Tag: Leadership

Singapore – Edelman has strengthened its leadership in Southeast Asia with the appointment of Delicia Tan as CEO for Singapore, expanding her current role overseeing Hong Kong and Taiwan, and Vorasit (Gigg) Turongsomboon as the new managing director for Edelman Thailand.

Currently serving as CEO for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Tan will now expand her leadership to include Singapore, succeeding Julia Wei, who is leaving the firm at the end of the month to pursue a new venture.

Tan, who joined Edelman Singapore in 2006, has extensive experience leading integrated teams across Asia Pacific. She has worked on diversified communications strategies and served as regional and global client leader for several of the firm’s major clients.

During her two and a half years as CEO of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, Tan has led the business through the post-pandemic period and developed an integrated communications team serving clients across the region.

Turongsomboon, who has over 16 years of experience in strategic public relations and communications, also joins Tan as the new managing director for Edelman Thailand.

Turongsomboon will lead Edelman’s Thailand office, which has expanded in response to growing client demand. The office has worked on notable campaigns, including the Cannes Lions-winning Dove #LetHerGrow campaign in 2023 and the Vaseline Transition Body Lotion campaign in 2024.

Before joining Edelman, Turongsomboon was managing director at MSL, overseeing clients in the tourism, automotive, and consumer products sectors. His experience also includes a decade-long tenure at Procter & Gamble.

Speaking on the leadership appointments, Rakesh Thukral, Edelman’s CEO for Asia Pacific, said, “Delicia’s new role is an acknowledgement of her experience and contribution to our firm. We have a strong team and a great set of clients in Singapore. With Delicia’s leadership, I am confident that we will continue to do impressive work in that market. I would like to thank Julia for her contribution to the Edelman business in APAC.” 

Thukral added, “We are also very pleased to have Gigg onboard to lead our business in Thailand. Through these appointments, we are strengthening our ability to deliver the best communications advisory solutions for our clients across Asia Pacific. I am confident both Gigg and Delicia will make a positive impact in their new positions.” 

Tan and Turongsomboon’s appointments are effective immediately.

Singapore – Snigdha Nandan, most recently the director of B2C and digital marketing for APAC at Mastercard, has taken a new role as the executive director and global head of digital marketing at Standard Chartered. In a conversation with MARKETECH APAC, Snigdha mentioned that she will lead all digital marketing initiatives for the brand’s top markets in the Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) space.

“This includes driving global marketing campaigns at scale, optimising performance marketing efforts for our key consumer segments and driving a digital transformation initiative that enables us to champion personalised marketing campaigns across the consumer lifecycle. I also lead marketing analytics and effectiveness in my role,” she explained.

In her recent role at Mastercard, she played a pivotal role in shaping brand marketing, paid media, performance marketing, and social media strategy across Asia-Pacific. She spearheaded strategic B2C marketing programs to expand consumer engagement in key passion areas such as travel, culinary, sports, music, and gaming.

Moreover, she also played a key role in the global launch of Mastercard Gamer Xchange and introduced AI/ML-powered solutions like the Digital Engine in Asia.

Prior to Mastercard, Snigdha spent 10 years with PayPal, and held several key leadership roles across consumer and B2B marketing, driving strategic initiatives in international and regional markets. Moreover, her expertise in strategic partnerships, performance marketing, and cross-border commerce played a crucial role in strengthening PayPal’s market presence across diverse regions in APAC.

Speaking on how her past experiences will play out in her new role at Standard Chartered, Snigdha said, “With my almost 14 years of marketing experience in the fintech and payments space, I have a lot of learnings to take to my new role at Standard Chartered. I have worked across different players in the financial services ecosystem now–from a wallet, to a card network to now an issuer/bank.”

She added, “These organisations often work in partnership to meet a consumer’s financial needs. For example, the affluent customer segment has been a common one across various roles and I have seen these segments’ digital behaviours over the years. That, in my opinion, is definitely an advantage. I also carry my 14 years of experience in digital marketing to drive excellence as a subject matter expert.”

She joins Standard Chartered ahead of the rollout of the brand’s ‘Now’s your time for wealth’ campaign, which she was a part of. The campaign, done in collaboration with Publicis Groupe Hong Kong and Singapore, delivers a compelling message: “The cost of waiting could mean falling short of one’s wealth ambitions.”

When asked about what lies ahead for her role at Standard Chartered, she stated, “One month into my role,  I am amazed to see the innovation that is happening in the bank and in the financial services space. The way Standard Chartered is innovating with its products to provide more tailored solutions, creating seamless onboarding journeys for customers, driving personalisation across channels, and quickly adopting tools and technology backed by AI to drive this personalisation is impressive.”

She added, “The Digital Transformation initiative that I will lead will be another step in future-proofing our marketing campaigns. There’s a lot more to come.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Omnicom Media Group has appointed Winnie Chen-Head as CEO for Malaysia. In her new role, Chen-Head will lead strategy, operations, and the development and adoption of transformative capabilities that will drive the next chapter of growth for OMG Malaysia. She succeeds Eileen Ooi, who was named CEO of PHD Asia-Pacific last year.

Chen-Head joins OMG from her role as managing director of media at dentsu Malaysia, overseeing its agency brands. Over the course of her more than two decades in marketing, she has held leadership roles across multiple business categories – including e-commerce, aviation, telecommunications, and software – and built a reputation for delivering high impact strategies that drive results for clients and organisational growth.

She takes the helm as OMG is enjoying its most significant year ever. Powered by Omnicom’s industry-leading Omni open operating system that drives business outcomes for brands, OMG Malaysia’s recent wins and retentions include OPPO, Wipro Unza, CelcomDigi, Vinda, and Friesland Campina. 

Reporting directly to Tony Harradine, CEO for APAC at Omnicom Media Group, Chen-Head will join OMG Malaysia officially on 19 March 2025.

Speaking on her appointment, Chen-Head said, “I am honoured to join OMG Malaysia as CEO and capitalise on the strong momentum to drive further success. A key goal of mine is to leverage innovative and strategic thinking to help clients deliver on their business ambitions. This will be achieved with the talented teams at OMG Malaysia, where a culture of open communication and collaboration empowers everyone to contribute their best ideas. The opportunities ahead are immense, and I’m excited to lead the new era of transformation and growth.”

Meanwhile, Harradine commented, “Winnie steps into this role at a pivotal time, building on a strong foundation of success. As one of the most respected, tested, and proven leaders in the market, Winnie has the experience and expertise to take OMG Malaysia into its next phase of growth, leveraging our Agency as a Platform proposition to deliver transformative experiences for our clients, their customers and our people.”

United Kingdom – VIOOH has announced Ludovic Menard as its new chief product officer (CPO). Menard returns to VIOOH after almost three years, succeeding former CPO Jon Block, who left the business at the end of 2024 after nearly five years in the role. 

In his new role, Menard will be responsible for driving the vision, strategic direction and roadmap for all products and data within VIOOH’s ecosystem. Reporting into VIOOH’s CEO Jean-Christophe Conti, Menard will collaborate closely with VIOOH’s leadership team to understand customer needs and market demands. 

Moreover, he is tasked with developing features and products that deliver value to users and are aligned to long-term business objectives.

A seasoned adtech and product management professional, with extensive experience across out-of-home advertising, Menard joins from Teads where he held the position of VP Product, prior to which he worked at VIOOH for four years as vice president of products and spearheaded the build and launch of both programmatic and direct sales products. 

His knowledge extends across ad tech, not only in supply side platforms, but also DSP and DMP technology, products, business and operating models. 

Throughout his 19-year career, Menard has also held positions at JCDecaux, InovenAltenor (Orange Consulting), Criteo and Mereo. Beyond media and tech, his expertise includes machine learning and AI, CRM and sales & marketing automation, yield management and business intelligence, finance operations, privacy and compliance.

Speaking on his appointment, Menard said, “It’s a privilege to return to VIOOH at this thrilling new phase in its lifecycle. The company has evolved from an exciting start-up to a scale-up, offering innovative and diversified monetisation paths for media owners, and a raft of international programmatic DOOH opportunities for advertisers and agencies. I’m excited to begin this next chapter.”

Meanwhile, Jean-Christophe Conti, CEO at VIOOH, commented, “We’re pleased to welcome Ludo back into the VIOOH family. An experienced pair of hands, he was with us at the very beginning and it’s great to once again tap into his expertise at this next exciting stage of VIOOH’s evolution.”

He added, “With even more ambitious plans for international growth and product development this year, I’m confident Ludo is just the person to help VIOOH accelerate its strategic agenda, unlock future opportunities and add innovative features to our platform to enable digital media buyers to embrace the benefits and growth potential of programmatic DOOH.”

Mumbai, India – Netcore Cloud has announced the appointment of Nishant Arora as senior vice president of marketing. He brings close to two decades of industry experience, fueling hyper growth SaaS companies to multi-billion dollar companies. 

In his role, Nishant will play a pivotal role in Netcore Cloud’s next phase of growth, leading the company’s marketing strategy worldwide. Moreover, he will focus on enhancing Netcore Cloud’s marketing efforts, driving demand generation, and creating compelling narratives that resonate with businesses across sectors.

Nishant joins Netcore Cloud from Sprinklr, where he served as senior director in the marketing team. His tenure at Freshworks saw him lead product marketing in IT, turning it into the fastest-growing product in the company’s portfolio. Prior to this, Nishant honed his expertise in growth marketing during his tenure at IBM, where he led marketing for Data and AI software.

Speaking on his appointment, Nishant said, “With more than 6,500 customers leveraging our AI-powered, and intuitive products, Netcore Cloud has been quietly disrupting the customer engagement market. I look forward to helping Netcore Cloud unlock profitable growth by strengthening our brand and accelerating demand with our innovative products. I am honored to join this incredible team.”

Meanwhile, Siddharth Gopalkrishnan, chief operating officer at Netcore Cloud, commented,  “Nishant’s impressive experience in launching and scaling high-growth SaaS products aligns perfectly with Netcore Cloud’s vision. His expertise in growth marketing and product positioning will be invaluable in helping us position Netcore Cloud as a leading MarTech SaaS player, competing with the best globally. We’re excited to have Nishant on board.”

Singapore – In a significant reshuffling of its leadership team, Manulife Asia has announced key strategic changes across its operations in emerging markets, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and its finance division.

As part of the leadership changes, Manulife Asia has appointed Dr. Kah Siang Khoo, currently the CEO of Singapore, as the new CEO of Emerging Markets. In this expanded role, he will oversee operations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

Dr Khoo, who joined Manulife in 2018, has played a key role in driving growth and enhancing the company’s position in the region. He has also contributed to digital initiatives and new distribution strategies while overseeing a successful bancassurance partnership with DBS. Prior to his new role, Dr. Khoo served as the president of the Life Insurance Association of Singapore.

During the transition, Dr. Khoo will remain CEO of Singapore until he officially hands over the role to Benoit Meslet on June 1. Meslet, who is currently CEO of Japan, will assume the position pending regulatory approval.

Benoit has been with Manulife since 2020, driving four years of core earnings growth, doubling new business value since 2022, and leading a fast-paced digital transformation that boosted customer satisfaction and employee engagement. With over 20 years of leadership experience in Asia’s life insurance sector, he is well-equipped for his new role.

Following this change, Ryan Charland, currently CEO of Indonesia, will succeed Meslet as CEO of Japan, effective May 1, 2025. He will join Meslet in Japan in April to facilitate a smooth transition.

Since taking the helm in 2019, Charland has led Manulife Indonesia to expand its market share and achieve a strong Net Promoter Score. He also launched a new Syariah-compliant company to serve Indonesia’s underpenetrated Muslim population. His extensive experience in product development, distribution, operations, finance, and risk management is expected to support ongoing growth in Manulife Japan.

Meanwhile, Lauren Sulistiawati will succeed Charland as CEO of Indonesia, starting February 24, 2025, pending regulatory approval. She will collaborate closely with Charland to ensure a smooth transition and will report to Dr Khoo.

Sulistiawati joins from Commonwealth Bank, where she led the transition to OCBC while maintaining customer satisfaction. She has held leadership roles in Indonesian and multinational banks, with a focus on transformation, Syariah business, and regional insurance partnerships.

Last on the roster of leadership changes, Adrienne O’Neill, currently global controller and group chief accounting officer, has been appointed Asia chief financial officer, reporting to Colin Simpson, global CFO, and Phil Witherington, president and CEO of Manulife Asia.

O’Neill has been with Manulife for over 17 years, holding various key finance roles, including global controller and group chief accounting officer. She also served as global head of investor relations from 2018 to 2021.

Speaking on the appointments, Witherington said, “These changes showcase the depth and strength of our leadership across Asia and position us to continue delivering high-quality sustainable growth and be the number one choice for customers.”

“We are well on track to achieve our goal of contributing half of Manulife’s core earnings by 2027, and these leaders have consistently executed our strategy. Their leadership in these new roles will help define the next chapter for Manulife Asia,” he added.

Phil Witherington will assume the role of president and CEO of Manulife on May 9, 2025. Until his successor is appointed, members of the Manulife Asia senior leadership team will report directly to him.

Manulife has also announced the departure of Michael Thomssen, chief financial officer for Asia, and Sachin Shah, head of emerging markets. The company thanked both for their contributions and wished them success in their future endeavours.

India – Jobs and talent platform foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), a Quess company, has appointed V Suresh as its new chief executive officer to spearhead growth and innovation across its AI-driven platform.

Suresh brings more than 20 years of experience in the e-recruitment, internet, and digital transformation sectors. He has a track record of driving growth, expanding market presence, and developing digital platforms across various industries.

In his new role, Suresh brings extensive strategic experience and a focus on long-term growth. His strong understanding of customer needs and operational efficiency will guide foundit as it continues to develop its AI-powered platform, aiming to improve job search, hiring precision, and connections between employers and candidates.

Speaking on his appointment, Suresh commented, “I am privileged to lead foundit at this exciting stage in its journey. With a strong legacy and an advanced AI-driven platform, foundit is uniquely positioned to transform how talent and opportunity connect. Throughout my career, I have focused on harnessing technology to create impactful, customer-centric solutions, and I look forward to building on this foundation to drive innovation, growth, and excellence across APAC and the Middle East.”

Previously known as Monster (APAC & ME), the company rebranded to foundit in 2022 to reflect its evolution into a leading jobs and talent platform.

Ajit Isaac, managing director of Quess Corp, also shared, “Suresh’s deep understanding of the digital talent ecosystem and proven ability to scale businesses will help us strengthen our leadership position in the market. Under his stewardship, we aim to further refine our platform, enhance our services, and continue bridging the talent gap across industries and geographies.”

Singapore – Lee Nugent, most recently the regional director for Asia-Pacific at Archetype, has departed the agency. The agency has also confirmed the news to MARKETECH APAC when reached out to.

Archetype has also noted that Lee’s role would not be replaced, and instead its collective of local leaders across APAC will be empowered to drive regional growth, supported directly by their global management team.

Lee first joined Text100 in 2016 as its managing director for consulting and strategy for APAC, and was responsible for working with Text100’s integrated communications teams and clients across the region.

He remained with the agency during the Text100-Bite merger which will eventually lead to the formation of the Archetype agency in 2019. In his role at Archetype, he was responsible for leading over 350 talented marketing and communications consultants across the APAC region. He is also a member of the Archetype Global Management Team.

Lee has an extensive background in media and marketing, most notably him being the CEO of consultancy agency Nelson Bostock Group, which is part of the Creston Group. He headed the agency for over 19 years.

“What an adventure it’s been. I can only have thanks and appreciation for my wonderful colleagues and clients past and present who encouraged me to grow, learn and turn a two-year escapade into not too far short of a decade,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

He added, “We achieved so much together. We climbed mountains, jumped through hoops, celebrated our highs and lifted each other up during our lows. I will never forget your care and your brilliance.”

Manila, Philippines – Global beauty brand Avon in the Philippines has recently tapped Emmanuel Cruz as its new head of omnichannel. Cruz recently came from Mondelez International, where he was the e-commerce lead for the Philippines.

Aside from Mondelez International, he also previously held e-commerce leadership positions at Wyeth and Bayer, where he aided in improving the omnichannel strategies for these companies, and brick-and-mortar onboarding, digital paid media, social commerce, and performance.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Emmanuel shares that he will help accelerate Avon’s online and offline retail expansion locally. 

“As we all know, Avon’s legacy has always been on relationship selling, and this entry into retail is a milestone as we make our loved Avon products more accessible to more consumers anytime and anywhere in the country,” he stated.

Creating strategies from the ground up

When asked what specific omnichannel strategies he looks forward to implementing, Emmanuel shares that he wants to create different consumer experiences in their offline and online verticals.

“In any omnichannel strategy, the shopper is always at its core. With this in mind, I’m excited to create a differentiated and meaningful offline and online experience for Avon shoppers with the right products at the right platform,”

At its core, Avon has been about direct selling to customers in real life. Its Avon sales representatives are well-known in the country for offering the latest from the company across multiple product categories, such as cosmetics, skincare, perfume, and personal care products. 

With this in mind, his statement reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its offerings across multiple channels, as Avon continues to advance its strategic initiatives while delivering the personalised beauty experience that customers know and love.

Nonetheless, Emmanuel is determined to push through, given his past leadership experiences.

“As what I always impart to my team: First, be agile. Second, test and learn. Third, learn and scale up. Building the e-commerce businesses for Bayer, Wyeth and Mondelez from the ground up taught me these three values I carry with my new role today,” he said.

Navigating omnichannel challenges and opportunities

For Emmanuel, the biggest challenges involve both their competitors and the type of selling being done. “Competitors (both local and global brands) are becoming even tougher with pipeline innovations, campaigns and digital marketing strategies. [Moreover], platforms online [are] ever-so evolving and fast-paced. [Lastly] shoppers [are] becoming more demanding and mindful of purchases,” he stated.

Given this wide array of challenges, he then states that the opportunities for Avon lie ahead in the relationship between offline and online channels. Given that shoppers are browsing online and offline, they can be converted from online to offline as well.

This also explains why Avon in the Philippines has expanded its reach by allowing its sales representatives to go live on TikTok for greater reach while expanding its offline retail network.

A good example of this expansion is Avon’s partnership with Watsons, which kicked off with the brand’s presence in Watsons’ 500 local stores in October 2024.

“Through Watsons, we’re bringing Avon closer to customers who may not have had the chance to experience our products before. Whether you’re looking for your favourite skincare, makeup, body and toiletries, or fragrances, you’ll now find them in Watsons stores nationwide,” he said.

Emmanuel also highlighted how this partnership was a win for its representatives, stating, “This partnership is also a win for our Avon Representatives. By increasing brand visibility and accessibility, we are helping our Reps reach new customers and grow their businesses. We are committed to supporting them as they continue to be the heart and soul of our brand. We invite everyone to visit Watsons and discover the Avon products you love, now even more accessible to you.”

***

An effective omnichannel strategy is crucial for augmenting direct sales by seamlessly integrating online and offline touchpoints to create a cohesive customer experience. By meeting shoppers wherever they are—whether through digital platforms, in-store visits, or personalised consultations—brands can build stronger relationships, drive higher engagement, and boost conversions. With Emmanuel on board, Avon aims to improve its standing in the Phillippine market and reach more offline and online customers.

Australia – Think HQ has announced social research specialist and business strategist, Isabel Zhang is joining its growing team. Based at its South Melbourne campus, Isabel will be Think HQ’s head of cross-cultural research. 

With over 20 years of research experience across the Asia-Pacific region, Isabel has been at the forefront of championing multiculturalism and cross-cultural in-depth understanding that amplifies the voices of multicultural communities in Australia and across borders. 

Isabel will bring a wealth of industry and sector experience spanning government, education, travel and tourism, retail, property, FMCG and financial services. Her expertise lies in empowering organisations to effectively navigate complex multicultural environments by providing invaluable insights into cultural nuances that enable strategic planning and policymaking. 

She Isabel joins Think HQ after over six years at Bastion as General Manager – Cross-Cultural Research. Following her move to Think HQ, she will continue her leadership role within the Australian Institute for Diversity in Mental Health, where she works to reshape mental health approaches to better support multicultural communities. 

At Think HQ, Isabel will sit within the agency’s Strategy & Insights team and also work closely with the agency’s multicultural communications arm, CultureVerse.

Speaking on her new role, Isabel said, “My entire career has been focused on acting as a vital bridge to help organisations, business and brands connect meaningfully with multicultural communities both here in Australia and globally. Think HQ is uniquely positioned to connect with today’s Australia, so joining a fantastic team at a truly rare agency was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m here and I’m ready to get to work!”

Meanwhile, Jen Sharpe, founder and managing director at Think HQ commented, “I’ve been admiring Isabel’s work and contributions to our industry for years. 2025 marks our 15th anniversary and I can’t think of a better way to kick things off than by welcoming Isabel to the team. Isabel is a fantastic researcher with an enviable reputation across Australia and the wider APAC region, and I know that her research pedigree and commercial smarts will make a big impact at Think HQ and the value we can offer the market.”