get involved in several projects. These are meaningful experiences and memories that I will continue to hold dear and be thankful for,” she said.

While she didn’t mention where she will be moving next, Pei Ling hinted that she will be joining a fintech company, where she will take on a leadership role in strategic partnerships and business development.

“I am excited that this new role will give me the opportunity to support the company’s product innovation efforts and expansion into key Asia-Pacific markets,”

She also mentioned that she has been thankful for her time at Grab, noting she admired the company’s social mission in the Southeast Asian region.

“It has been an invaluable experience for me at Grab, as it was an opportunity for me to return to the private sector, to broaden my horizons, hone new skills and allow me to make a contribution in a different way. I admire Grab’s social mission – ‘to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone’,” she concluded.

She was first elected as an MP for the Marine Parade GRC back in 2011, and was re-elected in 2015 and 2020 for the MacPherson SMC. She has been also appointed as Chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information in the 14th Parliament.

Singapore – Multinational hospitality company Marriott International has announced a slew of executive appointments across Asia-Pacific, excluding China, which positions the company for future growth in the region and tap into its leadership pool to better meet localised needs and support customers, associates, and owners.

Leading the appointment list are John Toomey as chief sales and marketing officer, Asia-Pacific (excluding China); Christina Chan as chief financial officer, Asia-Pacific (excluding China); and Andrew Newmark as chief human resources Officer, Asia-Pacific (excluding China).

Across his 27-year career with Marriott, Toomey has held a strong track record for driving performance and collaboration. Under his leadership, Marriott entered a partnership with digital giant, Rakuten, tapping into their 110-million-member base to expand the growth of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty platform.

Other appointed leaders include Oriol Montal as managing director for luxury, Asia-Pacific (excluding China); Karen Kim, as vice-president for global design, Asia-Pacific (excluding China); and Shawn Hill as chief development officer, Asia-Pacific (excluding China).

Rajeev Menon, president for Asia-Pacific (excluding China) at Marriott International, said, “Asia-Pacific remains a strategic market for the company, representing tremendous growth potential and exciting opportunities for the business. I am confident that our new organisational structure positions us well for the next chapter of growth in the region.”

Australia – Australian communications firm Icon Agency has announced that David Radestock has been promoted to the newly-created position of executive director of communications. Radestock, who formerly worked as the agency’s director of technology, will now be in charge of Icon’s Communications department and manage an array of tech clients, including Slack, Salesforce, and Schneider Electric.

The agency has also announced the promotion of Carly Vale to the role of business operations director. Vale, most recently the agency’s senior program director who began working for the organisation in February 2022, has continually shown excellent leadership abilities and successfully managed multiple projects. She will work closely with agency leadership in her new position to find possibilities for radical change, develop integrated processes, and make sure the agency has the capability of producing outstanding client work. 

The new promotions show the agency’s dedication to building an effective organisational framework to support its expanding team and clientele.

According to Icon Agency Managing Director Joanne Painter, Radestock was a perfect fit to lead the communications team, bringing experience across sectors and communications disciplines via his work with major brands, including Microsoft, American Express, Lenovo, Twitter and Commonwealth Bank.

“Since joining Icon earlier this year, David quickly earned the trust and respect of the entire agency. His passion and expertise have been clear from day one and ultimately he was an obvious choice to take on this critical leadership role,” she said.

Painter also added that Carly’s promotion followed her leadership on several successful projects and her new role addressed the agency’s need for an organisational structure to support its growing team and client roster.

“This new role is recognition of the fantastic work Carly continues to do and the great ideas and plans she has for the agency’s future. Her tireless work allows the rest of the agency to integrate seamlessly, delivering high-quality work for our clients. She is the agency’s backbone supporting all our teams across four States,” she said.

Singapore – Southeast Asian ride-hailing super-app Grab has announced that its co-founder Tan Hooi Ling is stepping down from her operating roles in the company, including her directorship, by the end of 2023. With this, Ling will be transitioning into an advisory role for the company.

She co-founded Grab with Anthony Tan, group CEO, in 2012, and worked at other companies in the United States before rejoining Grab in April 2015. She led various operations and technology teams as chief operating officer until the appointment of Alex Hungate in January 2022. 

She currently leads Grab’s technology organisation, and is mentoring the next-generation of technology leaders, including Suthen Thomas, Grab’s group chief technology officer, and Philipp Kandal, chief product officer. Ling has also served as a member of Grab’s Board of Directors since its public listing in December 2021.

Speaking on the new development, Ling said, “Grab has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The impact we create is a reflection of who we are as a team, and I am humbled to have been able to walk alongside Anthony and the many amazing Grabbers who share the same values and work ethic to build something that improves lives in Southeast Asia.”

She added, “People who know me well know that I am an adventurer at heart, and there are many other personal passions that I have put aside to build Grab with Anthony. With the strong leadership bench we currently have, I believe now is the right time for me to pass on the baton to our next generation of leaders, and to pursue these other passions. I look forward to seeing how Suthen, our first engineering leader who understands the nuts and bolts of Grab and the region, and Philipp, an entrepreneurial and customer-centric product leader, take our technology teams to greater heights.”

Meanwhile, Tan commented, “I have enormous respect and love for Ling, as both a business partner and a good friend. We set the vision to build a double, now triple, bottom line company together, and I am so blessed to have found a true partner who cares deeply about the impact we create for Grabbers, our partners and our region.” 

He added, “Ling has invested herself fully into setting up the right leadership bench and cultural foundations for Grab to thrive for the long-term, and while I will miss working with her dearly, I thank her for the many years of trust and partnership, and wholeheartedly support her decision to pursue her personal passions.”

Gurugram, India – Havas Media Group India, the media expertise division of Havas India, has announced a significant elevation of its senior leadership team across functions to further strengthen its structure. 

The strategic restructuring is part of the agency’s expansion of its business and service portfolios through collaborations and increased efficiency, in line with its unprecedented growth.

According to Havas, the elevation of the senior leadership team is a testament to the agency’s commitment to delivering unparalleled media solutions to its clients. The newly elevated senior leadership team will bring their extensive industry experience and expertise to drive the agency’s growth, foster innovation, and enhance its service offerings. 

Two of the key elevations are Roopali Sharma and Harbir Singh, now as president – North 1 and North 2, respectively, at Havas Media India. The two will further strengthen client partnerships, profitability, and business relations.

Saurabh Jain has also been elevated as president – South, Havas Media India and will be responsible for scaling up the momentum and growth of the agency’s success story in South — a key focus market for Havas Media India. 

Meanwhile, Manish Sharma, in his elevated role as managing partner – West, Havas Media India will continue making significant contributions to Havas’ successful journey in the West region. New business acquisitions, growth of the existing roster and service strategy will be integral to his role.

As the Chief Strategy Officer for Havas Media India, Sanchita Roy will likewise drive strategic innovation and growth to the next level for clients and the agency alike. She will be bringing with her a deep industry experience and vision which made her a fitting candidate to represent the agency at global platforms like Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and Campaign Agency of Year – South Asia in 2022.

Lastly, Rohan Chincholi has been appointed as managing partner – digital services, Havas Media India, where he will strategise on expanding and enhancing the agency offerings and outcomes to ensure being at par with the digital industry’s evolution in current times.

The team will report to Uday Mohan, managing director, Havas Media India. Commenting on the elevations, he said, “I feel great pride in seeing the team on a rapid growth path. The elevations are aimed at recognizing the team’s commitment and further strengthening our core ensuring heightened focus on sustainable growth and unlocking greater possibilities. Best wishes to all for the new journey with additional responsibilities.”

Havas Media Group India CEO, Mohit Joshi also said, “We are delighted to elevate our core leadership team to new roles. Their exceptional dedication and business acumen have been critical to our success.”

He added, “In 2023, we have set very high growth targets for ourselves, and I am confident that the team will tap into attaining exceptional results aiding us create a meaningful difference in the country’s media eco-system. Congratulations to all.”

This follows Havas Media Group’s recent media mandate wins, including PUMA India and Paradise Biryani.

Singapore – To bolster network transformation in APAC, ADK Global has announced the promotion of Neville Medhora to the inaugural role of chief transformation officer.

In the new role, he will accelerate ADK Global’s digital transformation by integrating ADK’s business offerings and solutions across regions and clients to achieve specific agency goals in India, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Medhora will report to Rie Otsuka, chief growth officer at ADK Global, and work closely with Pradeep Shankar, president of ADK Rage, to champion ADK’s IMC solutions in India.

Medhora joins ADK with over 25 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in design, branding, UI//UX, web technology, search marketing, and social media. At ADK Rage, he innovated several notable optimizations regarding agency planning, agile workflows, and new business lead funnels. 

Notably, he also pioneered an audience relationship methodology that greatly improved the agency’s ideation process and delivered outcomes for clients such as Tata Motors, Croma, and Jones Lang LaSalle. He also spearheaded key digital initiatives for clients within the boundaries of the traditional offline format.

On his appointment, Medhora said, “The ADK Global network has both highly talented teams and multifaceted services. My aim is to integrate both into a single-window delivery for our clients.”

He added, “We want to be an agency which can deliver across two fronts. The first is creativity backed by consumer insights and strategic vision. The second is seamless execution of those ideas across mainstream and digital platforms.”

Yasuyuki Katagi, CEO, ADK Global, also remarked, “ADK Global’s ambitions to reimagine the business will be significantly boosted with Neville Medhora’s appointment as our first Chief Transformation Officer. As the prior Head of India and EMEA at ADK Rage, he is ideally placed to leverage and apply ADK Rage’s digital solutions and methodologies across the rest of the network.”

Katagi added, “Within ADK Global, we are always on the lookout for employees who want to be challenged, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the right opportunities. We see Medhora as one such talent and wish him the best in his new role.”

This follows ADK’s appointment of Rie Otsuka as its chief executive officer for Singapore and emerging countries and chief growth officer for ADK Global.