Tag: Managing Director

Australia – Cloud-based e-commerce solutions ChannelAdvisor has announced the appointment of Darren Fifield as its managing director for Asia-Pacific, where he will lead the company’s regional business strategy development, cultivate successful and valuable relationships with longstanding clients and expand customer acquisition and growth.

Fifield has more than 30 years of experience managing sales teams and customer accounts, including more than 15 years in senior regional and global roles at leading tech companies. Most recently, he served as chief commercial officer for aCommerce in Indonesia and as regional director for Liveclicker in the Asia-Pacific region. He has also held senior roles at Radial Inc., Kelly Services and Lightspeed Research.

In addition, his extensive experience includes managing brand client relationships, overseeing operational expansions, developing new talent and leading teams and departments, providing financial planning and support to fellow executives and establishing and implementing strategies in sales, business and client success.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “It’s an exciting time to put my skills and background in building and developing business opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region to work at ChannelAdvisor. I share ChannelAdvisor’s vision for excellence and plan to dive right into the challenges and rewards of implementing strategies that envigorate the success of our customers and partners.”

Meanwhile, Paul Colucci, chief revenue officer at ChannelAdvisor, commented, “Darren comes to ChannelAdvisor as a leader in e-commerce with extensive experience in the Asia-Pacific region. In his role, he will actively build on the enormous opportunities presented to brands and retailers. We know Darren will work closely with clients and internal teams and will help strengthen ChannelAdvisor’s international growth and commitment to excellence in our industry.”

Singapore – Digital media platform in SEA, RICE Media, has announced two leadership promotions, which include Khai Asyraf, former client services director, being its new managing director, and Ilyas Sholihyn, former branded content strategist, being its new editor-in-chief.

In his new role, Asyraf will be bringing his creative production and business development expertise in his new role to spearhead new commercial partnerships, initiatives, and opportunities. Moreover, under Khai’s leadership, RICE Media will formally embark on an expansion plan across the region.

Asyraf said that through their product innovation and distinctive content, they offer digital marketing and media consultancy solutions for agencies and brands, and they will continue expanding their diverse range of clients—from travel and lifestyle brands to the banking, finance, and insurance industry.

“The disruption of the pandemic offers an unparalleled opportunity for transformation and reinvention. On this note, I will focus on expanding commercial opportunities in Southeast Asia, elevating our creators’ capabilities in the region,” he added.

Meanwhile, with a decade of experience in regional newsrooms and digital publications, Sholihyn will be driving the content direction in RICE Media and refining its impactful, quality storytelling across diverse topic verticals.

Sholihyn noted that since 2016, RICE Media has been a platform that challenges perspectives through unfiltered, unconventional journalism, and they’ve matured as a brand, building on that foundation with a sharper focus on delivering thoughtful content while still balancing their business objectives.

“In that spirit, we want to collaborate with brands and government agencies to help people understand culture better by providing searing clarity and nuance while going deeper into pertinent issues of the day to unearth something new—all through the power of creative non-fiction,” he said.

Under Asyraf and Sholihyn, RICE Media is also set to grow Storytellers, a mentorship programme that teams up with local companies and community organisations to nurture potential creative talents from all backgrounds. The publication will also be officially establishing a branded content studio to offer partnering brands its expertise in cultural storytelling and digital content. 

RICE Media’s founder, Mark Tan, has initiated the changing of guards, as part of an internal company restructure to support the next step of the publication’s evolution. He said that the platform is embarking on a regional expansion that will see them bring its brand of irreverent, impact journalism to key markets in SEA, and this requires a strong, innovative management team that understands the region’s cultural nuances.

“Aside from their years of experience in the industry, Khai and Ilyas bring an in-depth understanding of local and regional audiences and a penchant for taking creative risks. Under their leadership, our audience and partners can expect greater diversity in our topic coverage, as well as more dynamic storytelling that pushes both creative and cultural boundaries,” added Tan.

Singapore – MediaCom, the media agency by media investment company GroupM, has appointed Ashish Williams, former CEO at MediaCom South Africa, to be its new managing director for Singapore.

In his new role, Williams will be leading the Singapore business and will be building on the recent momentum, accelerating the agency’s capabilities with a focus on people, client solutions, and product development. 

Williams has a 14-year long track record at MediaCom across markets from China to South Africa and over 22 years of experience in the industry. Under his leadership in South Africa, the agency climbed to first place in the market via a methodical focus ensuring talent and technology strategies paved the way to create consumer connections by driving relevant and revolutionised digital products.

Commenting on his appointment, Williams said, “Taking over the leadership of MediaCom Singapore, which is also the home of our regional hub in one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions, is incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to lead our high-performance teams and work with our clients to deliver sustainable growth and help our people thrive.”

Meanwhile, Rupert McPetrie, CEO at MediaCom APAC, shared that Williams is a great leader, who has delivered terrific results over many years across many markets, with a track record of taking care of people and client businesses with a very clear vision. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased that this leadership appointment has come from within our global organisation. Our People First, Better Results ethos means we put people at the centre of our client relationships, and that we provide long-term growth opportunities within the network globally,” said McPetrie.

India – Independent creative company Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) has appointed Ayesha Ghosh, former CEO at Taproot Dentsu, to be its new managing director for India. She, who will be based in Mumbai, will partner with Santosh Padhi, CCO of Wieden+Kennedy India.

In her new role, Ghosh will be joining Padhi in building out an expanded leadership, talent, and client roster for W+K to create transformative work for local and global brands.

Aside from her previous role Taproot Dentsu, Ghosh was part of the leadership team for Contract Advertising for over a decade, helping build and grow the agency’s presence. Prior to Contract Advertising, she has also held permanent positions in a number of industry shops including Grey Worldwide, Trikaya Grey, and PSL McCann Erickson.

The company said that the current W+K Delhi’s managing director, Gau Narayanan, will be leaving India and W+K to return home to the United Kingdom. Narayanan will be staying on in his current role to help with the transition through August. 

Commenting on her new appointment, Ghosh said, “It’s astonishing how W+K consistently produces off-the-charts work, across the world. I hope to absorb some of that genius and with the help of a talented team in India and an ace like Paddy, create some genius of our own. With scattered attention, infinite distractions, only work that is honest and primal, will win for brands. And that’s what we mean to do.”

Meanwhile, Padhi commented that he is glad Ghosh is joining them to be part of this wonderful journey, as she is absolutely blunt and honest when it comes to work, which is extremely important these days for their business. 

“Clients too prefer to have conversations that cut to the chase. Ayesha and I have worked closely together for a good number of years at Taproot, we understand and complement each other. An organization is known by the kind of people that work for it and both of us will be focusing on putting together a crazy, talented bunch of people, across departments. And we believe that magic will follow,” he said.

Neal Arthur, global CEO at Wieden+Kennedy, said, “Ayesha’s first day is a great day for W+K. W+K India has big things ahead. Their collective creative ambition, optimism and connection to both local and global culture will no doubt usher in the next wave of transformation for the brands they work with. We are excited and grateful to have Ayesha with us.”

Singapore – Digital marketing agency Tug has appointed former head of Reprise Digital, Karen Soo, to be its new managing director for its recently opened fifth international office in Singapore.

Tug, which has offices in Sydney, London, Toronto and Berlin, is a specialist in performance media and uses a smart combination of data, media, content and technology to deliver improved return on investment for brands. The decision to launch in Singapore follows expanding remits from existing and demand from prospective clients for a new approach to digital marketing.

In her new role, Soo will be driving new business across SEA, targeting key categories including software, insurance, and finance. She will also be overseeing Tug’s current portfolio of work and building the agency’s team on the ground.

Soo is an award-winning digital business leader, and has helped clients maximise their performance marketing, across media, content, data, and tech. Aside from her previous role at Reprise Digital, Soo has also served five years as the digital director at OMD, as well as digital-focused roles at Starcom, Mindshare, and ZenithOptimedia in Singapore and China.

Commenting on her appointment, Soo said, “Marketers in the region demand measurability and accountability in their performance media spend and Tug works with leading brands around the world delivering on that. Now we will do the same in South-East Asia. I’m looking forward to building the business across the region and growing the team, presenting a real, effective and integrated alternative to what currently exists.”

Meanwhile, Nick Beck, founder and CEO at Tug, noted that they see tremendous opportunity for a performance media specialist in Asia that effectively uses data, media, content, and technology, to deliver better outcomes for marketers. 

He further shared that the industry is still in its relevant infancy here and there continues to be a large number of operators that make big promises but consistently fail to deliver. Having already built a small portfolio of clients, and following their request for the agency to create a permanent presence, they have recognised the time is right for Tug to bring their many years of global experience to Singapore and the wider SEA region.

“I’m delighted that Karen Soo has joined us to realise our ambitious growth plans. She is a highly respected and proven leader who understands the market and how to optimise Tug’s expertise to maximum effect for our partners. We want to be the best global digital agency and establishing a base in Singapore, joining our offices in Sydney, London, Toronto, and Berlin, is a key step in achieving that,” said Beck.

Most recently, Tug has been tapped by entertainment company Merlin Entertainments to manage search engine optimisation for SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and drive customer growth.

Singapore – Global small business platform Xero has appointed Koren Wines as its new managing director for Asia, where she will lead the team in delivering continued success in Asia, helping to grow the customer base, and advance Xero’s position as a leading cloud accounting software provider. 

She brings more than 20 years of experience leading marketing, sales and business transformations teams in global markets including Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam. 

Wines first joined Xero in 2017, where she established Xero’s global sales enablement function before moving on to create a global enterprise Project Management Office. She was most recently the global general manager of WorkflowMax (WFM), a Xero product. Through that previous role, Wines led the development of WFM’s customer-focused business and culture, aligning the team with a clear strategic vision, for its continued success and growth.

Speaking on her appointment, she said, “I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead our Asia business to grow our brand and industry leadership across the region, working closely with our customers and partners to strengthen the small business community and ecosystem. Asia is a vibrant, dynamic and exciting region and I am thrilled to be leading Xero’s growth journey here.”

Meanwhile, Joseph Lyons, managing director for Australia and Asia at Xero, commented, “We are excited to have Koren take the helm as Managing Director for Xero Asia. Koren has a proven track record in leading teams to deliver exceptional B2B customer experiences along with strong commercial performance and growth. During her tenure at WFM, she drove the development and implementation of key customer focused initiatives that have been crucial to positioning WFM for its next phase of growth.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – PHD Malaysia has appointed David Soo as its newest managing director. Through the new role, Soo will be tasked to enhance the agency’s network partnership, drive integration across PHD capabilities and elevate business growth and its clients’ accounts.

He replaces Kiron Kesav, who moved to OMG Malaysia as the chief strategy officer earlier this year. Soo will be reporting to Eileen Ooi, CEO at OMG Malaysia, and will officially assume his new role on 4 July 2022.

An industry veteran, Soo is an all-rounder in the marketing and communication space having worked across creative, digital and media agencies. With more than 25 years of experience, David’s client portfolio spans a myriad of industries and brands, including Petronas, BMW Malaysia, Vinda, F&N, AIA, and AmBank.

He was previously the managing director of Invictus Blue Group. During his stint at the agency, he brought together multi-disciplinary people to develop breakthrough strategies and bespoke solutions that deliver tangible results and drive growth for clients’ businesses.

He was also with Saatchi & Saatchi Arachnid previously as managing director and general manager and Publicis One as chief integration officer.

Speaking on Soo’s appointment, Ooi said, “David is a dynamic business leader with a wealth of experience in the Malaysia market. His strength in creating innovative solutions by integrating talents from different disciplines will enhance PHD’s collaborative culture. David’s strategic business sense combined with his client-centric mindset makes him the perfect fit to lead the agency. I have full confidence that David is the right person to take PHD Malaysia to further new heights.”

Meanwhile, James Hawkins, CEO at PHD APAC, commented, “We couldn’t have asked for a more experienced and innovative thinker to lead PHD Malaysia. David’s multi-disciplinary experience, coupled with his business acumen and knowledge of local market dynamics, is instrumental in fostering a collaborative team as well as adding value to our clients’ business by providing effective business solutions that are insightful and impactful.”

Sydney, Australia – IPG Mediabrands’ media intelligence and investment division MAGNA has appointed Lucy Formosa Morgan as its new managing director in Australia. The appointment took effect on 26 June, replacing previous managing director Nick Durrant.

Morgan brings more than 20 years’ international and local experience to Magna, previously holding senior management roles both agency and publisher-side, in Australia and the UK. 

Most recently, she was with NOVA Entertainment as commercial operations director. Prior to that, she was with PHD for more than decade where she joined as national managing director and chief investment officer, while also leading several of PHD’s specialist business units, driving growth year-on-year.

Speaking on her appointment, Morgan said, “MAGNA has clear opportunities to continue to evolve its investment product, taking full advantage of the ongoing dramatic shifts in consumer behaviour that we have seen over the past 2 years. I am delighted to join such a highly experienced and passionate team. Together we will continue to challenge how we execute our media with particular emphasis on digital, data and tech capabilities in the market so we can harness our creative thinking to accelerate returns for our clients.”

A passionate advocate for climate change and leading the charge for gender diversity across the Australian media industry, Morgan also mentors a number of senior women executives and is focused on increasing women in executive management roles.

Meanwhile, Mark Coad, CEO at Mediabrands Australia said he was delighted Lucy will be leading Magna’s Australian team as she is an inspiring leader with a track record of creating brilliant work that drives client success; and he was really looking forward to seeing her make an impact in the business.

“Lucy is a well experienced and highly capable executive. We have worked together in several roles over the years – so I know exactly what she will bring and the difference she will make. She is extremely highly regarded across the industry and by our media partners, and will bring all of that to bear as she takes on the leadership of Magna. She will also make a valued contribution to the overall Mediabrands business as she takes a place on our executive leadership team,” Coad said.

He added, “This role is not just about how we lead our Group’s negotiations and investment – but how we work with our media partners to execute the digital, data and tech capabilities in market…how we splice together our ability to build audiences with our media partners ability to deliver them and connect them to the brands we represent.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Nisha Devina Roy, formerly the regional head of integrated strategy and content at GrowthOps, has been appointed as the new managing director of M&C Saatchi Kuala Lumpur. As MD, Nisha will be overseeing M&C Saatchi’s portfolio of clients ranging from Celcom, BOH Tea, Ford, Hong Leong Bank, MBSB, MDEC and Etika.

She brings into the agency 14 years of extensive experience ranging across a variety of industries from telco, banking, FMCG, and automotive.

Speaking on her new role, she said, “It’s a privilege to be given this opportunity to apply my experiences in creative marketing and technology. Armed with my toolkit – I’m confident we’ll power innovation through creativity – but more importantly, to evolve and position M&C Saatchi as a place that creates meaningful change for our clients.”

Meanwhile, Lara Hussein, CEO of M&C Saatchi, commented, “I’m really excited to welcome Nisha to join our management team. She possesses a solid holistic skillset ranging from strategy, digital marketing, account management, and together with her business acumen, she will complement and strengthen our current team even more. Not to mention her infectious energy and passion will be welcomed by everyone here.”

The new appointment follows the recent appointment of Yew Pong Hor as executive creative director. The addition of these senior leaders continues M&C Saatchi’s momentum.

Manila, Philippines — The global package delivery company UPS has appointed Russell Reed as managing director of UPS Philippines.

Reed holds an extensive understanding and knowledge of the company having spent 29-year in UPS. He brings a wealth of global and cross-functional experience to the role which will see him spearhead the company’s efforts to boost cross-border growth opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the Philippines.

Reed, who will also continue his current role as managing director of UPS Thailand, began his journey with UPS in the United States in 1993 and has since gone on to accumulate almost three decades of global experience spanning strategic planning, supply chain management, new product development and launches, international marketing, sales enablement, strategic partnerships, and operations management in both developed and emerging markets.

He is distinguished at UPS for creating and managing high-performance teams across diverse cultures and countries and is passionate about mentoring and cultivating the company’s future leaders. Initiatives driven by his teams are focused on devising go-to-market strategies that meet the ever-evolving needs of UPS’s customers in a rapidly changing Asia.

On his appointment, Reeds shared, “I am very excited to lead the UPS team in the Philippines, a country which has played a key role in our Asia Pacific strategy for over 30 years, and which will continue to do so as we all look towards life beyond the pandemic.”

Reeds added, “For SMBs in particular, we know it has been a difficult couple of years, but by combining existing and upcoming international trade opportunities with UPS’s unrivalled logistics expertise, network, knowledge and customs brokerage experience, we’re here to give businesses in the Philippines all the support they need to achieve their global growth ambitions.”

Meanwhile, Michelle Ho, regional president of UPS APAC, said, “Reed is an experienced leader with a solid track record of elevating UPS’s business and operations across the region, and I am confident that the depth and breadth of his expertise will continue to drive sustainable growth opportunities and deliver a world-class logistics experience for our customers in the Philippines and across the region.”