Tag: Managing Director

Tokyo, Japan – Global advertising agency R/GA in Tokyo has appointed Kei Shimada, former associate partner and founding member and leader of the Digital Makers Lab at IBM Tokyo, to be its new managing director, effective this month. The appointment aims to expand R/GA’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Shimada will now be responsible for leading the Tokyo office to drive innovation, human-centric work for the company’s local and international clients. He will be tapping into the agency’s deep creativity, tech, and design experience expertise, and will work closely with other regional leads in support of helping clients create a more human future. 

Prior to his new role, Shimada has had a long-standing career of helping companies around the globe. He specializes in redefining existing product and service strategies, and enhancing existing revenue streams, or creating new ones from the ground up. At Digital Makers Lab, IBM Japan’s business-to-business (B2B) workshop, Shimada led the digital transformation of clients and spearheaded the creation of world-first, region-first, and industry-first focused solutions, and business models.

Furthermore, Shimada has worked as the global director of innovation and business development at Dentsu, where he focused on the build-out of dentsu Aegis’, now called as denstu international’s, group wide innovation initiative that created new solutions around wearables, neural technology, locational big data, and crisis management infrastructures. He has also fulfilled the role of chief lab officer of dXLab, dentsu media’s innovation lab spanning eight countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Commenting on his appointment, Shimada said that he is excited to be given the opportunity to join R/GA and lead the Tokyo office. He believes that having such an eclectic mix of people working together serving local and global clients is something very unique in Japan, and one gives them a strong competitive advantage.

“I’m looking forward to further shaping and growing the Tokyo office as we deliver transformative solutions for clients that play at the intersection of bold ambition, creativity, and human truths,” commented Shimada.

Meanwhile, Tuomas Peltoniemi, the EVP and managing director of R/GA APAC, shared, “It’s exciting to have a respected, inventive, and influential leader like Kei onboard. With an ambition to leverage new technologies to help clients create new solutions for a more human future, coupled with an incredible track record of commercial and creative success, there’s no one else better to be at the helm of R/GA Tokyo.”

Shimada’s appointment completes the newly-formed Tokyo leadership team that is poised to work with Japanese and global brands, enabling growth both locally and internationally.

Auckland, New Zealand – Experiential marketing solutions provider Limelight Platform has appointed Leon Hudson as its new managing director for the APAC region.

The appointment will see Hudson enabling the Canada-based marketing agency to support its growth in APAC, beginning with Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Hudson brings with him more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing strategy. He has previously worked as the strategic advisor for content marketing agency IMMedia Content, general manager for technology solutions company Re-Hub, and group head of revenue for advertising technology company CtrlShift.

Hudson said, “There has long been a disconnect between online and offline marketing; Limelight helps bridge the gap. With a contactless consumer journey, personalized communication, and numerous safety-related features, the platform’s latest version is ready for the post-lockdown rebound.” 

Meanwhile, Terry Foster, the chief executive officer of Limelight Platform, shared that the decision to appoint a managing director in the region arose from the agency’s strategic planning sessions in early 2021. The chosen strategy aligns with the needs of its long-standing global client base. 

“Hudson is a 20-year Martech veteran with a track record of success, including over 15 years in leadership roles across the Asia Pacific region. His experience will be invaluable supporting our global client base which is rapidly growing in the region,” said Foster.

Limelight Platform works for experiential marketing return on investment, live event data, and insights. The platform enables marketers to create, manage and measure experiential marketing campaigns and live events; crucial as the economy continues to reopen and the appetite for safe and secure human connection.

Singapore – Advertising agency TBWA\ in Singapore, which dubs itself as ‘The Disruption Company’, has promoted its managing partner Mandy Wong to the role of managing director, with immediate effect.

Wong who took the managing partner position in early 2019, has been with the TBWA\ Collective since 2001, working out of Malaysia and Singapore. Mandy will continue to work in partnership with the executive management team and work directly with CEO Ara Hampartsoumian, to preside over all aspects of the agency business such as people management, financial planning, productivity, and operations.

In her previous role, the agency said that Wong has been pivotal to setting the standard for industry best practice in the Singapore arm’s transition to remote working and return-to-office protocol amid the coronavirus, propelling TBWA\Singapore to continue operations and maintain its optimum productivity. 

As the new managing director, Wong will continue to lead a critical task force for the agency’s Covid-19 protocol in addition to her responsibilities of overseeing client management among key stakeholders, brand management efficiency, effective resource management, and operations management to consistently improve the agency’s overall internal process.

“TBWA\ has always provided a uniquely nurturing environment which has supported me and enabled me to fulfill my ambition and career goals. I am incredibly proud of my journey and to have reached this milestone alongside mentors who inspire me every day,” said Wong. 

She added, “My focus is to now continue that legacy for the next generation of TBWA\ Singapore’s leaders.”

Wong started her career with TBWA\ Kuala Lumpur as an entry-level account executive on the global Tourism Malaysia business. In recognition of her exceptional work ethic and reputation over four years, Mandy relocated to TBWA\ Singapore as an account manager to manage another piece of global business – Standard Chartered.

After a decade of successfully managing the Standard Chartered brand across Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Wong was part of the winning pitch team on the Singapore Tourism Board business and led the agency team on the launch of Singapore’s new global destination brand and thereafter widely-acclaimed ‘Passion Made Possible’.

Hampartsoumian commented, “I’m incredibly proud to promote Mandy to the managing director role, one that she truly deserves given her monumental efforts and contributions to TBWA\ Singapore over the years. We’re lucky to have her on our humble pirate ship and look forward to her leadership and relentless energy as we propel ourselves into the next phase of ‘Disruption’.” 

Singapore – Global telecommunications company Telstra has appointed Geraldine Kor as the new managing director for South Asia, and at the same time, as the company’s country managing director for Singapore. 

Under the new role, Kor will be responsible for South Asia markets including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. She will also be responsible for Telstra’s Australian and New Zealand customers expanding internationally, wherein she will be leveraging her expertise in technology domain and customer market development.

Prior to joining Telstra, she has worked with technology company DXC Technology, where she assumed the role of  director of global alliances and partnerships, as well as regional business operations director for Asia and director of marketing and communications. She also previously was the senior sales director of mapping technology company HERE Technologies, and managed the product and channel development of telecommunications and consumer electronics company Nokia Mobile for Asia Pacific.

“I am very excited to join Telstra and work with this amazing team of people. The current and post-COVID world demands more technology for companies to adapt to the new digital normal. We are committed to helping our clients accelerate their digital transformation and making it easy to do business in the region and beyond,” Kor commented. 

Meanwhile, Oliver Camplin-Warner, CEO for Telstra International commented, “The pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital transformation and companies are turning to us to help improve their ICT and security resilience. We believe Geraldine’s strong technology background will help our customers to adopt adaptive technologies for their new remote workforces. She is an exemplary professional who embodies excellence and brings with her a variety of skills. Geraldine will use her drive and passion to play a crucial role in our future success.”

The Australia-born company currently operates in over 20 countries outside its headquarters. 

Singapore – Dentsu International APAC welcomes the new year with a bang by unveiling its new CEO for its media relations, Prerna Mehrotra.

Mehrotra is currently the managing director of the network’s Media Group at Singapore and will be taking on the new role alongside her existing position.

Prerna will be responsible for driving Dentsu’s global media strategy and delivery in APAC, ensuring its alignment and relevance in the market with “client-centricity at the core,” to develop an integrated portfolio of tools and capabilities aimed at maximizing the effectiveness, relevance, and performance of clients’ media.

For the new role, she will be reporting to Ashish Bhasin, CEO of Dentsu APAC, and Peter Huijboom, global CEO of Media & Global Clients.

Bhasin shared in a press release that Mehrotra was a clear candidate for the role, having joined the business in 2016.

“She has gone from strength to strength excelling in roles across investment and media. This integrated view across our media portfolio and her acumen of over 20 years set her apart from the rest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Huijboom commented, “I am delighted to have Prerna join my leadership team and drive Dentsu’s media strategy in this critical region. Her experience in key markets including India and China and her long-standing client relationships will ensure we continue to drive value, and excellence in everything we do.”

On her appointment, Mehrotra said, “The media landscape in this region has never been more complex. Over the past eight months, consumers’ expectations of what brands produce and how they behave have changed rapidly, and it will only continue. I am excited to be working with top talents from across our markets to create growth opportunities and long-term value for our clients.”

Singapore – Universal Music Singapore, a music-based entertainment division of Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced that former Warner Music Singapore Managing Director Simon Jerome Nasser has been appointed to the position of managing director and head of live for Southeast Asia.

As a core member of the regional executive team, he will be overseeing UMG’s operations within Singapore, leading and developing domestic and international activity within the market. He will be based within UMG’s regional office in Singapore and will report to Calvin Wong, chief executive officer of Universal Music Southeast Asia (UMG SEA) and senior vice president for Asia.

As head of live for SEA, Nasser will be managing UMG’s live activity across the region and will work closely with UMG’s global vice president of live events Jimmi Riise to expand and develop strategic live opportunities for UMG’s domestic and international talent, labels, and partners in the region.

Nasser joins the company with more than thirty years of music industry experience in the region. He held the MD position in Warner Music Group (WMG) from 2015-2020where he discovered, developed, and broke both domestic and international talent within Singapore and the wider SEA region.

Nasser has significant experience in the live arena, having helped promote tours and shows in recent years within SEA for domestic and international artists including Kylie Minogue, FUN, Anne-Marie, The Click Five, YouTube Stars, and MLTR among others. 

A promoter of industry rights within Singapore and the wider region, Nasser is also the current chairman of the Recording Industry Association Singapore, Music Rights Singapore, and Recording Industry Performance Singapore.

In making the announcement, Wong said, “I am excited for Simon to join me in Singapore and to help us to build an exciting future for UMG across the region. His skillset is unparalleled in the market, his passion is infectious and his track record at breaking artists locally is second to none. I am sure his legacy will continue to shine in his new role.”

Meanwhile, Riise added, “I am delighted that Simon will now lead our live business activity within Southeast Asia. His vast experience and deep local knowledge will help provide a new focus to our activity across SEA and will allow us even greater synergy between our recorded music and live operations in the region, to create maximum impact for our artists and their fans.”

Commenting on his appointment, Nasser said, “I am excited to join the team UMG here in Singapore and SEA. Music has been and will always be my big passion in life. It is a privilege and blessing to now be part of UMG, the global industry leader, and the market-leader here in Singapore. I’m humbled to be given this opportunity to work within a team of incredible leaders and amazing artists to embrace my passion and love for music, a DNA for life.”

“Over the coming months and years, we will focus on developing our domestic artists and labels, nurturing their creative vision to help them reach new audiences across the region and globally while identifying and creating exciting growth opportunities for Universal Music Singapore. The current live landscape in SEA allows us to help artists, partners, and brands curate personalized, innovative, and valuable experiences and performances that will embrace the digital space, live streaming, and of course, public live events as they become more frequent again in the years to come,” he added.

Germany – PR company GlobalCom PR Network (GCPR), an alliance of 80 public relations agencies in more than 100 countries, has appointed communications firm Interprose’s CEO Vivian Kelly, and Singapore-based PR company PRecious Communications’ Managing Director Lars Voedisch, as its newest members of the board, with both bearing the title managing director.

They will join GCPR founder Ralf Hartmann and Richard Merrin, managing director of UK-based PR firm Spreckley, on the GlobalCom board of directors to provide strategic direction for the growing GCPR network. 

GCPR provides clients with a worldwide network of independent PR agencies offering services on crisis communications, media relations, analyst relations as well as influencer marketing and SEO PR. Its PR partners boast of expertise in a slew of verticals such as consumer electronics and lifestyle, financial services, fintech, and also healthcare and IT.

Both Kelly and Voedisch carry with them decades of experience in their field. Kelly has been specifically well-versed in working with tech companies. She founded Interprose in 1998, which provides strategic communications among global B2B tech innovators. In addition, Kelly has been an active advocate for technology companies promoting diversity and inclusion via providing opportunities for brand ambassadors of all backgrounds to serve as spokespeople and thought leaders. 

Meanwhile, Voedisch is known for growing, managing and defending leading brands’ reputations. He has been with PRecious Communications for eight years, having provided strategic communications counsel to over 300 startups across APAC, which includes 15 unicorns as well as enterprises, lifestyle brands, and government agencies. His firm has been honored with multiple industry accolades including the Independent Agency Head of the Year award at the 2019 Marketing Talent Awards. 

Commenting on the appointment, Hartmann said, “We live in a decentralized world, and companies are looking for trusted partners who understand their business, and can scale as they expand into new markets.”

“Our clients are assured of the best, most cost-effective approach to multi-market PR, from experts in their field. Having Vivian and Lars join the board, gives our clients a more comprehensive global view on new markets and how best to penetrate them from an awareness building perspective,” he added. 

Singapore – Global communications and marketing agency WE Communications (WE), has announced the appointment of former managing director of communications firm Edelman Daryl Ho as its newest managing director for Singapore.

In Edelman, Ho led the digital practice and transformation initiatives in Singapore. He served as a partner to Singapore government agencies and global and emerging brands, helping them transform their marketing communications through predictive audience intelligence, technology, and smart content marketing programs.

Ho is an agency veteran who brings more than 20 years of experience spanning digital consulting, integrated communications, and B2B marketing. He has held leadership roles across the APAC region, including eight years in China at international agencies such as Iris Worldwide, Zeno Group, DDB, and Tribal DDB.

For his new role at WE, Ho will be charged with overseeing the agency’s 50-member team of communications experts and specialists in analytics, content, creatives, and digitals. He will work together with Simon Pangrazio, managing partner of WATATAWA, a WE-owned company headquartered in Singapore, to serve local, regional, and global clients in the country. With WE’s Singapore leadership team, Ho will drive business growth strategy and innovation in the APAC market.

“I joined WE at a time where we are witnessing a disruptive change to not just our clients’ businesses but ours too. People’s expectations of brands are rapidly shifting, and there has never been a more important time for us to help our clients be great custodians of their customers’ needs and their brands’ reputations,” said Ho.

“WE has been paving the way for authentic storytelling and purposeful businesses for many years. Today I have the privilege of taking that to the next level, by connecting an arsenal of data, technology, platforms, and agile storytelling capabilities to help our clients rise above the noise in this new reality, as they transform technologically and culturally. I am eager, excited, and looking forward to bringing my diverse experience in marketing, communications, and technology to help our clients be greater contributors to society,” Ho added.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Wilson, executive vice president for Singapore and Australia remarked, “Daryl is a time-tested, collaborative leader with a proven record of driving business impact with clients. We are thrilled to have him on board. Our clients’ businesses are evolving rapidly, with an increased focus on digital-first approaches. Daryl’s expertise in modernizing communications and marketing through content, data, performance, and technology not only makes him a valued client partner but also an excellent fit to take our Singapore business forward and unlock our next phase of growth.”

Kass Sells, global chief operating officer and international president commented, “Singapore is a critical market for WE as we continue to grow our regional and global client relationships across the agency.”

“Daryl’s leadership of WE in Singapore will complement our strong APAC leadership team and enable us to deliver more impact globally,” added Sells.

WE Singapore’s client partnerships span core sectors of technology, health, consumer, and corporate, with clients including BlackBerry, Elsevier, Lazada, and Lenovo among others. The agency has also recently begun new partnerships with big-picture organization Community Foundation of Singapore and Asia’s futuristic school PSB Academy

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has announced today that OMD Singapore has tapped its own managing director Chloe Neo to take on the role of chief operating officer. 

OMD Singapore vouches for Neo’s seasoned experience in the industry, where 12 years have been dedicated to OMD.  

Neo started out in the company as business director in 2008, eventually rising up to assume the role of managing partner and later on, managing director.

“During her time with us, Chloe has been instrumental in driving growth and innovative solutions for our clients, as well as mentoring and nurturing the talent within our organization,” said Tony Harradine, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, APAC. 

Aside from full-fledged corporate work, Neo has been active in spearheading advertising associations in Singapore, having served senior capacities at the 4As in Singapore. Just this last month, she was appointed as the first vice president for the Association of Advertising & Marketing Singapore for 2020.