Tag: Managing Director

India – Snap Inc., a technology and social media company, has announced the appointment of Pulkit Trivedi as its new managing director to handle the company’s operations in India. 

In his new role, Trivedi will report directly to Ajit Mohan, APAC president at Snap Inc. He will be responsible for leading the organisation’s Indian operations, including driving revenue, supporting partners, and nurturing the creator ecosystem. 

Meanwhile, under the new operational structure, the growth, market development, partnerships, content, and creator ecosystem teams will report directly to Trivedi. 

This new, highly localised structure reinforces Snap’s commitment to India to further build unique experiences for the company’s growing user community.

Trivedi brings with him over 23 years of experience working for top technology companies like Meta and Google in India. 

Prior to his new appointment, Trivedi served as the director of Google Pay’s India business team. He spent the past five years as part of the leadership team,  where he was responsible for building strategic plans for the business, forging key partnerships, and leading the monetisation agenda for Google Pay in India. 

Ajit Mohan said, “Pulkit’s deep expertise in building and scaling businesses and finding ways to drive outsized growth for partners will enable us to continue delighting our surging community of over 200 million Snapchatters in India.”

He added, “Unifying our local teams under this new structure will set the right stage for making accelerated investments in India and enable us to further fuel the growth of our community and partners.”

On his appointment, Trivedi shared, “Snap has a reputation for being a true innovator and has built a thriving community in India with a product that has connected with so many young Indians.”

“India is one of the world’s fastest-growing internet economies, giving  Snap an exceptional opportunity to actively contribute to the expansion of our community and businesses,” he added. 

Sydney, Australia – Hotwire, the global technology communications and marketing consultancy, announced the appointment of Melissa Cullen to the new role of managing director of communications for the Asia-Pacific region. 

In her new position, Cullen will be responsible for Hotwire’s business in Australia and will expand its reputation and relationship services footprint across APAC. 

Cullen will work alongside Anol Bhattacharya, managing director of marketing in APAC, to deepen the consultancy’s offerings in communications strategy, public relations, media relations, digital marketing, crisis and issue management, content production, executive thought leadership services, account-based marketing, corporate narrative platforms, and influencer management. 

Heather Kernahan, global chief executive officer of Hotwire, said, “We were looking for an experienced tech communications leader with the drive and ambition to expand our communications and public relations services in both capabilities and reach as we build with clients across Asia Pacific.”

“Mel’s experience in running her own agency for more than a decade, her work as a senior communications strategist with global tech brands and her leadership role in the PR industry are a fantastic combination that bring value and expertise to Hotwire clients and our team,” Kernahan continues. 

Prior to her appointment, Cullen worked in senior roles at Icon Agency, Finchco and Ogilvy, leading on major clients including Salesforce, Westpac and Microsoft. She was also the co-founder and managing director of Res Publica, where she spent fifteen years designing and delivering successful communications programs for some of Australia and the world’s best-known brands and businesses, including Lion, Unilever, Westpac, Jurlique, Priceline and Gatorade.  

Throughout her career, Cullen also held several leadership roles within the Australian public relations industry, including Chair of the Public Relations Council and Board Member of The Communications Council.

On her recent appointment, Cullen shares, “I am thrilled to be joining Hotwire to lead our communications services across APAC into an exciting new growth chapter.  Hotwire is a truly global agency with deep expertise in technology communications and marketing and I am really looking forward to partnering with our clients to share their stories of success and deliver real commercial impact.” 

Dallas, USA – Global data company Dynata has appointed Mark Lepine as the new managing director of its Asia-Pacific (APAC) business. Lepine, who has extensive experience in both the region and market research, will be in charge of managing the company’s APAC operations, fostering Dynata’s market presence and growth.

Lepine brings nearly 30 years of regional expertise to his new role, including four years as managing director of APAC at Survey Sampling International (SSI), which merged in 2017 with Research Now and later rebranded as Dynata. Previously, he served in regional management positions at Gartner, WGSN and Forrester.

Speaking on his own appointment, Lepine expresses that he is thrilled to join Dynata and lead the APAC team during this phase of growth.

“Our unmatched capabilities and advanced solutions are truly differentiated assets, presenting us with endless opportunities to drive innovation, unlock transformative insights and deliver unparalleled value to clients across the vibrant and diverse APAC market,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chris Watson, the international managing director of Dynata, said, “At this pivotal moment in our industry, Dynata stands proudly at the forefront of the first-party data ecosystem and Mark’s market research experience, abilities to lead and drive growth align perfectly with our strategic goals. Mark will have a pivotal role in expanding our reach, elevating our market position and driving continued success across the APAC region. We have complete confidence in Mark’s ability to deliver outstanding results for our clients.”

Singapore – Oddie Randa has been appointed as the regional managing director for Asia-Pacific by Gushcloud International. In his new role, Randa will manage the income and profitability of Gushcloud’s brand agency division in the Asia-Pacific area in his position as regional managing director. This section caters to a wide range of clients and brands. 

The agency’s expansion in all key markets in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Australia, and China, will be made possible by Oddie’s strategic approach to generating revenue.

All country managers in the APAC will now report to Randa, who will work together with them to identify and develop new income opportunities in the creator and influencer marketing industry. Oddie’s goal is to foster mutually beneficial partnerships between artists and businesses using Gushcloud’s extensive network of influencers and content producers.

Regarding his new position, Randa said, “I am grateful for the trust that Gushcloud and Althea have put in me. The growth of the creator economy has yet to reach its peak in Asia Pacific and it is exciting to take the front seat in watching it unfold. It is also exciting as I take the captain seat to drive more growth for our stakeholders – our brand clients and influencer clients in the next upcoming years. I am looking forward to working closely with our clients and partners in the region to deliver exceptional results, forge new opportunities and grow newer businesses together.”

Meanwhile, Althea Lim, co-founder and group CEO at Gushcloud International, commented, “Oddie and I have worked together for close to a decade. His wisdom and charismatic leadership alongside his wealth of experience and deep understanding in digital marketing, creator economy, and business management has allowed him to rise to this position to assist us in managing a large region of the overall Gushcloud business. 

She added, “With his exceptional strategic thinking and visionary mindset, I am confident that he will assist to expand our business, our revenue potential, and add more value and services to our brand clients and influencer clients across this region.”

Singapore – Eve Solomon has joined the team at Outbrain as its managing director of publisher business development in Asia-Pacific. In her new role, Solomon will be in charge of enhancing Outbrain‘s APAC supply operations by bringing her nine years of experience to the company.

She led a cross-functional team for four and a half years that was in charge of managing Outbrain’s international strategic accounts. Her strategic perspective and consultative style played a role in expanding the alliance beyond typical native placements and clearly demonstrating her contribution.

Speaking on her appointment, she said, “It’s truly a welcome return for me to be back in my home country and join the Outbrain APAC team.” She also stated, “Outbrain’s commitment to innovation while providing publishers the ability to maximise the impact of user engagement and loyalty is consistent across all markets. I’m excited to continue driving growth and building strategic relationships that deliver results for our publisher partners across APAC.” 

Solomon will also take on the duty of building the development of Outbrain’s APAC supply business as part of her new role. She will accomplish this by establishing alliances with current, credible publishers. Solomon will also give proper resources and support a higher priority in order to strengthen Outbrain’s current APAC business.

Amrita de la Peña, managing director APAC at Outbrain, said, “Eve’s extensive experience and deep understanding of Outbrain’s operations will undoubtedly strengthen our collaborative efforts across APAC. Together, we will drive strategic partnerships, deliver exceptional services to publishers, and ensure mutual success in the dynamic digital advertising landscape.”

Meanwhile, Stephanie Himoff, EVP global publishers at Outbrain, commented, “Eve’s dedication, expertise, and passion for the industry make her a valuable addition to the APAC team. Her extensive experience on the publisher side, combined with her strategic mindset, will truly strengthen our relationships with publishers in the APAC region and drive mutual growth.” 

Singapore – Penta Group, the global communications and stakeholder solutions firm, has announced the appointment of Deborah Giam as the new managing director of Singapore. With her extensive experience and industry expertise, she will be playing a pivotal role in driving growth and delivering exceptional client service in the region. 

Giam joins with a remarkable track record in strategic communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement across various industries. The company says her understanding of the Singaporean and regional market, coupled with strong leadership skills, makes her the perfect fit for this key position.

Previously with Zeno Singapore as the client services director, she successfully led numerous high-profile campaigns for clients across various sectors, including corporate, finance, healthcare and technology. 

As the new MD for Singapore, Giam will be leading strategic initiatives, overseeing a talented team of professionals dedicated to delivering innovative communication and stakeholder solutions. She will play a crucial role in strengthening Penta Group’s presence in Singapore and further expanding its client base.

“We are thrilled to have Deborah join our team as the Managing Director of Singapore,” said Shawn Balakrishnan, partner for Asia Pacific. “Having her lead the Singapore team is the next step for our pursuit of continued excellence. With her expertise, we are confident in our ability to drive growth and deliver outstanding results for our clients in the region.” 

Giam expressed her excitement about joining Penta Group, stating, “I am honoured to be a part of Penta Group and lead the Singapore office. The company has an excellent reputation for delivering impactful communication strategies, and I’m excited to be able to create and embrace new opportunities for its success. I look forward to working with the talented team here and contributing to the firm’s continued success.”

Penta was established in September 2022 following the merger of market-leading firms Ballast Research, Hamilton Place Strategies, Flag Media Analytics, alva, Gotham Research Group, and Decode_M. Following this latest acquisition, Penta is now comprising over 300 professionals located across New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Vail, London, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Singapore – Global recommendation platform Outbrain has named Amrita de la Peña as its new managing director for Asia-Pacific. In her new role, de la Peña will be responsible for expanding the company’s offerings for agencies, brand advertisers, and publishers in the region.

Prior to joining Outbrain, she was recently the first general manager for Sprout Social in APAC. She also spent six years as the head of global brands for JAPAC at Twitter.

She brings with her over 25 years of experience in the digital marketing, media and advertising space.

Speaking of her new role, she said, “I am excited to join Outbrain at a time when the company is poised for significant growth in the APAC region. More and more marketers are understanding the real importance of trusted, premium content environments and looking to drive measurable outcomes and deeper engagement with audiences. I look forward to helping more brands, advertisers, and publishers leverage Outbrain’s suite of innovative technology and create even more value for all sides.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Erlmeier, chief revenue officer at Outbrain, commented: “Amrita is a seasoned leader with a track record of success in the digital marketing and advertising space. We are thrilled to have her on board as we continue to innovate our solutions to better serve brands, advertisers, and publishers. With her expertise and leadership, we are confident that we can build even more strong partnerships and deliver innovative solutions for our clients.”

De la Peña’s appointment follows recent appointments within Outbrain’s C-suite lineup namely Yonatan Maman as chief technology officer and Andraz Tori as chief product officer.

Australia – Creative agency Host/Havas has announced the promotion of Anthony Moore as its managing director to continue being hands-on with the agency’s clients including Reckitt, Tourism Fiji, and the Australian Federal Police, whilst expanding his responsibilities more broadly for the agency.

In 2015, Moore joined the agency as its managing partner. He became an integral part of its projects including the creation of Australia’s second most popular podcast for the Australian Federal Police. He also contributed to the win of the hotly contested Tourism Fiji pitch and helped Air New Zealand become Australia’s most trusted brand five years in a row.

James Wright, chief executive officer at Havas Creative Network, said that Moore has been a crucial player in the agency’s success, from developing strong client relationships, supporting the delivery of their iconic campaigns, and building a fun culture. 

Meanwhile, Moore said, “I’m really proud of everything we have achieved together, particularly over the past few years and the culture we continue to build at Host/Havas. The team here are incredibly talented and certainly make my job easier every day.”

Host/Havas specialises in blending creativity and technology to solve real business problems, from brand thinking and design to innovation, CX, tech consulting, and digital development.

Singapore – Global, performance-driven content leader Green Park Content has announced the promotion of Fe Husaint as managing director for APAC to strengthen the agency’s operations, power up its growth, and accelerate its success across the region. Husaint previously held the creative and global brand head position at the agency.

Husaint brings with her strong experience in developing a creative and strategic approach to managing brands’ creative remits. She became an integral part of Greenpark’s growth in APAC whilst helping to grow the agency’s revenue with global and regional business.

Marcelo Bittencourt, departing managing director for APAC, said that Husaint deserves the promotion because she has been pivotal in growing the agency’s business and culture.

Meanwhile, Husaint commented, “I plan to inspire a strong, inclusive, and diverse culture—to do my part in powering business growth to the next level. I am also excited to usher in a new era of Greenpark—my vision is to have a holistic approach with creativity and innovation at the core.” 

“I envision a business model that’s driven by innovation such as Generative AI Creative Solutions. This is my future-forward vision to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity, while being able to offer cost-efficient solutions to our Client partners,” she added.

Greenpark has been growing its operations in seven APAC countries with over 130 digital experts within its team.

Earlier this year, Greenpark has also announced the promotion of Lesley Renton as its head of marketing and demand generation for APAC.

Singapore – Property technology company PropertyGuru has announced the appointment of Manav Kamboj as the new managing director of its fintech business. Kamboj will retain his role as the chief technology officer of the company.

In his expanded role, Kamboj will lead the business, leveraging technology, data, and analytics to drive further digitisation of the home loan process and operational excellence. He has been working closely with the Fintech team since it was established which also helped him in gathering insights into his new role.

Kamboj has extensive experience in the consumer internet industry across eCommerce, mobile applications and technology consulting. Furthermore, he has led cross-functional teams in retail lending, product management and customer acquisition strategy.

Kamboj started to join the PropertyGuru group as chief technology officer in 2017, leading a distributed team of engineers, software developers and data scientists who deliver technology solutions to address the ever-changing needs of home seekers, real estate agents and property developers across the region. 

He also spearheaded the inauguration of PropertyGuru Group’s technology Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, India, which marks the Group’s sixth country office alongside offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. 

Before joining PropertyGuru, he was with e-commerce platform Snapdeal as vice president of technology where he shaped the product and technology roadmap for buyer platforms.

Hari V Krishnan, chief executive officer and managing director at PropertyGuru Group said that Kamboj’s strong skillset in technology and finance will help the company’s Fintech ambitions, including digitisation of home loan process in Singapore.

Kamboj expressed his excitement as he takes a new role in the company because of new opportunities to help the consumers.

“Our focus will be on developing products and solutions for the mortgage market that guide the home buyers’ financing needs and that are more often than not the biggest hurdle in their home ownership journey,” he added.

Last month, PropertyGuru also appointed Disha Goenka as its new chief marketing officer.