Tag: Leadership

Singapore – Operational machine learning (ML) and performance advertising company Moloco has announced the appointment of Nopparat Yokubon as Moloco Ads lead for Southeast Asia and ANZ as well as Jason Bagg as commerce media lead for ANZ.

These appointments highlight Moloco’s commitment to expanding its presence across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region as it continues to meet the growing demand for ML solutions in the digital advertising landscape.

Nopparat, a seasoned adtech veteran with over 16 years of experience in digital advertising and monetisation across APAC, will spearhead Moloco’s growth initiatives in Southeast Asia. Her extensive regional expertise and proven track record in scaling advertising technology solutions positions her perfectly to drive Moloco’s next phase of growth in this dynamic market. 

“Southeast Asia represents a pivotal mobile first market with emerging opportunities in app development, particularly in markets such as Vietnam and Pakistan. As businesses navigate the current economic landscape and seek sustainable growth, our mission is to help them overcome complex challenges in user privacy, AI transparency and ad fraud,” Nopparat said.

She added, “We are already seeing a strong traction with financial services, gaming publishers and consumer apps across the region and we are committed to evolving our Machine Learning powered solutions to meet the region’s diverse marketing needs.”

Meanwhile, Bagg possesses unique insights as both a former platform customer and industry veteran, positioning him to best lead Moloco growth in the sophisticated ANZ market. He also has deep experience in transforming retail media operations and driving advertiser success.

“Having experienced Moloco’s platform capabilities as a customer, I witnessed firsthand its transformative impact in scaling commerce media advertising. The team’s commitment to innovation and product excellence made this a compelling opportunity and I’m excited to work with retailers across Australia and New Zealand to help them build and scale their media businesses with a focus on driving sustainable, long-term growth and returns,” Bagg said.

Meanwhile, Ikkjin Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Moloco, commented, “These strategic appointments underscore our deep commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. Nopparat and Jason’s extensive experience and deep understanding of local markets will be invaluable as we continue to deliver innovative, machine learning-powered solutions that empower businesses to navigate and thrive in an evolving digital advertising landscape.”

Manila, Philippines – Albet Buddahim has been recently named the vice president and head of marketing at MEGA Prime Foods. In it, he brings a wealth of experience in the marketing scene to a leading food company whose portfolio includes best-selling food products like MEGA Sardines, MEGA Tuna, and MEGA Mackerel.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Albet details what’s in it for him in this new marketing leadership role, his learnings that he intends to bring at MEGA Prime Foods, as well as navigating the complexities of doing marketing in the F&B industry.

Building the marketing organisation and business

For Albet, his new role will revolve around two major objectives: building the marketing organisation who he will work with, and building the business. 

“I look after a brand and marketing team of 24 headcounts and we are hiring 5 more to ensure we achieve our 2025 goals. [Moreover], I will [also] be working with HR, Management and the marketing leadership team to have our brand/marketing become a tribe who has a right-to-win (capabilities, competencies, culture) and play-to-win (strategic where-to-play and knows how-to-win) with a growth mindset,” he explained.

Albet also added that from a work standpoint, his role will look after three main groups of marketing professionals, namely Brand Management & Development, Marketing Capabilities and Resources, and Digital, Data & E-Commerce.

With a winning team, then we will be able to collaborate and become a One Mega Dream team to achieve [the top] one position in our product categories,” he noted.

In terms of the marketing strategy, he says that they will implement the so-called 5A’s of business building, namely Awareness, Affinity-building, Affordability, Accessibility and Availability.

Awareness is about ensuring millions know about the company and brands, what it does/provides, what they stand for and why the brand exists. Moreover, affinity-building is about ensuring that they are building brand preference and that the target consumers/customers/shoppers will like MEGA brands versus its competitors.

Meanwhile, affordability is about creating and communicating the value of the brands and their products as compared to alternatives and substitutes. Accessibility is about ensuring that the brand’s products can be easily purchased (accessed) in the nearest sari-sari store or modern trade along its shoppers/consumers’ path-to-purchase. Lastly, availability is the right SKU in the right place and time, ensuring that the brands products are not out-of-stock.

Reflections in transition to new role

Before his new role at MEGA Prime Foods, he was most recently the chief marketing officer at Primer Group of Companies. He was responsible for leading the various marketing and creative teams across the company in both traditional and digital channels by creating and communicating Primer’s business value. 

Speaking on his learnings from his previous role, he said that winning the context is important in terms of targeting particular demographics versus going for media placements.

“The importance of doing STP (segment, target, position) and truly understanding which segment has disposable income to buy the premium brands like TUMI, Delsey, Herschel. Moving forward to MEGA Prime Foods, we will continue to segment the target market into strategic target audience and prime prospects, in a way that we have more focused (more resonating and relevant, contextual content) initiatives to drive customer acquisition and repeat,” he explained.

Navigating challenges through technology

For Albet, one of the biggest marketing challenges for him to tackle would be achieving differentiation, as the omnichannel approach makes it easier for competitors to replicate, catch up, and gain visibility into our marketing efforts. 

Moreover, ensuring a sustainable source of growth and profitability is also critical for the company’s product, brand, and category portfolio, especially as globalisation and direct-to-consumer (DTC) models enable global and Chinese businesses to enter the market with competitive price advantages. 

Lastly, attracting and retaining top marketing talent poses a significant challenge, given the financial constraints of a local manufacturing company compared to global premium brands and corporations.

“MEGA Sardines is the #1 Sardines in the Philippines and we have continued to expand our MEGA seafood line into Tuna, Mackarel and Squid. The pattern of mergers & acquisitions is also a trend that our company MEGA Prime foods has pursued with the recent 2024 acquisition of Jimm’s Coffee mix,” he said.

Albet added, “Moving forward to 2025 and beyond, our company will continue to leverage technology (ie. AI, RPA, etc.) from our fishing vessels, to manufacturing, down to marketing, sales and distribution.”

Australia – Creative technology agency Orchard has appointed Anne Ngo to the newly created role of head of customer growth and martech, accelerating the agency’s martech capabilities and commitment to delivering high-impact, data-driven solutions for its clients.

In her new role at Orchard, Ngo will be responsible for driving Orchard’s martech offering across both its consumer and healthcare divisions, as well as innovating across customer experience, data, and martech. 

With over 15 years of global experience in customer growth, lifecycle marketing, and digital transformation, Ngo brings a wealth of experience in both CX and martech, joining Orchard after spending nearly four years as Akcelo’s customer strategy and martech director. 

Throughout her esteemed career Ngo has held positions at some of the world’s most established brands including FlexiGroup’s head of marketing, Latitude Financial Services’ Head of Marketing, and as American Express’ director of strategic partnerships and global network services. During her tenure at FlexiGroup, Latitude Financial Services and American Express, she led large-scale and insights-driven campaigns, built loyalty programs, and drove martech activation and integration.

Speaking on her new role, she said, “I am delighted to be joining the team at Orchard, whose ‘Invent Better’ mission encapsulates what most excites me about the industry. This mantra not only powers the work and relationships with clients, but it is infused in the culture and talented individuals the agency has developed. Integrating data and martech with marketing practices and customer experiences is my passion, and I am so glad to be joining a team where this is celebrated.”

Meanwhile, Wai Kwok, CEO of Orchard, commented, “Anne’s depth of experience in CX and martech is a tremendous asset for us as we continue to grow. She brings an approach that’s both strategic and pragmatic—she understands how to unlock the value of data and martech in a way that’s impactful for brands and relevant to customers. This balance is exactly what we need to continue evolving our martech services, and I’m thrilled to have her leadership at the forefront.”

Shanghai, China – McCann Worldgroup China has announced that Jacqueline Wu will rejoin the agency in a dual role as president of operations for McCann Worldgroup China and CEO of Craft China, its production studio, effective immediately.

Wu previously served as managing director of Craft China, where she spent nine years building and leading the team, before transitioning to Wunderman Thompson (VML) for the past three years.

As Wu rejoins the agency, she will focus on boosting operational efficiency, driving business growth, and spearheading innovative production solutions. With a proven track record in leading and managing complex business operations, she is uniquely equipped to deliver both efficiency and innovation for the agency.

Throughout her career, Wu has worked with a diverse range of clients, from top-tier international brands to leading local enterprises. Her impressive client roster includes L’Oréal, KFC, General Motors, Coca-Cola/Sprite, Princess Cruises, J&J, Qingdao, and Richemont Group.

Speaking on her appointment, Wu stated, “The achievements of the past would not have been possible without McCann Worldgroup and Craft’s advanced management philosophy and collaboration with regional leadership. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work with Carter and Melissa again. They are not only my long-time colleagues but also dear friends. With their support, we can elevate McCann Worldgroup and Craft to new heights and achieve even greater success together.”

Meanwhile, Carter Chow, CEO of McCann Worldgroup Greater China, commented, “With Jacqueline’s wealth of experience, she will immediately be tasked to develop new and innovative capabilities for Craft, setting competitive industry benchmarks across all aspects of content production. At the same time, Jacqueline will lead the group’s operations team to enhance integration and operational efficiencies, leading to long-term growth for our clients.”

“China is one of our most important markets as it demands high-quality localisation, which requires tailoring not only the language but also cultural values, aesthetics, and a deep understanding of their unique digital ecosystem. This can only be achieved through strong local expertise in creative production,” added Melissa Chan, regional managing director of Craft Asia Pacific. 

Australia – Amperity has announced the appointment of Tony Alika Owens as its new chief executive officer and member of the board. With over 20 years of experience scaling global sales and enterprise operations, Owens joins Amperity amid strong market momentum, as the company advances its mission to help brands transform complex customer data into business value.

Throughout his career, Owens has navigated the same customer data challenges that Amperity’s clients face today. This firsthand experience gives him a unique understanding of the pain points that Amperity solves – and the value it provides enterprises.

Owens brings over 20 years of experience in executive roles at Salesforce and Oracle, where he scaled enterprise operations and global sales. Prior to Amperity, he was the president of worldwide field operations at LivePerson, overseeing the company’s go-to-market strategy and teams. 

Before LivePerson, he had progressive responsibilities running Salesforce’s field operations in the Americas and was a member of the executive committee. Owens also previously served as group vice president at Oracle. Tony serves on the board of directors for The Mandatum Foundation, SnapLogic, Pathlight, and CIPIO.ai.

Speaking on his new role, Owens said, “Customers are at the heart of Amperity’s success. Amperity has an incredible opportunity to help businesses unlock their customer data’s full potential. By leveraging AI to refine and democratise data, we’re empowering technical teams to shape business strategy and fuel unprecedented growth.”

Meanwhile, Derek Slager, co-founder, CTO and board member at Amperity, commented, “I’m incredibly excited and confident in Tony’s leadership as we enter our next phase of growth. We share an aligned vision for AI and data, focusing on what matters most – executing on valuable use cases and delivering rapid time-to-value for our customers.”

Lastly, Matt McIlwain, managing director at Madrona and Amperity board member, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Tony as the new CEO of Amperity. His extensive enterprise software experience in customer relationship management and data analytics, along with his leadership at a global scale, will be instrumental as he leads Amperity through continued growth. I am confident that Tony’s obsession with customer value will take the company to new heights in this AI and data-driven era.”

Australia – OpenX Technologies, Inc. has appointed Emma Gronow as its new buyer development director for the ANZ, bringing her extensive experience in digital, mobile, and TV to strengthen OpenX’s programmatic and data-driven solutions across the region. 

Gronow joins OpenX from Little Dot Studios and will collaborate closely with the company’s brand advertisers and agency partners to showcase OpenX’s programmatic and data-driven solutions, including its advanced TV by OpenX offering.

She will report directly to Clay Gill, who also recently joined OpenX from IPG.

Speaking on the appointment, Mitch Greenway, managing director for APAC at OpenX, said, “Emma’s expertise across CTV and digital experience is a welcome addition to the OpenX ANZ team. Her appointment reinforces our commitment to expanding TV by OpenX in the region, and we look forward to her support in strengthening partnerships and driving growth across ANZ.”

Singapore – Edelman has announced that Rakesh Thukral will succeed Warren Fernandez as CEO for the firm’s operations in Asia-Pacific (APAC). Fernandez will be stepping down from the role to pursue a new opportunity and will remain with the firm until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.  

Thukral has a long-standing career with Edelman. As the current APAC chief operating officer and managing director of India, he has championed growth through a relentless focus on the firm’s clients, people and diversification of specialties and offerings across its portfolio. 

Speaking on his new role, Thukra said.“We have a strong team across the region and great client relationships across sectors and markets. I look forward to working with our teams and clients to continue elevating our work, and ensuring our clients receive solutions that help them evolve and grow their businesses in these complex times.”  

Meanwhile Ed Williams, Edelman’s President for International, spoke on the recent development stating, “I am grateful for everything that Warren has done for the firm, and for his leadership both regionally and globally. He has broadened and sharpened the firm’s capabilities in APAC, and his decades of experience in the news and media sector has been hugely important to many of our clients. We sincerely wish him all the best with his next move. 

“The APAC region continues to present significant opportunity for Edelman and our clients, and therefore remains a key focus for us. Rakesh’s experience of partnering with global companies to enter the Indian market, and for Indian businesses to expand globally, will be invaluable to our clients across the whole region. He has a deep understanding of the business, political, and societal dynamics of the region, and I have confidence that under his leadership, our business will be well positioned”, continues Williams. 

Lastly, Fernandez says, “I am grateful for having been part of the Edelman team and to have worked with some of the industry’s most talented and committed colleagues. A new opportunity has arisen which is hard to say no to; it is a role that plays to my longstanding interests in public policy, and where I will have the opportunity to engage on some of the significant political and geopolitical issues of the day.” 

Thukral will report into Williams in his new role, and the appointment is effective immediately. 

Manila, Philippines – Grupo Agatep has officially announced the appointment of Norman Agatep as its new chairman and CEO, as well as Michelle Agatep-Bayhon as the firm’s managing director.

Prior to this appointment, Norman served as managing director and president of the agency. With over 30 years of experience in Corporate and Marketing Communication, Agatep brings extensive expertise in public relations, advertising, digital marketing, creative development, and strategic planning to lead the agency into a new era of growth and innovation. 

He also previously led Euro RSCG Manila and Havas Worldwide Manila as its managing director.

Speaking on his new role, Norman said, “I am honoured to step into this role at a time when branded communication is rapidly evolving and groundbreaking technology is shifting the way we connect with stakeholders. I look forward to driving our agency’s vision forward, fostering creativity, and delivering more meaningful impact for our client-partners.”

He also added, “My priority is to further the legacy of outstanding communication that has defined Grupo Agatep. We will continue to innovate and set new benchmarks, ensuring our work not only meets but exceeds the expanding needs of our clients in an industry that continues to redefine itself.”

Meanwhile, Michelle is a seasoned PR and communication professional with over two decades of experience, specialising in reputation management, corporate communication, and integrated marketing strategies. She began her career at the agency in 2001, laying the foundation for her expertise and dedication to the field. Before her appointment as managing director, she held the position of accounts and client servicing director of Grupo Agatep. 

Michelle’s appointment marks a significant step in the agency’s ongoing efforts to enhance client relationships and drive strategic initiatives that elevate brand communication.

“I am excited to continue our legacy of excellence and to work closely with the team to craft campaigns that resonate deeply and create positive change,” she said.

Singapore – Global B2B marketing specialist Fifth Ring is expanding its senior leadership team with the creation of a new role as the company structures itself to focus on significant growth in the coming year. 

For this, Jennifer Maclennan, who has been an integral part of Fifth Ring for the last eight years, has been promoted to the newly formed role of group managing director.

In her tenure at Fifth Ring, she has held various senior positions, most recently as regional director for Europe, which has seen her perform a pivotal role in delivering key strategic initiatives, leading an ambitious recruitment process, expanding business operations, building strong client relations, and delivering exceptional results for the business.

Speaking on her new role, Jennifer said, “I am truly honoured to take on this exciting new role and continue my journey with Fifth Ring. Being part of this incredible team and contributing to a company I have so much passion for has been a highly rewarding experience.”

She added, “In my new role, I will continue to maintain and enhance positive client relationships, whilst taking on new operational challenges and ensuring Fifth Ring owns the space in global B2B marketing. Together with Ian, Steve and our Regional Directors, Debbie Ho in Asia and Todd Gregory in America, I look forward to growing the company and supporting our talented team to build on the strong foundation and positive momentum we have created.”

Fifth Ring, which has offices in Singapore and Houston, created the role to support its significant growth trajectory and to accelerate further expansion. In this new role, Jennifer will take overall responsibility for all operational activities and support sustained growth and continued expansion into new markets. 

With this move, Fifth Ring founder Ian Ord will focus on global revenue growth, international expansion, and acquisitions, and Steve Milne, group director of strategy, will take overall responsibility for brand projects and strategy for clients on a global basis.

Meanwhile, Ord commented, “We’ve enjoyed spectacular growth over the past few years, and as our business becomes more complex, we recognised the need to expand our senior team. Jennifer’s promotion will increase our leadership bandwidth, ensuring we can continue building on our success. We are excited about the trajectory of the business and the opportunities that affords us to attract new talent and further diversify our client portfolio. We are committed to international expansion, both organically and through further acquisitions.”

In addition to group managing director, Jennifer will also continue her Board role with Business Branding Network (BBN) helping to drive a more powerful, unified B2B agency partnership around the world.

Singapore – Regional entertainment hub KC Global Media Asia has announced a series of key promotions within its leadership team, designed to enhance strategic capabilities and drive revenue growth across the region. 

The promotions include Shirlene Wu as vice president and general manager for Taiwan & Greater China, Edith Goh as vice president of revenue and head of media and sponsorship sales, Bhuvnesh Kanwar as vice president of revenue and head of FAST (free ad-supported streaming television), and Bonnie Wiryani as vice president of revenue and head of content sales.

These announcements comes alongside the departure of Avani Bhanchawat, vice president and head of revenue, who has left the organisation after a seven-year tenure. All new leaders will be reporting directly to George Chien, co-founder, CEO and president of KC Global Media.

Shirlene will oversee the company’s strategic operations and content development, enhancing the organisation’s presence across the region. She has been an integral part of the KC Global Media team for eight years and during her tenure, she has made significant contributions including collaborating with tourism boards and government agencies on various projects as well as establishing a dedicated advertising sales team for Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Edith will be responsible for developing and executing innovative media and sponsorship initiatives while identifying and cultivating new revenue streams. Having been with KC Global Media for more than five years, she secured major sponsorship deals with key partners including One Championship for The Apprentice Asia – One Championship Edition, Tourism Authority Of Thailand and Tourism Malaysia, significantly contributing to the organisation’s growth and success.

Bhuvnesh will drive revenue growth in the streaming sector and oversee monetisation strategies across Indonesia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He will also work to establish advertising sales opportunities in Singapore, Indonesia, and the pan-regional market. During his six-year tenure at KC Global Media, Kanwar was instrumental in creating branded IPs like Ultimate Challenge and AXN All Stars for both streaming and traditional TV, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia. 

He has also established linear and on-demand partnerships with various telcos, OTT platforms and DTH providers, including Amazon Prime Video, Telkomsel, Pt Link Net, MNC Sky Vision and many more. Additionally, he was the key architect in launching KCM, KC Global Media’s first FAST Channel, in India.

Lastly, Bonnie will be responsible for driving content sales in Asia, and strengthening partnerships with key partners in Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia excluding Indonesia. Her focus will be on maximising opportunities in both traditional and emerging markets. Wiryani has been with KC Global Media for four years and has expanded the channels portfolio with key clients such as Tonton, Unifi TV in Malaysia, and MeWatch in Singapore. She has also led on-ground activations to enhance brand awareness and has launched the firm’s channels in new markets like Mongolia and the Maldives.

Speaking on the leadership promotions, Chien said, “We are committed to fostering talent and building a strong leadership team and are thrilled to recognise these talented leaders for their hard work and dedication. We are confident they will excel in their new roles and continue to drive the company’s growth ambitions in this dynamic media landscape.”

He added, “We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Avani for her contributions and leadership during her time with us. Throughout her seven years with the company, she has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s revenue strategies and driving significant growth. We sincerely thank her for that and wish her continued success in her future pursuits.”