Tag: Leadership

China – Zenith China, part of Publicis Groupe, has announced the promotion of three senior leaders to accelerate its business strategy amid a highly competitive market. Emily Xue has been appointed head of Zenith Guangzhou Office, Cindy Wang takes on the dual role of head of Zenith Beijing Office and client business partner, and Riki Li has been named chief strategy officer.

The newly appointed leaders will oversee Zenith China’s integrated marketing strategy hub, with a focus on strengthening media capabilities and improving operational efficiency.

Xue, now leading the Guangzhou office, will prioritise talent development and support a continuous learning culture while driving integrated marketing programmes and cross-regional collaboration. She has played a key role in strengthening client delivery through improved operational efficiency and new business wins, earning recognition for her leadership and team performance.

Wang will lead the growth of Zenith’s Beijing office, with a mandate to enhance talent capabilities and integrate AI-driven approaches into media services. Known for her client-focused leadership, she has consistently promoted innovation in media planning through forward-thinking strategies. Her implementation of the “0-10-100” business approach has helped her team achieve sustained success.

Li, in her new role as chief strategy officer, will guide the company’s strategic planning efforts, focusing on identifying brand-building opportunities and responding to shifts in the media landscape, particularly around AI. She will also lead cross-functional collaboration to support the development of future-ready media frameworks. Her approach combines data-driven insights with integrated brand strategies, and she has been recognised through industry accolades.

These appointments align with Zenith China’s broader efforts to advance its AI capabilities and strengthen internal operations. The company continues to invest in developing talent from within, aiming to build a leadership team equipped to navigate future challenges and support sustained business growth.

Commenting on these appointments, Mickey Zhang, president of Publicis Media China, said, “Moving forward, Publicis Media China will remain steadfast in prioritising client needs, leveraging innovative marketing solutions and high-performing team collaboration to empower brands to seize opportunities in the AI and digital transformation era.”

“The promotions of Riki, Cindy and Emily not only recognise their individual capabilities but also mark a critical step in Zenith China’s ongoing enhancement of client-centric solutions. These three leaders will lead Zenith China in achieving its vision of being a leader in strategic marketing excellence, delivering sustainable business value for clients,” Zhang added. 

These three senior leaders will continue to report to Christina Lu, CEO of Zenith China.

Lu shared. “At Zenith China, our unwavering commitment is to help clients maintain industry leadership by continuously investing in teams and capabilities. Through their exceptional leadership and pioneering spirit, these three leaders have set new benchmarks in business success, team empowerment, and strategic innovations. Their promotions reflect Zenith China’s ongoing investment in developing its talent and leadership to enhance its partnership with clients and to contribute to the growth of the industry.” 

“We look forward to celebrating their success in pioneering new frontiers and elevating mutual value for both our organisation and clients,” she added. 

Indonesia – GroupM Indonesia has appointed seasoned marketing leader Sri Widowati as its new chief executive officer, tasking her with spearheading growth and strengthening client-focused innovation.

Widowati joins GroupM Indonesia from Danone, where she spent four years as vice president of marketing. Her career spans leadership roles at global companies including Unilever, Meta, and L’Oréal, giving her a broad perspective on both local and international markets.

Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership style, Widowati is widely respected for her ability to build strong teams and long-term partnerships.

In her new role, she will focus on driving innovation and delivering measurable impact in Indonesia’s fast-evolving media and marketing landscape. Drawing from her experience on the client side, she brings a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and commercial strategy.

This major appointment follows recent media reports that WPP is planning to rebrand GroupM as ‘WPP Media’ and consolidate its agency brands — EssenceMediacom, Wavemaker, and Mindshare — under a unified operating model.

Hong Kong – The South China Morning Post (SCMP) announced the appointment of Betty Wong as corporate communications director, leading the brand reputation and strategic communications for this 122-year trusted news organisation with over 35 million readers across the globe.

Being a seasoned communications expert, Wong brings over 20 years of experience in corporate communications and strategic project management, working in local and global organisations across finance, technology, and biotechnology sectors. 

Wong’s prior experience includes leading communications for Google in Hong Kong, where she later focused on cybersecurity and privacy communications across the Asia-Pacific region, and managing Asia-Pacific PR strategy at CFA Institute. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in media management from the Hong Kong Baptist University.

Speaking on her appointment, Wong said, “Joining SCMP at this transformative time presents a remarkable opportunity. The organisation’s 122-year legacy, built upon trust and integrity, offers a robust platform for growth and innovation. SCMP’s commitment to a forward-thinking strategy and continuous innovation resonates with my professional values and goals.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Huang, chief operating officer at SCMP, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Wong to the SCMP family, contributing to our continued success and growth in the dynamic media landscape. SCMP recognises that a culture embracing experimentation and robust interdepartmental collaboration is crucial for long-term success. Wong’s appointment reflects our commitment to developing a skilled and adaptable team to drive our objectives forward in a rapidly evolving and competitive landscape.”

Wong’s appointment follows SCMP’s recent launch of ‘Morning Studio Amplified’ aimed at expanding branded content reach across media platforms.

Singapore – Brand and consumer strategy consultancy Wolfzhowl has announced its expansion to Southeast Asia and Australia by bringing in Waheed Bidiwale as global CEO and Jean Paul as CEO for Southeast Asia, with Singapore as its regional hub.

With over two decades of leadership in martech, data and AI across Australia, USA, Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Waheed who was last the global CSO of Verticurl, will now lead Wolfzhowl’s #Stratech vision globally.

“I’m thrilled to join Wolfzhowl at such a pivotal time. We’re here to prove that businesses don’t just grow when strategy meets technology; they transform. Stratech is more than a methodology; it’s a movement,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Jean a business leader who thrills in orchestrating people, product & profit, with over 20 years of experience across Publicis, Omnicom, Dentsu networks in APAC markets, will drive the Southeast Asia growth from Singapore.

“Southeast Asia is full of ambition and complexity, and that’s exactly where orchestration thinking thrives. I’m excited to shape Wolfzhowl’s growth here and help brands win by being behavior-led and tech-enabled,” he stated.

Speaking about this appointments, Kalyan Ram Challapalli, founder and strategy chief at Wolfzhowl, commented, “Our Australia & Southeast Asia entry is a critical chapter in Wolfzhowl’s evolution. With Waheed and Jean onboard, we are ready to scale our Stratech philosophy to a new breed of clients looking for insight & tech transformation.”

Australia – UM Australia has announced the appointment of Lisa McMillan as managing director, government, responsible for leading the agency’s work across the Australian Federal Government and ACT Government accounts. 

McMillan’s remit includes strategic leadership of UM’s Government practice, overseeing the Federal and ACT Government accounts and guiding a national team of over 80 specialists in policy-driven media communications and public sector engagement.

With more than 20 years experience, McMillan is a seasoned leader in media, marketing and communications strategy. She has served as a trusted advisor to major organisations navigating complex regulatory and public interest environments.

She is currently the chief client officer at M+C Saatchi Group’s Bohemia and previously held senior roles at Starcom and Spark Foundry, working with global and national brands including Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, Mars Wrigley, and Brown-Forman. 

Throughout her career, she has consistently driven impact through strategic communication connecting with diverse communities and stakeholder groups.

Anathea Ruys, CEO at UM Australia, said McMillan’s appointment reflects the agency’s commitment to deepening its partnership with government clients and continuing to deliver impactful, community-focused media solutions. Lisa brings a unique blend of strategic leadership, commercial nous and a deep understanding of navigating complex organisational structures.”

She added, “She’s led teams through fast-paced and high-pressure environments, and is passionate about media’s role in shaping informed, inclusive communities. We’re delighted to have someone of her calibre lead UM’s Government work.”

Meanwhile, McMillan said she is honoured to lead UM’s Government practice, partnering with the Australian and ACT Governments on communication strategies that inform, engage and serve the public.

“It’s a privilege to work with clients who shape public policy and deliver essential services to Australians every day. The media landscape changes so rapidly, and government communication needs to balance attention, responsiveness and integrity within that challenging environment,” she said.

McMillan added, “I’m excited to lead UM’s talented team as we deliver data-informed, people-centric media solutions that support national priorities and public trust. I’m looking forward to delivering meaningful outcomes for our government partners.”

Based in Sydney, McMillan commences in the role on June 30th and reports directly to Anathea Ruys. She replaces Brett Elliott, who left earlier this year.

Singapore – KC Global Media Asia, announces a strategic expansion of its leadership team to further accelerate the company’s commitment to premium content and creative excellence. These include Denise Tham being promoted to vice president and head of programming and Sari Trisulo being appointed as vice president and head of production and creative.

Denise has been promoted in recognition of her instrumental role in driving the success of the company’s diverse content slate across Asia, including her support for Jennifer Lee, director of programming and research in Taiwan and Greater China. 

With over 16 years of experience across various English general entertainment Pay TV channels, Denise will continue to lead content strategy, acquisitions, and programming for KC Global Media’s channel brands including AXN, Animax, ONE, and its first FAST channel, KCM. She also oversees the programming for the recently launched AXN Sports, a premium sports block dedicated to live events including LIV Golf and Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL).

Meanwhile, Sari brings with her extensive experience in multi-platform storytelling. She will spearhead the company’s original productions, optimise content formats, and elevate KC Global Media’s creative direction to resonate with evolving viewer preferences across the region.

Both Denise and Sari will report to George Chien, co-founder, president, and CEO of KC Global Media. These leadership developments underscore the organisation’s adaptability in a dynamic industry, culminating in a fully empowered executive team following recent promotions and appointments within the revenue and marketing divisions.

Speaking on these leadership moves, Chien said, “Content is the heartbeat of our business, and these appointments reflect our dedication to creative leadership and programming excellence. Denise has been a driving force in shaping our programming vision, curating content for all channels, and forging strong collaborations with studios in Hollywood and beyond. Her deep expertise in content execution and scheduling has fueled innovative strategies that drive viewership and optimise ratings.”

He added, “We’re also thrilled to welcome Sari, whose storytelling expertise across broadcast, digital, and branded content will enhance our ability to connect with audiences in impactful, dynamic ways. With a strengthened executive team in place, we are poised to chart our next phase of growth.” 

Singapore – In a bid to sharpen its regional focus and unlock new growth opportunities, Club Med has unveiled a major restructuring of its Asia Pacific operations, including the consolidation of business units and key leadership appointments.

As part of its major restructuring, Club Med is consolidating its three existing Asia Pacific business units into two integrated entities: East & South Asia and Pacific (ESAP) and China. Effective May 1, 2025, this move aims to streamline operations and improve responsiveness in high-priority markets.

While the company maintains its collaborative “One APAC” approach, the revised structure is intended to reflect the unique business environments of ESAP and China, allowing for more targeted strategies and regional alignment.

“This move opens a new chapter for Club Med in Asia Pacific. By tailoring our regional structure around the unique strengths of China and ESAP, we are well poised to accelerate our expansion with a strategic focus. With empowered leadership and a shared glocal vision, Club Med now has even more agility to seize opportunities in key markets and reinforce our position as the worldwide leader in premium, all-inclusive travel,” said Henri Giscard d’Estaing, president of Club Med.

To lead the new ESAP unit, Club Med has appointed Rachael Harding as chief executive officer. In this role, she will oversee both commercial and resort operations, reporting directly to Gregory Lanter, deputy CEO of Club Med.

Harding will focus on navigating the evolving market landscape, delivering strong brand and customer experiences, and driving a growth strategy across both mature and emerging markets in the region.

Commenting about her new role, Harding explained, “This business transformation empowers us to scale with greater purpose and precision across the region. With a refreshed leadership structure, a robust resort pipeline and stronger regional integration, we are advancing our ability to deliver elevated, seamless guest experiences. The 2024 results clearly demonstrate ESAP’s significant growth potential for Club Med, and we are poised to capitalise on every opportunity this new phase presents.” 

The ESAP leadership team is also being strengthened with several key appointments. Cindy Beleau has been named vice president of revenue management for APAC, where she will modernise pricing strategies with digital and AI-driven tools. Sandrine Rossi steps in as vice president of operations and product, bringing over two decades of experience in resort strategy and operations. Anastasiya Kulish will now lead as vice president of Japan Resort Operations, focusing on reinforcing Club Med’s mountain leadership in Hokkaido.

Meanwhile, Michelle Davies, currently general manager Pacific, will expand her responsibilities to include ESAP’s new markets. Olivier Monceau will now oversee the meetings & events segment in addition to his leadership roles in Singapore and Malaysia. Lastly, Jerome Ferrie and Arezki Haddad will serve as chief financial officer and chief human resources officer, respectively.

In China, Andrew Xu will remain CEO of Club Med China and take on the additional role of deputy CEO of Club Med, with responsibility for global finance.

The ESAP region has steadily recovered over the past three years, driven by returning customers, new market growth, and expanded resort capacity in areas like Hokkaido. Key developments include the renovation of Club Med Phuket, planned upgrades at Club Med Bintan, and the upcoming opening of Club Med Borneo in Malaysia.

In China, Club Med welcomed over 260,000 guests in 2024, making it the company’s second-largest market. Since entering the country in 2003, the brand has grown its presence to include five Premium All-Inclusive Resorts, four Joyview Resorts, and two Urban Oasis properties. Moving forward, Club Med will focus on maintaining its position in the premium segment and supporting both outbound and inbound tourism.

Singapore – Quantcast has announced that Jordan Khoo has been appointed as its vice president for the Asia-Pacific region, further strengthening its leadership team in the fast-growing region.

Under his new remit, Jordan will be responsible for leading Quantcast’s strategy and commercial operations across APAC, from the company’s Singapore office.

Jordan brings extensive experience in digital media, advertising technology, sales leadership and regional market expansion to Quantcast. Most recently Jordan served as managing director APAC at DoubleVerify, where he spearheaded its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, and previously as vice president at Sizmek, where he was instrumental in driving commercial success and deepening customer engagement across APAC.

Speaking on his new role, Jordan said, “Joining Quantcast is an opportunity to bring my expertise, skills and experience to a business that is thriving in the APAC market. My focus will be on continuing to harness the power of AI and data-driven strategies to unlock greater effectiveness in digital advertising, helping our clients and teams to navigate the complex, fast-changing media landscape. I look forward to using my experience, particularly my extensive knowledge of the digital market in the APAC region, to strengthen and grow our partnerships.”

His appointment takes effect immediately.

Meanwhile, Konrad Feldman, CEO at Quantcast, commented, “Jordan is a results-driven leader, with a proven track record for building high-performing teams and scaling ad tech businesses throughout the diverse markets of the Asia-Pacific region. We’re excited by our continued growth in APAC and I’m excited that Quantcast and our clients will benefit from Jordan’s expertise in market development, strategic partnerships and industry leadership.”

USA –  R/GA has named Urvashi Shivdasani as its new global chief financial officer, the agency’s first global C-suite appointment since regaining independence through a partnership between its management and private equity firm Truelink Capital.

Shivdasani joins R/GA from Huge, where she served as global CFO overseeing finance and operations functions spanning accounting, FP&A, real estate, commercial finance, resource management, and IT. She was also involved in the company’s transition to private equity ownership. Her previous roles include senior finance positions at Ralph Lauren and Discovery Communications.

At R/GA, she will work closely with CEO Robin Forbes and the global leadership team to shape the agency’s financial strategy, improve operational efficiency, and support the shift toward a more flexible, outcomes-based commercial model.

“Urvashi’s extensive experience and strategic acumen will be invaluable as we chart R/GA’s course as an independent agency and activate a new commercial model based on outcomes and not hours. Her track record of driving financial success and operational excellence will be critical as we continue to invest in innovation and new ways of working,” said Forbes.

Shivdasani’s appointment comes as agencies face mounting pressure to move away from traditional payment structures, driven by advances in AI and a growing emphasis on efficiency. She will also be responsible for overseeing the strategic deployment of R/GA’s newly launched $50 million Innovation Fund.

Speaking about her new role, Shivdasani shared, “I’m thrilled to join R/GA at this pivotal moment in its history. The agency’s commitment to innovation and its bold vision for the future were an incredibly compelling opportunity, and one I can’t wait to be involved in. I look forward to partnering with Robin and the leadership team to continue to build a growth organisation for the long term that drives creativity and innovation for our clients.”

South Korea—TBWA Media Arts Lab (MAL), Apple’s dedicated global creative agency, has announced key leadership changes in its Seoul office, with the appointment of Minah Lee as managing director and the promotion of Youji Noh to executive creative director.

As the new MD of MAL Seoul, Lee will report to global CEO Katrien De Bauw and work alongside Noh to oversee the agency’s leadership and client relationships.

“Minah brings a wealth of experience in the tech world, having worked both agency- and client-side for Korean and American global brands. She brings an entrepreneurial, start-up spirit that we believe will drive MAL Seoul into its next chapter,” said De Bauw.

Lee joins MAL from her role as head of account management at Amazon Korea, with prior experience in marketing strategy and management at companies including Cheil Worldwide, Samsung Mobile, Coupang, and Vestiaire Collective.

Speaking about her new role, Lee shared, “It’s every marketer’s dream to work for an iconic brand like Apple. I’m excited to lead the team in Korea to drive strategic initiatives that strengthen the brand while leveraging the momentum of global K-culture trends. I look forward to working with Katrien and Youji to elevate the Korea team and maximise our potential.”

Meanwhile, Noh’s promotion to ECD reflects her growing leadership role at MAL Seoul, where she has contributed to the office’s creative development through projects such as AirPods Cases, Behind the Mac, the Shot on iPhone film by Park Chan-wook, and the Made on iPad music video for Jay Park, illustrated by webtoon artist Namon. She will continue to report to global chief creative officer Brent Anderson and will lead the creative and production teams.

“Youji is a tastemaker, pure and simple. She has repeatedly helmed work that resonates deeply with Korea and that organically creates impact, all while maintaining Apple’s distinctive voice and hallmark simplicity. Youji’s understanding of the intersection of media, art and audience makes her the ideal creative lead for this important market,” said Anderson.

Noh also shared, “I’m thrilled to be working with Minah to lead and grow MAL Seoul,” said Youji. “Korea is having a moment in culture across various disciplines, especially with youth at the core. To continue creating iconic, culture-shaping work for Apple is a dream job for me and the team.”