Tag: Managing Director

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Sagar Paranjpe, previously head of brand, strategy, and creative at Malaysia Airlines, has been appointed as the new managing director of digital marketing agency Bonsey Jaden. Paranjpe made the announcement on his LinkedIn. 

After spending four years at Malaysia Airlines, Paranjpe steps down from his role “to achieve great things,” according to his LinkedIn post. 

Paranjpe started as the creative director for global at the airlines, then later on moved to becoming its head of strategy & creative before adding brand as part of his role. 

He brings with him extensive experience in advertising, having previously assumed creative head appointments at the Malaysian division of top agency networks Ogilvy, Grey Group, and JWT. 

Bonsey Jaden has been ramping up its leadership appointments with several new roles unveiled such as seasoned ad man Daniel Loo as its new regional executive creative director for Southeast Asia, and Marvin Duval, formerly of Digital APAC, as the new head of strategy. Recently, the agency has also appointed Sherwin Kukreja, formerly of Yoodo, to the position of head of social media.

Manila, Philippines – Local Manila-based public relations agency Brandcomm Asia has appointed Paulus Soriano as its new managing director. The agency has been focused on providing PR services for startups, SMEs, and other new business ventures in the Philippines.

In his new role, Soriano will be responsible for the successful leadership and management of the business, supervising and stirring the company’s operations, people, and ventures in order to maintain its growth. 

His vision for the company is to help build the next giants of the industry by sharing his PR and media expertise to support the marketing and communications needs of venture-backed start-ups, SMEs, and underserved brands in the Philippines. 

Soriano is a seasoned, motivated, and solutions-driven public relations professional with more than ten years of industry experience. Since 2012, he has worked with local and global brands in the industries of consumer and enterprise technology, finance, travel and tourism, FMCG, and a lot of other sectors, including government agencies. 

Speaking on his vision for Brandcomm Asia, he said, “We strongly believe that startups and SMEs in the Philippines, especially those that are homegrown, are globally competitive but lacks the opportunity to be noticed and heard. If they could only be given a chance to tell their story of innovation and passion, there is no doubt that they would have a lot of potential to succeed and become the next giants of their industries.”

He added, “As a company, we consider ourselves a startup, too, and we understand the challenges of fellow entrepreneurs. BrandComm Asia aims to help their business grow and grab the attention of more mentors and investors through strategic and creative storytelling. We are committed to our mission of helping promote these startups to their industries and target audiences, in the best way possible, to both local and international markets.”

Mumbai, India – BBH India, an advertising agency under Publicis Groupe, has appointed Himanshu Saxena, former executive vice president and head of integration at McCann Worldgroup India, to be its new chief operating officer and managing director.

In his new role, Saxena will be responsible for BBH India’s developing talent, organisational tools, and new services, as well as steering these to acquire future-facing businesses.

Saxena brings over 29 years of experience across the communication spectrum, including advertising, marketing and sales, brand management, digital and social, and PR, as well as design, and market research. He has helmed country and multi-office leadership for some of South Asia’s leading organisations, including Lowe, McCann, Trikaya Grey, JWT, and Edelman, as well as IMRB, and Reliance Jio.

Commenting on his appointment, Saxena said, “I am both excited and honoured to join BBH. With its legacy of creating stunning work that has transformed not only brands but also categories, BBH India is truly built for the modern age of marketing. I am looking forward to scaling this further and bringing my experience and a fresh perspective to leading such talented individuals and ambitious clients.”

Meanwhile, Dheeraj Sinha, CEO of Leo Burnett South Asia and chairman of BBH India, shared that BBH India, with its legacy of modern, creative and effective solutions that are well-entrenched in the modern Indian zeitgeist, has built a reputation as a creative firepower in the country. 

“I am delighted to welcome Himanshu onboard. A talented leader known for his deep client relationships, his commitment to business innovation, and his operational acumen, Himanshu embodies the black sheep and zag philosophy that will further fuel this brilliant creative engine,” said Sinha.

In September 2022, BBH India also elevated Priya Gurnani and Arvind Menon to become the new executive creative directors. Both Gurnani and Menon were previously senior creative directors, and will continue to report to BBH India’s CCO and CEO, Russell Barrett.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – IPG Mediabrands has appointed Elina Peek-Lantz, former head of digital strategy and planning at Maxis, to be its new managing director of Reprise, the global performance marketing agency within the Mediabrands network.

Peek-Lantz has 17 years of experience working with international teams in corporate and start-up environments as a highly qualified data-driven marketer. In her new role, she will be responsible for innovating Reprise’s product and service capabilities, and will be working in close collaboration with partner agencies UM and Initiative to drive the strategic direction of performance marketing, analytics, and technology channels across all clients. Peek-Lantz will also be reporting to the CEO of Mediabrands Malaysia, Bala Pomaleh.

Commenting on her new role, Peek-Lantz said, “I’m thrilled to join Mediabrands as we expand the Reprise footprint in Malaysia. The current market landscape has created great opportunities for brands to further amplify their online presence, and the Reprise framework of ‘Customer Flow’ is a perfect launch pad for any business looking to incorporate digital strategies and drive business growth. I look forward to expanding the Reprise service and product portfolio as we focus on creating a seamless customer journey for path to purchase.”

Meanwhile, Pomaleh shared that Peek-Lantz comes with deep knowledge of the changing nuances in their digital marketing ecosystem, and they have seen great strides in these new spaces and have been investing immensely in growth areas such as e-commerce, experience design, and performance content. 

“Elina’s role will have a significant influence over the success of our organisation as she works alongside our leadership teams at UM and Initiative to drive digital strategies and create a safe and responsible media environment across our portfolio of clients,” said Pomaleh.

Pippa Berlocher, president of Reprise APAC, noted, “I’m excited to have Elina join our business. Given her entrepreneurial background and experience, I know she will bring great energy and capabilities that both our team and clients will benefit from. Malaysia remains a key market for us in the APAC region, and I’m looking forward to partnering closely with Elina to elevate the craft excellence within our business and drive growth for both our clients and Mediabrands.”

Singapore – Global advertising agency and public relations company Publicis Groupe in SEA has appointed Sujith Rao, former managing director of Reprise Digital, to be its new managing director of Publicis Commerce. This move aims to accelerate the Groupe’s commerce offering in the region and further unlock client growth. 

In his new role, Rao, who will be based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will be working with Publicis Groupe’s network of agencies and practice areas across SEA. He will also be orchestrating a deeper connection between the Groupe’s commerce strategy and solutions with its creative, media, performance, and production capabilities, delivering data-driven end-to-end consumer journeys that are optimised towards sales and business growth for the clients. Rao will be reporting to Ian Loon, who recently expanded his duties as chief transformation officer for Publicis Groupe SEA.

Aside from his previous role at Reprise Digital, Rao also held roles at Travelguru.com, Cbazarr.com, and IPG Mediabrands. He brings a wealth of experience with a proven track record of growing new revenue streams through the launch of innovative products and solutions, rooted in data and analytics. 

Commenting on his appointment, Rao said, “I am excited and honoured by the opportunity to work across multiple markets, brands, and capabilities, driving the evolution of Publicis Groupe’s commerce offering in Southeast Asia. Our global investments, locally relevant solutions, and the Groupe’s Power of One ethos are the perfect framework for crafting bespoke digital commerce innovations, and I am ready to get started on this journey with our clients.”

Meanwhile, Loon shared, “We are delighted to have Sujith captain and grow our highly ambitious Publicis Commerce journey. His credentials as a solutions architect, problem solver, and people connector will enable the Groupe’s ongoing transformation agenda while delivering innovative commerce solutions that marry brand building and conversion for our clients across the region.”

Hong Kong – To prepare for its APAC growth, independent communications agency Sinclair has announced new leadership appointments. These include Carbo Yu as the new regional executive director and Jessica Man as the new managing director for Hong Kong.

Yu, a seasoned industry professional in APAC, will now be furthering the agency’s integrated service offerings across SEO, content strategy, influencer marketing, research and insights, and creative services, as well as driving business development across the agency’s cross-industry B2B and B2C client base across the offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Man, a highly sought-after strategic advisor and expert communications consultant, will be leveraging her passion for protecting and growing brand reputation alongside her dedication to nurturing next-generation talent, and will be taking full responsibility for the Hong Kong business’ revenue growth and talent development.

The agency has also elevated Philippa Lui as the new chief financial officer. Lui, an 18-year finance and operations professional, will continue to ensure Sinclair meets the highest ethical standards in cross-border operations and compliance, as well as helping to steer agency growth.

Kiri Sinclair, founder and CEO at Sinclair, said, “Sinclair’s Team First philosophy focuses on growing the careers of our team, and we wish to attract and nurture instinctive leaders, bold thinkers and creative problem-solvers. These are exactly the attributes that Philippa, Carbo and Jessica live by and empower their colleagues to strive for.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Millikin, chief operating officer at Sinclair, noted, “At Sinclair, we champion agency and personal successes equally, and I wholeheartedly congratulate Philippa, Carbo and Jessica on their professional achievements. It means that we are doing something very right, and I look forward to seeing more individuals continue to grow their careers with Sinclair.”

Sydney, Australia – The Works, an agency part of the Capgemini group, has appointed Julie Dormand, former managing partner on a contract at The Works, to be its new managing director and will stay at the agency permanently. Dormand is The Works’ first-ever managing director and will assume the role immediately. 

In her new role at The Works, Dormand will be overseeing the agency’s key business planning initiatives, commercials, people & culture, growth, and general management.

Commenting on her appointment, Dormand said that she is beyond excited to be staying on at The Works; since day one she knew this was a very special and unique place. 

“The agency is an entirely people-first organisation and it has been amazing to see first-hand how the impact of the agency’s wellness initiatives for our people actually result in first-class work and results for our clients. The business continues to have many new ways to grow and being part of Capgemini helps enormously,” she said.

Meanwhile, Damian Pincus, The Works’ founder and creative partner, shared that since Dormand joined them back in November, not only has she significantly deepened and grown relationships with new and current clients, she’s managed to do so whilst simultaneously being a mentor and an inspiration to their people helping them fulfil their true potential and career goals.

Pincus continues, “From the first day, I met Jules I knew we could learn a lot from her experience, her genuine love for the people and the work is inspirational to be around. Some decisions make themselves and offering Jules the role of managing director was certainly one of them and I (and the entire Works family) are pumped she’s decided to stick around.”

In May 2022, The Works also announced the appointment of Daniel Pankraz as its new strategy partner, where he will drive The Works’ strategy capabilities, bringing him a diverse skill set across brand, CX, communications, innovation, and technology.

India – Global consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive has appointed Prabha Narasimhan, former executive director at Hindustan Unilever (HUL), to be its new managing director and CEO for India.

Colgate-Palmolive India announced Narasimhan’s appointment in March 2022, and she has been special projects vice president for Colgate’s Asia Pacific Division.

In her previous role at HUL, Narasimhan led the Home Care category and served as a member of the HUL Leadership Team. She has nearly 25 years of rich and varied experience in customer development, consumer marketing, and innovation across geographies and multiple categories, including home care, foods, personal care, and skin care. 

Mukul Deoras, CP India’s chairman and president of APAC division, commented, “I am delighted to welcome Prabha as the leader of the CP India business. Prabha has a successful track record of strong performance across categories, and I am confident that she and the team will build on our strengths to grow the business and reimagine a healthier future for the communities we serve.”

Indonesia – Independent agency M&C Saatchi in Indonesia has its new shopper marketing and brand experience specialism called ‘M&C Saatchi Shopex’. This division is designed to deliver omnichannel shopper and brand experience solutions to clients.

The scope of services from M&C Saatchi Shopex includes shopper strategy, retail design and production, shopper technology, planogramming, interactive display technology, events and activation, metaverse solutions, and e-commerce integration (O2O), as well as shopper performance research and analytics, amongst others.

Moreover, the agency has developed a proprietary tool that measures the ‘Experience Gap’ in consumer journeys across omnichannel landscapes for any given brand. Through its services, the agency also aims to create a net-zero experience gap, where consumers experience delight through synergies in their brand experience. Measures of success, according to the agency, are metrics that improve the Net Promoter Scores (NPS) after every brand interaction, as well as improved ROAS, as every brand experience translates to commerce. Through this vertical, M&C Saatchi will also work with retailers and e-commerce platforms on the supply side, and with brands on the demand side

Commenting on the developments, Anish Daryani, founder and president director of M&C Saatchi Indonesia, said, “As a specialism, we will map and curate customer journeys, online, offline and everything in between. Not only do we have the capability of creating memorable experiences, but also measure their impact with respect to how they contribute to commerce.”

Meanwhile, Moray MacLennan, global CEO and chairman at M&C Saatchi Group, noted, “Indonesia has been one of our best-performing businesses. Innovation and capacity creation have been key to their growth. The launch of M&C Saatchi Shopex delivers on our commitment to offering connected creativity to our clients.”

The agency has brought on board Michael (Mike) Forster as managing director of M&C Saatchi Shopex. Prior to his appointment, Forster was CEO of Geometry Global Korea. In 19 years at WPP agencies, he has held end-market, regional and global leadership roles, while in his 12 years in Asia, he has run businesses in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, and Indonesia

On his appointment, Forster commented, “I was seduced by the stupendous growth story of M&C Saatchi Indonesia, and was eager to be a part of it. Indonesia is far behind its consumers’ expectations around brand experience, and I’m here to pioneer a new commerce and brand experience movement in the country through M&C Saatchi Shopex.”

Daryani also shared, “We have put together a team of specialists that have mastered the art of shopper and experiential marketing across markets. In Mike, we see the leadership and experience to make M&C Saatchi Shopex one of the most profitable verticals of our business, while delivering value to our clients at many multiples over their investments.”

Singapore – Fyllo, a marketing and regulatory solutions company, has appointed Robert Woolfrey, former senior vice president of Asia (Division of Singtel) at advertising and martech platform Amobee, to be its new managing director for APAC. 

In his new role, Woolfrey will be opening and leading the company’s business in the region, and will be reporting to Jeff Ragovin, Fyllo’s chief commercial officer.

Woolfrey has nearly 20 years of experience growing and directing business operations across APAC. During his stint at Amobee, he was responsible for integrating two global acquisitions, Turn and Videology, and spearheading the agency’s expansion across Asia. In that role, Woolfrey has also played an integral role in building partnerships with telcos, TV broadcasters, publishers, brands, and agencies, as well as executing cutting-edge, award-winning digital campaigns for brands.

Woolfrey noted, “Many of the brightest – and progressive – brands today are in Asia. This represents an immediate opportunity for Fyllo, where we can demonstrate our combined marketing and regulatory expertise.”

Meanwhile, Chad Bronstein, Fyllo’s founder and CEO, shared that as Fyllo continues to expand across the globe, they are looking for the best talent that fully understands the local and regional context, and can make the connection between high-growth brands and progressive consumers.

“Robert is perfectly suited for the challenge, and has a strong track record in building businesses and developing partnerships across the region. We are looking forward to Robert bringing the Fyllo story to life in the Asia Pacific,” said Bronstein.