Tag: Leadership

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.”

London, United Kingdom – Socially-led creative agency We Are Social has appointed key leaders to boost its global operations. The agency has promoted Mobbie Nazir as its new chief strategy and growth officer, Emma Cumming as chief of staff, and Silvia Mauri as global head of people and culture.

Nazir previously held the role of global chief strategy officer. Expanding his role, Nazir will oversee the agency’s global business growth, solidifying its position in the market. He will also focus on marketing and public relations, bolstering social media strategy.

Meanwhile, Cumming was formerly the agency’s global culture director. In her new role, she will handle strategic initiatives, overseeing leadership effectiveness and internal communications.

Mauri, previously the global people director, will be focusing on the agency’s employee satisfaction and engagement in her new role.

Nazir, Cumming, and Mauri comprise We Are Social’s executive management board.

“Social media is more crucial than ever for marketers and We Are Social is in the fortunate position of being the world’s leading social agency at a time when investment in social is accelerating. As the social landscape evolves, we’re seeing increasing opportunities to build on what we’re best known for – our first-class social creative output – with more creator and influencer-led work, greater global scale and an increased focus on the integration of paid social and ROI-driven measurement. I’m excited to be taking on this role, helping align our approach to growth more closely with our wider business strategy,” Nazir commented. 

Toby Southgate, global group chief executive officer at We Are Social, said, “The promotions of Mobbie, Emma and Silvia mark a significant shift for We Are Social, demonstrating our commitment to growth and to our people. With Mobbie’s extensive experience in global client and strategy work, and her huge contribution to our business strategy and thought leadership over the last decade, she’s perfectly placed to drive our growth plans forward at the speed that social demands. 

“I’d also like to congratulate Emma and Silvia on their well-deserved promotions. They have both been key players in the agency for a long time, and their roles will be vital to ensuring that our people all over the world thrive, can make career-defining work, and have fun doing it. Their leadership will be invaluable to our continued success,” Southgate added.Southgate, to whom the newly promoted leaders will report, was recently appointed to lead We Are Social as global group CEO.

India – Landor has strengthened its Asia-Pacific leadership team with the appointment of Geet Nazir as managing director for India and Joël Céré as managing director for Southeast Asia, reinforcing its commitment to brand transformation and regional growth.

Based in Mumbai, Nazir has a strong track record of working with brands such as Zydus Lifesciences Limited, Tyger Capital (formerly Adani Capital), PayU, Reliance Jewels, Usha Martin, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Tata CLiQ.

Before joining Landor, Nazir was the managing director at Conran Design Mumbai under Havas, where she led a team focused on developing design-led brand solutions. Since February 2021, she has worked with clients to navigate the complexities of the Indian market, drawing on Conran’s global design expertise.

Commenting on his appointment, Nazir said, “With an abundance of choices, Indian consumers today are increasingly drawn to brands they trust—ones that resonate with their values and aspirations. I’m thrilled to join Landor at this pivotal moment, where our purpose-driven, customer-centric approach to design and branding fosters progressive brands that not only empower our clients’ business but also create a positive impact on their customers and society as a whole.

Based in Singapore, Céré has co-founded an open-innovation agency and a boutique consulting firm in technology, alongside mentoring start-ups. He has worked with major brands including Unilever, P&G, Mondelēz, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Abbott, AstraZeneca, DBS, Kirin, Sennheiser, Electra, Intel, and City Energy across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Céré has held key roles in various agencies, including managing global accounts at Aegis, shifting a global crowdsourcing platform from content to innovation, leading Hill & Knowlton’s digital practice across EMEA, and overseeing innovation and strategy at Grey, Bates, and Kantar.

“More than ever, Southeast Asian consumers need strong brands to navigate today’s uncertainty. With its unrivalled mix of creativity, data, and strategy, I’m excited to join Landor at this critical time to help businesses unlock their brands’ potential to drive short-term growth and build long-term value,” Céré commented.

Starting in March 2025, the new appointments are set to enhance Landor’s consulting, design, and experience capabilities across the region.

Christian Schroeder, global president of Landor, shared, “APAC is a critical growth market for Landor, and we are committed to investing in the best talent to serve our clients in the region. The addition of Joël and Geet to our leadership team underscores this commitment. Their extensive experience and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to help brands in APAC navigate the evolving market landscape and achieve their business objectives.”

Lulu Raghavan, APAC president of Landor, added, “I am thrilled to welcome Joël and Geet to Landor. Their diverse backgrounds and impressive track records will be instrumental in driving our growth and innovation in APAC. I am particularly excited about partnering closely with them as we focus on expanding our presence and delivering exceptional results for our clients in Southeast Asia and India.”

Australia – Independent media agency Nunn Media is strengthening its strategic and planning capabilities in Sydney by appointing Michelle Miroforidis as head of strategy and Elise Dearden as planning director. 

The new hires come at a time of significant momentum for the agency, following a series of new business wins, including SunRice and Neilson Financial Services, with more soon to be announced.

Miroforidis and Dearden bring deep expertise in this space, further strengthening the agency’s ability to drive meaningful brand connections and business growth for clients.

With integrated experience across communications strategy, media and connections planning, Miroforidis is a seasoned strategist who understands the power of blending paid, owned, earned, and shared channels. Her career includes stints at Australia’s leading strategic agencies, including Naked, UM, Diageo Connect by Publicis, as well as in-house brand and creative agency roles.

Joining in the newly created role of planning director, Dearden brings years of experience across both London and Sydney at OMD, Spark Foundry, and Initiative, leading planning efforts for some of the country’s most recognisable brands, including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and HCF. Her expertise in designing insight-driven and integrated communication strategies will be instrumental in delivering impactful outcomes for clients.

Chris Walton, managing director of Nunn Media Sydney, said, “Since joining us, Michelle and Elise have already begun to make a huge impact with our clients. Their strategic acumen and deep understanding of media dynamics have helped elevate our approach, delivering sharper insights and more effective planning. Beyond that, their energy and leadership have enriched our agency culture. We’re thrilled to have them as part of the team.”

Meanwhile, Miroforidis said, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Chris, Elise and the team as we usher in a new and exciting era for Nunn.”

Dearden commented, “There’s a lot of momentum at Nunn Media right now, and I’m excited to be joining at such a pivotal time and I’m looking forward to working with a talented team to deliver great results.”

Singapore – Zachary Lim has been appointed as head of IPG Mediabrands Singapore, the media holding company under Interpublic Group. His appointment is effective immediately.

Joining IPG Mediabrands from Wavemaker Singapore, where he served as managing director, Lim is taking on a network role as he leads agencies UM and Initiative.

Lim has over two decades of experience in marketing, media strategy, business development, and agency leadership. Prior to his tenure at Wavemaker, where he spent seven years, he also worked with Maxus Global and Havas Media.

Leigh Terry, chief executive officer of IPG Mediabrands APAC, said, “We are incredibly pleased to welcome Zachary to the IPG Mediabrands family. His proven track record in driving client success and fostering a culture of excellence aligns perfectly with our ambitions for the network. We are confident that Zachary’s energy and leadership of our standout teams here in Singapore will help elevate the operations to new heights.”

Lim commented, “I am honoured to take on a leadership role at IPG Mediabrands Singapore. The network’s commitment to innovation and client-centric approach resonates with my own professional values, and I look forward to collaborating with the talented agency teams here to deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

Australia – VaynerMedia Australia has appointed industry heavyweight Denny Handlin as its new executive creative director, reinforcing the agency’s mission to lead the charge in integrated social-first marketing as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia and the region. 

With a career spanning Clemenger Group, Meta, and TikTok, Denny has led multiple campaigns, built high-performing creative teams, and developed consumer-first strategies that drive real business impact. 

Most recently, as head of global business marketing at TikTok ANZ, he helped shape the platform’s creative direction and spearheaded groundbreaking brand collaborations.

Speaking on his appointment, Denny said, “I couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter at VaynerMedia, partnering with world-class clients to put social at the centre of everything we do. The team here is already known for its innovative, creative thinking, and I can’t wait to get started and push the boundaries of what’s possible in this space.”

He added, “I’ve called TikTok my home for nearly five years, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there. I’ve worked with an immensely talented team and am proud of what we’ve built together. I truly wish them all the best.”

In his new role, Denny will report to Karen Coleman, country manager for Australia, and Woei Hern Chan, VaynerMedia’s head of creative for the Asia Pacific region.

“Denny brings the best of both worlds — a rare blend of big-agency creative expertise and deep platform experience. We’re in our next phase of growth, evolving beyond just great creative and media to a truly integrated, social-first approach that drives business results. Denny is not only an exceptional creative leader but also a builder of high-performance teams and culture — exactly what we need to shape what’s next,” Karen said.

Australia – E-commerce personalisation platform Bloomreach has announced the continued growth of its global footprint as it expands its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, welcoming Kris Fagan as its new vice president for APAC. 

Kris brings years of enterprise and account experience from mParticle, PagerDuty, and Dropbox in Australia. Kris most recently led a team that drove sales, partnerships and operations and was focused on enhancing customer satisfaction and market presence in APAC.

Speaking on his new role, Kris said, “I’m thrilled to lead our talented team in helping businesses across APAC deliver personalised, AI-driven experiences that truly connect with their customers. As we start the new year, the opportunities ahead of us are tremendous. The APAC region is a beacon of digital innovation and commerce growth, and I am dedicated to sustaining that momentum and ensuring our customers have access to top-tier technology and support to surpass their business objectives.”

As Bloomreach continues to increase its global reach, it underscores its commitment to delivering deeply personalised customer experiences — and driving measurable growth — for businesses worldwide.

With the power of its proprietary LoomiTM AI, Bloomreach already supports leading businesses within the APAC region today. This includes customers such as SM Retail, Bluebell, Repco, Spotlight Retail Group, and MILKRUN, a grocery delivery service owned by Australian grocery chain Woolworths. 

Jamie Gagliardi, head of marketing & growth at MILKRUN, said, “Using Bloomreach, our team can build out the personalised experiences we know will differentiate us to customers and drive results — not only on the app, but across email, SMS, and push. With the help of Bloomreach and our partners, we’re driving forward the future of grocery, one customer and order at a time.”