Tag: Leadership

India – Grey India has appointed multi-award-winning creative leader Harsh Kapadia as its chief creative officer, signalling a bold move to strengthen its creative leadership and drive innovation in the Indian market.

Mumbai-born and globally acclaimed, Harsh Kapadia joins Grey India from MRM New York (part of McCann Worldgroup), where he has served as chief creative officer since 2021. His appointment marks a return to the WPP network, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at VML and JWT.

Over the years, Kapadia has held senior creative positions at VML and JWT across New York, London, Melbourne, and Mumbai, working with leading brands such as Kleenex, Smirnoff, Rolex, and Nestlé. His ‘Drink Up’ campaign at VML earned recognition from Michelle Obama, and he played a key role in securing the agency’s first Pride of Cannes Lions. 

A multi-award-winning creative, his work has been recognised at Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clios, and Spikes Asia. He has also served as a jury member for top industry accolades, including Cannes Lions and D&AD Impact.

Kapadia’s return to India is particularly significant given his deep understanding of the local market and his exposure to global best practices. With experience spanning four continents, he has a proven track record of delivering impactful campaigns for global clients such as Google, Reckitt, Motorola, Lego, New Balance, and Diageo.

In his new role at Grey, Kapadia will be based in India and report to Grey’s global chief creative officer, Gabriel Schmitt. He will also collaborate closely with Anusha Shetty, CEO of Grey India, who brings over 25 years of marketing and advertising experience.

“I’m thrilled to continue my global journey while returning to WPP and lead Grey India at such a transformative moment. Partnering with Anusha and the exceptional team at Grey, I’m eager to harness the philosophy of Cultural MacGyverism—blending rich local insights with cutting-edge marketing—to create work that drives real business impact,” Kapadia said. 

Together, Kapadia and Shetty will lead Grey India’s next phase of growth across its Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore studios, focusing on delivering famously effective creative solutions that connect with local audiences and make a global impact.

“India presents a tremendous opportunity, both culturally and economically. We need to be at the forefront of marketing and communications, creating exceptional work for the remarkable brands we represent there,” Schmitt said. 

He continued, “Harsh’s experience in New York, London, Melbourne and India, coupled with his deep understanding of the local culture, makes him the ideal leader to drive lasting value for our clients. With Harsh and Anusha at the helm, our clients will gain a significant creative advantage and unparalleled client partnerships. Can’t wait to see the ideas flowing.”

“Harsh’s return to India is an extraordinary win for Grey. He is a well-known creative force with deep experience across brands and strongly believes in the application of technology to ideas and ideas to technology; we couldn’t have asked for a stronger addition to leadership,” Shetty added. 

Kapadia’s appointment highlights Grey’s dedication to elevating its creative excellence in the vital Indian market, leveraging his unique fusion of local insights and global expertise.

Sarah Trombetta, CEO of Grey APAC, said, “Bringing together the proven leadership of Anusha Shetty with the creative vision of Harsh, whose experience spans the spectrum from cutting-edge AI-driven technology solutions to time-tested traditional advertising, sets Grey India up for an exciting future.”

“This breadth of world-class expertise will allow us to craft uniquely effective campaigns that resonate with diverse Indian consumers across all platforms and touchpoints,” she added.

Australia – Accenture Song’s Droga5 has announced that its ANZ executive creative director Barbara Humphries and Droga5 Aotearoa chief creative officer Damon Stapleton will step into new roles as co-chief creative officers of Australia and New Zealand, working in conjunction with Matt Michael, CEO of Droga5 ANZ.

Meanwhile, Droga5 Australia chief creative officer Tara Ford has been named the chief creative officer of Droga5 London. Based in London, Ford will take on the creative helm, working closely alongside Droga5 London CEO Bill Scott and chief strategy officer Will Hodge.

The new ANZ creative line up is part of an orchestrated creative restructure to reinvent Droga5’s worldwide offering and reposition the expanding global network for its new phase of growth and ambition under Droga5 Global CEO Mark Green.

Speaking on this move, Damon said, “Droga5 has always been a bastion of world-class creativity, and it makes me proud to be able to work with all the great and talented people of Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne to add to Droga5’s story. Having the larger playing field of Australia and New Zealand with so many more Lego pieces to push creativity forward is always going to be fun. On top of that, I get to partner with somebody as massively talented as Barb which makes that journey even more special. I look forward to great ideas and making great stuff.”

Meanwhile, Barbara commented, “I’m really proud of the recent momentum as part of The Monkeys, Song and now Droga5, and learning from a creative force like Tara over the past few years has been invaluable. Now, with the opportunity to bring together more of our talented people across three offices, partnering with the brilliant Damon Stapleton and long-time collaborator Matt, I’m super excited about the opportunities ahead of us.”

It is worth noting that in 2024, Droga5 acquired award-winning Brazilian agency SOKO as well as welcomed The Monkeys in Australia and New Zealand – co-founded by Mark Green – to its network.

Matt Michael, CEO, Droga5 Australia & New Zealand, stated, “I’m excited for Tara and looking forward to seeing her make the incredible kind of impact she has made in Australia in another part of our global network. Her move to head up London further underscores the incredible regional and global opportunities available to our creative talent. Having worked closely with Barb and Damon over the years, I’m thrilled to see these two heavyweights unite, strengthening our creative firepower for clients across the region.”

He added, “This move reinforces our commitment to borderless creativity, driving transformative impact for our client’s businesses, brands, and reputations in a way that continues to lead the world. With the creative calibre of Damon and Barb leading the charge, the next phase of Droga5 ANZ is set to be truly exciting.”

Mark Green, global CEO at Droga5, said, “It is always great to see people you have worked with closely for many years take on new challenges. With Tara moving to London, we didn’t hesitate to elevate Barb and Damon, and it felt like the perfect opportunity for everyone to advance their careers and bolster the creative pedigree of Droga5 globally.”

Meanwhile, Pelle Sjoenell, worldwide chief creative officer, Droga5, commented, “We’re fortunate to have such extraordinary talent within the Droga5 global family. It’s an embarrassment of riches to have world-class creative leaders like Tara, Barbara and Damon. As we welcome Tara into a new chapter in London and unite Barbara and Damon’s creative firepower for ANZ, it allows us to work without borders — harnessing our people, capabilities, and influence to make a real impact for our clients and move us closer to our ambition of being the most influential creative company.”

Speaking on her new move to the agency’s London office, Tara said, “I’ve had an amazing time at The Monkeys, now Droga5 ANZ, working with some exceptional talent but the opportunity to take on my next big challenge of Droga5 London was just too alluring. Droga5 ANZ is in great hands with Barb and Damon at the helm and I have no doubt the agency will flourish under their leadership.”

Japan – Hakuhodo Inc., the integrated marketing and innovation company based in Tokyo, has appointed Akihiko Imai as the new president and CEO of Hakuhodo International, effective immediately.

With extensive experience in the marketing and advertising industry, Imai brings a proven track record of leadership and innovation to his new role. Succeeding Shuntaro Ito, his appointment signals Hakuhodo International’s focus on strengthening its global presence and continuing to deliver value to clients worldwide.

Imai began his career at Hakuhodo in 1989 and spent much of his professional journey at TBWA\HAKUHODO. He became a corporate officer of Hakuhodo in 2016 and was promoted to senior corporate officer in 2021. As of April 1, 2025, he will also serve as director and senior corporate officer of Hakuhodo.

Throughout his career, Imai has held key positions, including president & CEO of TBWA\HAKUHODO and director of both TBWA\HAKUHODO China and OMD HAKUHODO.

He has also received numerous accolades, highlighting his significant impact and influence within the industry and underscoring his commitment to excellence and innovation in marketing and advertising.

Commenting on his appointment, Imai said, “I am honoured to take on this role and lead Hakuhodo International into its next chapter. I look forward to working with our talented team to drive growth and innovation and to further strengthen our relationships with clients around the globe as a creative force for meaningful change with sei-katsu-sha*.” 

“Sei-katsu-sha” is a term Hakuhodo uses to describe individuals not just as consumers but as fully realised people with unique lifestyles, aspirations, and dreams.

Singapore – Yahoo has announced the appointment of Josh Line as chief marketing officer to lead the company’s global marketing strategies, brand positioning, user acquisition, and customer engagement initiatives. He will report directly to Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone.

A seasoned chief marketer, Line was most recently Paramount global’s chief brand officer, where he led enterprise-wide marketing efforts and played a key role in the launch of Paramount+ and the growth of the direct-to-consumer streaming business. 

He steered the company’s marketing transformation, building a multiplatform marketing capability across brands like CBS, MTV, Paramount Pictures, and Pluto TV. Line chaired the company’s marketing council, led the establishment of marketing centers of excellence in media, production operations, marketing technology and social strategy, and spearheaded the company’s rebrand from ViacomCBS to Paramount Global.

Before serving as Paramount’s chief brand officer, Line led marketing, creative and digital studios at Comedy Central, Paramount Network, and TV Land. His commitment to creative excellence and customer-centric innovation was cultivated at agencies Scratch, Droga5, and Anomaly, leading engagements with GM, BMW, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Disney, amongst others.

Speaking on his new role, Line said, “At 30 years young, Yahoo is one of the internet’s most storied brands, and its mission to be a trusted guide through the digital wilderness is as relevant as ever. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to reignite love and cultural impact for this iconic brand and drive growth for its portfolio of leading products. I’m thrilled to join Jim and the team to help build the future of Yahoo.”

Meanwhile, Lanzone commented, “With a strong track record of scaling both emerging and iconic brands, combined with his ability to build and lead high-performance teams, Josh is the ideal leader to propel the Yahoo brand forward during this critical moment in our journey. I am excited to welcome Josh to Yahoo, where his expertise in driving brand strategy and fostering collaboration across every facet of marketing leadership will be crucial.”

Manila, Philippines – Havas Ortega has appointed Alex Pastor as the new head of Havas Red Philippines, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening its PR capabilities and driving innovation in the communications landscape. 

This strategic move marks a significant step in elevating Havas Red Philippines’ position, delivering dynamic solutions, and fostering meaningful connections for clients. 

Under Pastor’s leadership, Havas Red aims to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation while maintaining its commitment to excellence. The agency plans to adapt to the evolving media landscape, leverage digital advancements, and integrate data-driven insights to craft more effective communication strategies. 

At a time when public relations is crucial in shaping public perception and fostering brand loyalty, this leadership transition positions Havas Red for sustained success.

Guided by Pastor’s leadership, a key priority will be strengthening Havas Red’s digital presence, acknowledging the increasing influence of online platforms in consumer engagement. The team will focus on integrating social media strategies, content marketing, and influencer collaborations into its services. This comprehensive approach will not only expand brand visibility but also strengthen connections between brands and their audiences.

Moreover, Havas Red will align its strategies with contemporary values emphasising social responsibility and authenticity. Modern consumers seek brands that reflect their values and make positive contributions to society. Through authentic storytelling and brand transparency, Havas Red aims to build lasting trust and loyalty among consumers. 

Speaking on Alex’s appointment, Jos Ortega, chairman and CEO at Havas Ortega Group, said, “With over two decades of experience in public relations, corporate communications, and media, Alex Pastor has a proven ability to navigate complex challenges and develop impactful strategies that engage diverse audiences.”

He added, “With distinct PR offerings such as SWAY Influencer Marketing, Red Impact Sustainability, and PEAKS Executive Branding, along with a strong new business pipeline, I believe Alex will propel the Havas Red brand to its next phase of growth in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, Jay Lim, chief operating officer at Havas Media Network Philippines, commented, “In line with these strategic goals, Alex Pastor will also focus on expanding Havas Red’s client portfolio, exploring opportunities across key industries such as technology, healthcare, and sustainability to develop tailored communication strategies that address sector-specific needs.”

The appointment of Alex Pastor highlights Havas Ortega’s commitment to enhancing its PR capabilities through innovation, collaboration, digital transformation, and authenticity. With this strategic leadership shift, Havas Red is well-positioned to navigate the evolving market landscape in the Philippines and redefine excellence in public relations. As the agency continues to set new industry benchmarks and drive impactful brand communications, the future looks promising.

Paris, France – Media holding company Havas has appointed new executives to lead its global data and technology strategy. Dan Hagen and Jamie Seltzer are the new global chief data and technology officers for Havas and Havas Media Network, respectively.

In his promotion, Hagen is responsible for developing Havas’ AI-powered Converged strategy across the global holding company. The operating system aims to empower the group’s employees to work efficiently to deliver integrated solutions to its clients.

Additionally, he is set to spearhead Havas’ data, tech, governance, investments, and operational strategies across the company’s global units.

Prior to his appointment, Hagen held the same role at Havas Media Network. His experience spans 25 years in data and tech, including serving as the chief strategy officer at iProspect and Carat UK.

Seltzer succeeds Hagen, now responsible for developing the Converged media product for the growth of the network’s data capabilities. She is still overseeing CSA & Media Experience Analytics, which she most recently served as global executive vice president.

In her over two decades of experience, she has held roles at WPP and Publicis Groupe.

“Data and technology are the cornerstone of our Converged global strategy – giving our people the tools, insights, and means of collaboration to supercharge our positive impact for clients. With his experience developing the Media Network’s award-winning audience planning platform, and his collaborative work with partners to develop industry-leading data and insight capabilities, Dan is ideally suited to chart a powerful data and tech future that delivers for our people and clients,” Yannick Bolloré, CEO and chairman at Havas, said.

“Clients are demanding future-forward agency partners who are data-led and outcome-driven; Jamie has been critical to ensuring Havas Media Network is positioned to deliver on that promise. We look forward to seeing Dan and Jamie’s continued collaboration across the entire Havas ecosystem to accelerate the group’s broader Converged strategy and data and tech ambitions,” Peter Mears, global CEO at Havas Media Network, said.

Bangkok, Thailand – Global socially-led creative agency We Are Social has today made a series of significant announcements across Asia-Pacific. Suzie Shaw, previously CEO of We Are Social Australia since 2015, has been promoted to the new role of Asia-Pacific CEO. Moreover, the agency has also announced the opening of a new office in Thailand to support its clients for the local market.

While continuing to lead the team in Australia, Suzie will now also be responsible for driving the agency’s growth across Asia-Pacific, fostering regional partnerships, and strengthening capabilities. She will drive innovation to meet the evolving needs of brands navigating an increasingly complex social and cultural landscape. 

Shaw has been instrumental in shaping We Are Social’s success to date. She has grown the Sydney team to over 60, delivering award-winning, culturally relevant campaigns for brands such as Samsung, Audi, adidas, and TikTok. Shaw is part of We Are Social’s Executive Management Board and reports to its global group CEO Toby Southgate. 

Meanwhile, We Are Socia office in Bangkok, Thailand will have inaugural clients such as L’Oréal, KFC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and T&B Media. It offers full-service capabilities and has a team of 19 people from creative, strategy, PR and influencer and client services disciplines, with open roles in technology and gaming. 

To date, the team has worked on a broad range of creative services, including always-on social, gaming and cultural insights-led activations, engaging with subcultures and passion-based communities, as well as utilising web 3.0 technology. 

It is led by Patt Nitikarn as managing director and Nutchanun Chiaphanumas as executive creative director, who collectively have extensive global creative credentials. 

Nitikarn commented, “Bangkok has always been a creative driving force, and there is now also a huge appetite for a culture and community-led approach to social-led creative. What’s really exciting for us as a team is being able to take the global vision of We Are Social – to lead the evolution of marketing – and make it culturally relevant for our market, whether that’s using cutting-edge technology to engage with consumers and subculture communities, or bringing creativity to always-on social. As an agency of pioneers and creative innovators, we’re excited to be working with brands that share our ambition.”

The agency’s launch in Bangkok further strengthens We Are Social’s footprint across Southeast Asia, with the agency already operating in Singapore and Indonesia. In order to build upon this success, We Are Social has promoted Naiyen Wang to the new role of managing director, Southeast Asia. 

Previously managing director of Singapore, Wang will now be responsible for overseeing the agency’s presence in the region, identifying growth opportunities and building close relationships between its teams to service its roster of regional clients. Nitikarn will report to Wang; Wang will report to Shaw.

Shaw commented, “I’m excited to step into this role and work alongside our incredibly talented teams across Asia-Pacific. We have a huge opportunity to help brands not just join the conversation but lead it in a way that truly resonates with their communities. Nowhere is this better reflected than the success Patt and the team in Thailand have had so far.”

She added, “Their social expertise in subcultures and innovative technology, combined with extremely impressive creative credentials is compelling, and resonating with forward-thinking brands. The growth from the team so far has been exceptional, and there is a lot more to come. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and pushing the boundaries of what social-first creativity can achieve.”

Lastly, Southgate stated, “This is an exciting moment for us, not only in Thailand, but also across Asia-Pacific where we see significant growth opportunities for socially-led creativity. Suzie’s exceptional track record and passion make her the perfect leader for our Asia-Pacific region. Likewise, Naiyen has been instrumental in establishing and growing our team in Singapore, and will be crucial in connecting our teams across Southeast Asia. And Patt is someone whose work speaks for itself. We Are Social is the world’s leading creative social agency and with people like Suzie, Naiyen and Patt leading us forward, our position will only continue to strengthen.”

Singapore – Dentsu has appointed Fiona Huang as managing director of Dentsu Creative Singapore to scale its creative business, with effect from 25 March 2025. 

With over 17 years of driving brand-to-business growth through award-winning creative excellence and marketing effectiveness, Fiona has consistently initiated and delivered outstanding results for new-to-market brands, local and global icons across a multitude of categories – including tourism, F&B, technology, lifestyle, art, institutions. 

Speaking on her appointment, Fiona said, “There’s never a dull moment in the landscape that we operate in, so we must never be dull too. There are more ways than ever for us to reimagine the future of creativity, so the onus is on us to keep at it meaningfully with intention and agility.”

She added, “I look forward to working with every talent on the floor and our client partners to steer this new chapter together – harnessing dentsu’s longstanding strength in innovation and technology to play out the intersection of innovation and creativity – in service of creating common ground between brands and people.”

Meanwhile, Prakash Kamdar, CEO, dentsu Singapore, and CEO, Clients & Solutions, SEA, dentsu, commented, “With a proven track record of strategic leadership and operational excellence, Fiona embodies the drive and vision for the power of creativity to propel our creative business to its next chapter of growth. This appointment reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainable success, and I am confident that Fiona’s expertise will inspire our teams and deliver impactful value to our stakeholders.” 

Huang’s appointment comes on the back of dentsu Singapore naming Rahul Thappa as Managing Director for its CXM and Media business to enhance its integrated adtech and martech solutions. Dentsu Singapore continues to power integration across its Creative, CXM and Media practices since adopting this unified market approach for a client-centric focus since 2020. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – National payments system Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) has recently appointed Daphne Lourdes as its new director of product and partner marketing. Daphne joins PayNet following a three-year stint with regional buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform Atome.

In a quick conversation by Daphne with MARKETECH APAC, she stated that she is eager and energised to do her part in empowering Malaysia’s digital economy.

“As director of product and partner marketing, I will be leading a team in planning and implementing strategic marketing initiatives to drive PayNet’s products’ brand awareness, adoption and growth together with our partners, through joint marketing plans and co-branded initiatives,” she said.

Daphne added, “This involves crafting product go-to-market strategies, positioning and messaging, as well as identifying key market opportunities, such as supporting rural and sub-urban digital payments development.”

Daphne was most recently the general manager for Atome Malaysia from 2022 to earlier this year. During her stint, she led the in-country commercial team (marketing, merchant success, operations), responsible for driving Atome’s growth in Malaysia. 

She also served as the brand’s head of marketing for Malaysia, where she led the full-funnel consumer marketing planning and implementation for Atome Malaysia, from driving brand awareness and traffic to acquisition & conversions. Moreover, she also led a strong focus on cross-functional collaboration to grow together with merchant partners.

Speaking on her move from Atome to PayNet, Daphne said, “With curiosity and an open mind. I don’t think of it so much as “carrying over” my past experiences, but rather drawing inspiration and key learnings from the wins and losses I’ve encountered over the last 15+ years as a marketer.”

She added, “I’ve also come to understand my own style of servant leadership better and strive to inculcate a culture of grit and collaboration amongst my team. With the latter being exceedingly vital in building successful long-term partnerships.”

Daphne’s appointment comes amidst a slew of partnerships done by the payment platform across multiple financial institutions, such as with Ant International for SME support, Swipey to improve payment channels for SMEs, CelcomDigi for improved security on DuitNow Payments, and Hong Leong Islamic Bank for a new fintech ecosystem for Muslims.

Manila, Philippines – Local telco giant Globe Telecom has named Roche Vandenberghe as its new chief marketing officer. She joins Globe Telecom following a 10-year stint with FWD Insurance Philippines.

In an exclusive conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Roche stated that as the newly appointed CMO for Globe Telecom, she will focus on amplifying the brand’s effectiveness by enhancing coverage, sharpening their master brand impact, and driving brand lift to solidify competitive edge. 

“More than just connectivity, we are committed to creating wonderful experiences—empowering people with choices, helping them overcome challenges, and enabling them to discover new ways to enjoy life. By strengthening our brand presence and delivering meaningful innovations, we aim to continue uplifting the lives of Filipino customers and businesses,” she stated.

Lessons learned

Roche was most recently the chief marketing and digital business officer for FWD Insurance, stemming from an expanded role of her previous chief marketing officer role back in April 2022. 

During her time at FWD Insurance, she spearheaded local campaigns highlighting the greater need of insurance amongst Filipinos. In addition, she also led initiatives to target specific demographics, such as gamers, to decode their consumer behaviour and how insurance can help in their daily life.

Looking back, Roche highlighted three key principles that she will bring to Globe: Customer-Centricity at the Core, Data-Driven Marketing, and Embracing Experimentation.

“Understanding and anticipating customer needs is paramount. I will ensure that every marketing initiative is designed to create wonderful experiences, empowering Filipinos with choices that enhance their digital lifestyles,” she said.

Speaking about data-driven marketing, Roche added, “Leveraging data analytics will enable us to craft more personalised, relevant, and impactful programs and campaigns, strengthening customer engagement and brand loyalty.

Meanwhile, she also further added, “Innovation thrives in a culture that dares to challenge the status quo. By fostering agility and continuously testing new ideas, we can uncover groundbreaking ways for customers to enjoy life through Globe’s products and services.”

On industry jump and what’s next for Globe

When asked about her industry jump from the insurance industry to telco, Roche said, “Before moving to insurance, I spent several years driving advertising strategies for leading tech and telecom brands across the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This experience gave me a strong foundation, allowing me to quickly integrate insights from both sectors to drive impactful marketing initiatives.”

Prior to her 10-year stint with FWD Insurance, Roche was the general manager for TCP-TBWA\ Indonesia from 2009 to 2012, and has handled the marketing consultancy mandate for pay TV operator TelkomVision. Prior to that, she was also a global brand director for BBDO Worldwide from 2007 to 2008.

On the other hand, when asked about the key marketing trends that we will be seeing more locally this year, and how does Globe aim to respond to these trends, Roche said, “Globe is committed to pursuing Customer Experience as our differentiator. As we do so, we will deliver more purpose-driven marketing that resonates, foster more authentic and personalised one-on-one connections that build trust, and drive more innovation for incremental growth to keep enhancing the way people live and connect.”