Tag: Market expansion

Jakarta, Indonesia – S4 Capital’s operating brand Media.Monks has opened an office in Indonesia, adding a strategic location and local talent to its Asia Pacific business. The Indonesian office will service both local and regional client business, as Indonesia continues to be a growth market for brands.

As part of the office opening, Media.Monks has appointed Masayu Difa as its business director, who brings over 15 years of client leadership in Indonesia and experience across both local and international brands. She previously held senior client roles at Lion & Lion, Grey, McCann and Geometry.

In addition, Media.Monks has also formed a partnership with a new client, one of the largest Indonesian food brand leaders, ABC which named Media.Monks as its creative agency of record for ABC Soy and Chilli, becoming the founding client for the new office.

“I am thrilled to join Media.Monks, a forward-thinking agency that is setting the tone for how to deliver digital solutions through innovation and lead our efforts in Indonesia. Our new office will leverage local insights combined with global expertise that resonate with Indonesian consumers and drive business growth for our clients. I am excited to work with our talented team and esteemed clients like Kraft Heinz ABC to make a significant impact in this dynamic market,” Difa said.

The Indonesia office is the ninth local office in the APAC region, enlarging its footprint to Southeast Asia offices in Singapore and Malaysia.

Speaking about the office opening, Sir Martin Sorrell, Chairman of S4 Capital, said, “I am excited to add the 34th country to the uni-branded Media.Monks network, especially a market so significant, with 300 million consumers and over 167 million active on social media, the third largest in Asia. Indonesia’s GDP is forecast to be in the top five countries worldwide by 2050. Brands across the Country are looking for partners to help build progressive digital consumer connections to drive their business and we are excited to be part of that.”

Meanwhile, Munas Van Boonstra, managing director for Southeast Asia at Media.Monks, commented, “I believe the integrated brand, digital, data and social capabilities that Media.Monks can bring can make an impact in the market and I am proud to launch the newest part of the global monk family to help brands succeed in Indonesia and help Indonesian brands scale around Asia and the world.”

Philippines – Ayudante, a digital marketing and measurement consulting agency based in Japan, has announced its acquisition of Sparkline, an independent digital marketing company headquartered in Singapore with an established presence in the Philippines, positioning the Philippines as the next key market for expansion.

With this acquisition, Sparkline will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayudante. The Singapore-based digital marketing agency is known as one of the first certified partners and resellers of Google Marketing Platform (GMP) in Asia, establishing a reputation for its industry-leading expertise in data utilisation consulting.

Ayudante, Japan’s first GMP-certified partner and reseller, has been expanding its international team to support global business growth for its Japanese clients. The acquisition of Sparkline marks a significant regional milestone, demonstrating a successful Japanese regional acquisition and boosting confidence in regional companies’ ability to attract international buyers.

Furthermore, Ayudante’s acquisition of Sparkline highlights multinational interest in Southeast Asia’s dynamic tech ecosystems. Recognising the Philippines as a key market, Sparkline plans to offer GMP services there, aligning with the country’s growing demand for data analytics and digital marketing solutions amid government-led digital transformation.

Beyond GMP services, the collaboration will also focus on multilingual SEO and digital marketing. The companies’ developers will enhance data development, tag automation, and digital marketing in the GenAI era. This strategic move is timely for Southeast Asia, where businesses increasingly rely on advanced data analytics and automation to remain competitive.

The company names will remain unchanged, and the terms of the acquisition have not been publicly disclosed.

Following the acquisition, Naohiro Yamaura, COO of Ayudante, will assume the position of chairman of the board at Sparkline under the new management structure. He is one of the most successful figures in the GMP business in Japan, having authored eight books and leading the industry. Moving forward, Yamaura will collaborate with Sparkline CEO and founder Aleetza Senn to accelerate Sparkline’s growth in the Southeast Asia market.

Commenting on the acquisition, Senn said, “Sparkline has always been about providing bespoke and agnostic analytics services to businesses using digital data for customer and marketing growth. This alignment with Ayudante is really exciting and helps us scale that vision to many more businesses in the region, especially at a time when the industry is being disrupted due to privacy regulations and change.”

Hiroshi Yasukawa, CEO of Ayudante, also shared, “I am pleased to be partnered with Sparkline, which has the longest history in our business field in Singapore. Together, we aim to become the top GMP reseller in the Asia-Pacific region.”

New Delhi, India – VaynerMedia has announced that it has officially launched in India, marking the agency’s sixth office in the Asia-Pacific region and 13th globally. The agency has been working closely with Fortune 500 clients in India for two years and operated in strategic partnership with local agency Step1.

Through the official launch, VaynerMedia India will be led by Salman Moin as its country manager, and he will be reporting to Tim Lindley, managing director for Asia-Pacific at VaynerMedia. Step1 will also seamlessly integrate into the overall VaynerMedia family following the launch.

Speaking on the official launch, Lindley said, “India’s entrepreneurial spirit, rapid economic growth, and thriving pop culture make it one of the most exciting markets in the world right now. It brings together deep-rooted tradition and fast-paced innovation –– the ideal conditions for dynamic brands to thrive.”

He added, “Modern brands the world over have leveraged the power of social media to disrupt goliath incumbents; Indian businesses leverage social media on a whole new level to disrupt global dynamics, making it the perfect place for us to deploy our ‘social at the centre’ marketing model.” 

Meanwhile, Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO and co-founder at VaynerMedia, commented, “India’s deeply diverse cultural heritage combined with its rapidly growing economy and exploding social media landscape presents a truly unique and exciting opportunity for brands. The country’s entrepreneurial spirit and diverse culture coupled with our team’s passion, expertise, and VaynerMedia’s attention-first philosophy –– now this is a recipe for explosive growth.”

He added, “I have zero doubt that Tim and Salman will lead the team to an incredibly exciting future, and I’m excited to show the Fortune 500 brands in the region how to actually build brand in the new marketing world.” 

Singapore – NP Digital, a global digital marketing agency, has announced its agreement to acquire digital agency SearchGuru, expanding its portfolio and market reach in the Asia-Pacific region. 

NP Digital’s acquisition of SearchGuru will accelerate its APAC expansion, drive innovation in digital marketing solutions, and strengthen its market presence in the region.

SearchGuru brings a strong heritage in performance marketing, perfectly aligning with NP Digital’s customer-centric values and culture. With a market-leading reputation and a proven track record of delivering exceptional results for top brands like Club Med, Nespresso, Maybank, and DHL across Asia, SearchGuru will enhance NP Digital’s portfolio by adding in-market SEO, paid media expertise, creative capabilities, and top talent.

The agreement will enable the combined entity to offer a comprehensive suite of performance marketing solutions, from media, creative, and content to CRO and data. By harnessing NP Digital’s robust technology stack and leveraging SearchGuru’s extensive experience in Asian markets, this partnership is poised to deliver exceptional value and ROI to clients in key verticals such as finance, insurance, travel, and beauty.

Furthermore, with offices in high-demand markets such as Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, the acquisition will add an additional 120 digital marketers to its 270-strong APAC team and unlock new opportunities for synergy and market penetration. 

NP Digital’s agreement to acquire SearchGuru underscores its commitment to innovation and expansion in the rapidly evolving landscape of performance marketing in the region.

Dan Kalinski, managing director of APAC at NP Digital, shared, “NP Digital’s agreement to acquire SearchGuru marks an exciting chapter in our journey. We are eager to welcome SearchGuru to the fast-growing NP Digital family. This collaboration strengthens our foothold in the APAC region, affirming our commitment to serving our clients with unparalleled innovation and excellence in performance marketing. By synergizing our expertise, resources, and unwavering dedication, we’re poised to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital marketing landscape and deliver greater value and impact to our clients’ businesses.”

Mike Gullaksen, CEO of NP Digital, further added, “This acquisition reaffirms our commitment to customers by expanding and diversifying our APAC talent and capabilities, better enabling us to support their needs and take advantage of new opportunities around the globe. Integrating SearchGuru into our ecosystem not only expands our industry-leading scale and expertise, but now enhances our ability to empower APAC businesses with cutting-edge digital strategies and measurable results culturally and geographically.”

Also speaking on the acquisition, Larry Lim, CEO of SearchGuru, said, “It’s been an amazing journey growing from a local 4-man agency to a regional player with over 120 specialists while delivering 11 consecutive years of revenue growth in the process. Joining NP Digital will elevate us further to the global stage while simultaneously allowing us to also tap into their vast industry skill set and experience, in-house tools, and established processes.”

Singapore – DoubleVerify, the software platform for digital media measurement, data, and analytics, has announced a robust lineup of new strategic leadership appointments in the Asia-Pacific region to support its growing market presence and handle its entry into Hong Kong and Thailand. 

Conrad Tallariti, previously regional vice president of sales, will assume the role of managing director for APAC. With nearly two decades of experience in programmatic sales and marketing, he will spearhead operations across the APAC region, driving growth and business momentum. Having held leadership roles in the APAC and EMEA regions, Tallariti has worked with some of the world’s leading businesses.

Meanwhile, with DoubleVerify completing its acquisition of Scibids AI, Rahul Vasudev will take on the role of regional vice president for APAC. Vasudev, who has been instrumental in overseeing commercial efforts for Scibids in APAC, will continue to focus on Scibids go-to-market in his new role. He will leverage his expertise to expand the influence of AI-powered ad technology across the region.

Also part of the new appointments is Marty Buragay, who will join as the new global director of global client and agency partnerships for APAC. Bringing over a decade of specialised experience in solutions strategy and management, Buragay will enhance DV’s work with global brands across the region. He was previously with Uber, Meta, and Diageo before joining DoubleVerify. 

As sales director for Thailand, Jantra Khonrangde (Joy) will accelerate momentum and strengthen DV’s in-market presence. A seasoned digital marketing strategist who contributed to the growth of companies like Innity, Khonrangde will accelerate DV’s expansion in Thailand, leveraging her strong capabilities to develop lasting partnerships. 

Lastly, Junny Yiu, serving as the senior business director for North Asia, will be responsible for expanding and solidifying DV’s business in key North Asia markets. This will include Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.

With a digital advertising career spanning over a decade, Yiu has developed proficiency in a diverse range of digital advertising verticals, from search engine marketing to programmatic advertising. She previously drove SSP adoption at Hivestack and also counts Verizon and Yahoo as earlier associations.

Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify, said, “The digital advertising landscape in APAC is dynamic and growing. The unique needs of our customers in the APAC region require a leadership team with significant market insight and expertise. This new team will drive enduring growth in APAC and will help us advance our mission of making the internet stronger, safer, and more secure.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – Global marketing and communications group Stagwell has announced it has added the Leverate Group, an integrated and independent full-service agency based in Indonesia, to its expanding Global Affiliate Network.

Leverate Group is known for delivering bespoke strategies encompassing media, creativity, and technology. Since its inception in 2015, the agency has amassed a number of highly regarded clients, including Allianz, Astra Group, BTN Bank, BRI Bank, Permata Bank, BMW, and Merries.

With Leverate Group joining Stagwell’s network, the agency is set to offer robust omnichannel media buying and activation capabilities to Stagwell’s global client base, extending the network’s Asia Pacific footprint of creative, media, and digital services.

The partnership significantly strengthens Stagwell’s reach in the region as well as the network’s omnichannel media buying and activation capabilities. Moreover, the new addition underscores the network’s accelerating commitment to growth across Asia, anchored by its regional offices in Singapore and Malaysia and over 25 affiliate partners in Asia to date.

With forecasts suggesting Indonesia will rank among the top five global economies by GDP in 2030 (as projected by the National Research Group), this collaboration underscores Stagwell’s unwavering commitment to providing adaptable and streamlined client solutions within this rapidly expanding, mobile-first market.

Stagwell’s Global Affiliate Program powers agile global solutions for clients, allowing Stagwell to partner with regional experts to scale marketing capabilities to new regions. Since the program’s inception, Stagwell has formed partnerships with nearly 80 affiliates across APAC, EMEA, LATAM, and North America, extending Stagwell’s global operational reach to 98 countries.

Commenting on the partnership, Randy Duax, managing director for Asia-Pacific at Stagwell, said, “As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia presents abundant opportunities for global brands to grow with the rise of the urban Indonesian consumer and for Indonesian brands to take share in the global market.”

He added, “Partnering with Leverate positions Stagwell to comprehensively support our clients’ ambitions in this dynamic and diverse market, bringing best-in-class marketing capabilities and an intricate understanding of Indonesia’s rich cultural make-up into our service set.”

Meanwhile, Marlina Lim, chief executive officer of Leverate Group, shared, “At Leverate Group, we have a track record of implementing successful campaigns infused with global knowledge, backed by data-driven insight. We aim not to just build our clients’ brands but also to grow their businesses. We look forward to collaborating closely with Stagwell to help clients transform for a digital-driven economy.” 

Guangzhou, China – Automotive manufacturer GAC AION has expanded into Hong Kong, opening its first showroom in Hong Kong and marking the brand’s official entry into the market.

The brand launch event in Kowloon Bay featured the introduction of new energy vehicles and highlighted GAC AION’s technological achievements, with GAC’s initiatives to promote the use of electric vehicles(EVs) in Hong Kong. 

During the opening ceremony, Wei Haigang, general manager of GAC International, expressed the company’s commitment to providing the best technology and models to Hong Kong consumers. On the other hand, Gu Huinan, general manager of GAC AION, introduced the company’s development history, core technological innovations, then emphasised the importance of Hong Kong as a crucial point in their global strategy.

These efforts that lean into EV usage are in line with Hong Kong actively undertaking diverse measures for decarbonization and there is a steady rise in new energy vehicle purchases. 

With this in mind, GAC AION plans to open six showrooms within the year, offering competitive products and services to meet the rising demand. Additionally, the company will invest in 1000V ultra-fast charging stations to combat charging infrastructure shortages, targeting 300 public charging stations by 2028.

The Hong Kong market serves as an integral part of GAC Group’s global layout. Using it as a starting point, GAC AION’s plan would be to expedite the overseas layout of new energy vehicles, advance GAC Group’s internationalisation process, and contribute to the realisation of the “Trillion GAC” blueprint. Simultaneously, GAC AION is committed to driving the worldwide growth of the new energy industry.

Tokyo, Japan – Telecommunications company Ericsson has recently announced the appointment of Chafic Nassif as its new head of market area for Northeast Asia as well as its new senior vice president. 

In his new role, Nassif will be overseeing Ericsson’s operations and market strategies in the Northeast Asia region and will be fortifying Ericsson’s position in the rapidly evolving telecommunications and technology landscape.

Nassif, who is currently head of Ericsson’s customer unit in Latin America North, will be replacing Chris Houghton who was appointed chief operating officer of Ericsson in November 2023. Effective on February 26, 2024, Nassif will take up his new position and will be based in Japan.

Prior to his roles, Nassif held several executive and management positions within Ericsson across various business segments and geographies worldwide. He was also the head of Ericsson’s customer unit in Taiwan. Before joining Ericsson, Nassif was active in tech start-ups and IT and business consulting leadership roles in Europe.

Speaking on his appointment, Nassif said, “I am truly honoured and excited to assume this new role. Having been part of the leadership team of Ericsson in Northeast Asia before, I’m confident in our talented team and the foundation of success that Ericsson has established. Together, we will focus on creating innovative solutions and delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners.”

Meanwhile, Börje Ekholm, president and CEO of Ericsson, commented, “I’m very happy that Chafic has accepted to take on this role. He brings a wealth of experience from working for Ericsson across the globe and is a strong business leader with a proven track record. He is passionate about advancements in connectivity, 5G technology, and any form of smart entrepreneurship. I’m very much looking forward to having Chafic on the Executive Team.”

Nassif’s appointment as head of market area for Northeast Asia follows Ericsson’s efforts to bolster their presence globally, with the company recently appointing Daniel Ode as head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines & Brunei.

China – Indian programmatic ad-tech platform Xapads Media has announced its foray into the Chinese market, appointing industry veteran Huang Xu as country head of China in the process.

Building upon established connections and fruitful partnerships in China, Xapads Media’s expansion aims to extend its presence in the region by establishing a local office.

The ad-tech firm’s expansion plan comes into effect after successfully creating a footprint in the Indian digital advertising sector and establishing operational offices in the UAE, US, Indonesia, Russia, and Singapore.

As China’s digital ad market continues to expand, Xapads is excited to explore new opportunities and plans to leverage their premium ad inventories, offering customised products and services tailored to meet the specific needs of the agencies and brands.

Being appointed as country head, Xu has more than 12 years of experience in the Chinese market and prior to joining Xapads, he has held positions with Inmobi, Ironsource, and Appnext.

Speaking on his appointment, Xu said, “I’m enthusiastic about achieving outstanding outcomes for Xapads in China. With our extensive product team, we’re committed to delivering fully localised products and services ensuring benefits for both advertisers and partners.”

Adding to this, Ramneek Chadha, chief operating officer, Xapads Media, mentioned, “I am thrilled to have him join the Xapads family. Adhering to the existing Chinese connections, I anticipate he will strengthen global relationships with partners and extensively contribute to establishing steady ground for Xapads in the region.”

Meanwhile, Nitin Gupta, CEO of Xapads Media, commented, “We’re thrilled to commence our strategic journey in China with the addition of seasoned leader Huang Xu as the Country Head. With his expertise in navigating the intricate digital advertising landscape, we envision a future marked by fruitful partnerships and collective growth in this dynamic market.”

Singapore – Global media measurement and optimization platform Integral Ad Science has just recently announced its business expansions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, accompanied with senior leadership appointments for the newly launched markets, aiming to accelerate AI-driven measurement and optimisation solutions for both local and global advertisers and publishers.

Appointments include Sowarose Charuwatpaiboon as the country head of Thailand, Thanh Nguyen as the country head of Vietnam, Melvin Wong as the region head of Hong Kong & Taiwan, and Arfitrianto Zulnaini, sales director of Indonesia, who will be stepping up as the country head of Indonesia and Malaysia.

In her new role as country head of Thailand, Charuwatpaiboon will carry over a decade of experience in the digital advertising industry with a record of success in sales, account management, and business development at companies including Adcolony, Taboola and Innity. She joined IAS in 2023 to expand operations in Thailand, and now, will be leading the team to drive continued growth.

Commenting on her new role, Charuwatpaiboon said, “I am excited to bring IAS’s world-class media measurement and optimisation solutions to advertisers and publishers in Thailand. IAS’s commitment to providing effective and transparent advertising environments for brands and media owners alike will resonate with brands seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital advertising ecosystem and driving efficiencies.”

As country head for Vietnam, Nguyen brings over 25 years of experience in the Vietnamese media and advertising landscape, with a portfolio comprising companies like JOYY Inc, Vietcetera Media and TikTok Vietnam. Her understanding of the local market dynamics and her relationships with prominent advertisers, publishers, and industry stakeholders will help drive IAS’s growth in Vietnam’s flourishing digital advertising ecosystem.

Speaking on her appointment, Nguyen said, “I am thrilled to join IAS and help expand its presence in Vietnam. Brands in Vietnam are investing significant budgets across digital media, and there’s a growing adoption of measurement and optimisation solutions among advertisers and publishers. With its superior solutions and dedicated teams, IAS empowers Vietnamese brands and media owners to navigate the evolving digital landscape and unlock their full potential.”

Aiming to propel IAS’s presence in Hong Kong & Taiwan, Wong joins IAS with global experience across Hong Kong, New York and Toronto, where he spent over a decade in sales and business development roles at companies including Teads and TripleLift. He will be leveraging his extensive global experience and strategic acumen to establish IAS as a trusted partner for brands and agencies within this vibrant digital landscape.

Commenting on his appointment, Wong said, “Joining IAS amidst their remarkable growth in programmatic is an absolute privilege. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by top brands and agencies, I deeply understand the crucial role efficiency and ROI play in our partnerships. I’m committed to working with brands and agencies to drive widespread adoption of IAS’s industry-leading measurement and optimisation solutions to drive superior business results for advertisers and publishers.”

Last but not least in IAS’s appointments, Zulnaini joined IAS in 2020 as the sales director of Indonesia, where he brought over 24 years of sales and leadership experience in digital media at companies including Yahoo, Carat, and Mindshare, driving programmatic adoption and incremental revenue growth for IAS in Indonesia. Now he is stepping up as a country head for two markets, focusing on growing IAS’s measurement and optimisation adoption in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Talking about his appointment, Zulnaini mentioned, “I am honoured to take on the additional responsibility of leading IAS’s Malaysia business and keen to build further on the solid foundation developed over the years in the market. Malaysia, much like Indonesia, is an evolving digital media market with high growth potential, so it’s no surprise that it has become a strategic focus. I look forward to advancing the company’s superior media quality solutions in these markets.”

Speaking on the APAC expansion and the appointments, Yannis Dosios, chief commercial officer of IAS, remarked, “APAC presents a prime opportunity for IAS to expand its global footprint and connect with a dynamic customer base for long-term growth and market leadership. We’re doubling down on agility and local relevance by building strong, regional teams that understand the nuances of each market, which is key to tailoring our solutions and creating lasting relationships with international and local brands in the region.”

With this recent expansion, IAS’s APAC in-market operations now include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.