Tag: Omnicom Media Group

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Omnicom Media Group has appointed Winnie Chen-Head as CEO for Malaysia. In her new role, Chen-Head will lead strategy, operations, and the development and adoption of transformative capabilities that will drive the next chapter of growth for OMG Malaysia. She succeeds Eileen Ooi, who was named CEO of PHD Asia-Pacific last year.

Chen-Head joins OMG from her role as managing director of media at dentsu Malaysia, overseeing its agency brands. Over the course of her more than two decades in marketing, she has held leadership roles across multiple business categories – including e-commerce, aviation, telecommunications, and software – and built a reputation for delivering high impact strategies that drive results for clients and organisational growth.

She takes the helm as OMG is enjoying its most significant year ever. Powered by Omnicom’s industry-leading Omni open operating system that drives business outcomes for brands, OMG Malaysia’s recent wins and retentions include OPPO, Wipro Unza, CelcomDigi, Vinda, and Friesland Campina. 

Reporting directly to Tony Harradine, CEO for APAC at Omnicom Media Group, Chen-Head will join OMG Malaysia officially on 19 March 2025.

Speaking on her appointment, Chen-Head said, “I am honoured to join OMG Malaysia as CEO and capitalise on the strong momentum to drive further success. A key goal of mine is to leverage innovative and strategic thinking to help clients deliver on their business ambitions. This will be achieved with the talented teams at OMG Malaysia, where a culture of open communication and collaboration empowers everyone to contribute their best ideas. The opportunities ahead are immense, and I’m excited to lead the new era of transformation and growth.”

Meanwhile, Harradine commented, “Winnie steps into this role at a pivotal time, building on a strong foundation of success. As one of the most respected, tested, and proven leaders in the market, Winnie has the experience and expertise to take OMG Malaysia into its next phase of growth, leveraging our Agency as a Platform proposition to deliver transformative experiences for our clients, their customers and our people.”

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has named Rochelle Chhaya as the CEO of Hearts & Science for APAC. As the network’s first APAC CEO, Chhaya, who has been with OMG for over 14 years and most recently served as CEO of OMG Thailand, will oversee the continued expansion of Hearts & Science in APAC, building on the momentum the brand has established in the region since launching in Australia and New Zealand in 2019. 

As one of her first duties as APAC CEO, Chhaya will oversee the launch of Hearts & Science’s operations in Malaysia and Taiwan, scheduled for Q1 2025. 

Chhaya’s appointment, reporting directly to Harradine, is effective immediately. Meanwhile, she will continue to oversee operations in Thailand, together with OMG Thailand COO Jinnarat Sampuntharat and the executive management team until her successor is named.

As COO of OMD APAC from 2018 to 2020, she scaled a client-centric, digitally-powered and data-led agency model across the region. Joining OMG Thailand in 2014 as a managing partner for its digital practice, Chhaya helped establish OMG’s data and analytics division, Annalect, in the market.

Commenting on her new role, Chhaya said, “Hearts & Science aims to revolutionise connections planning and drive our clients’ business ambitions by combining data-driven insights with the art of creative storytelling. Asia Pacific is brimming with opportunities, and we are committed to harnessing the strong demand for consultative, modular media strategies that align with our clients’ evolving needs.”

She added, “By going beyond traditional media KPIs and fostering strategic partnerships, we’re continuously refining our offerings to create meaningful impact. Together with our clients, we will unlock new possibilities for driving brand growth across the region.”

Meanwhile, Tony Harradine, CEO at OMG APAC, commented, “Expanding the Hearts & Science footprint across a region that is an epicentre for economic expansion, technological innovation, and digital commerce demands a seasoned leader who possess operational experience with a deep understanding of the modern consumer’s priorities and behaviours.”

He added, “Combined with the digital and data expertise needed to help brands effectively engage with their customers across an increasingly complex media ecosystem, we have found that leader in Rochelle, someone who can bring both the ‘heart’ and the ‘science’ to the business.”

Hearts & Science APAC has built a client roster that includes many of the world’s best known global brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Popeye’s, Sanofi, Sony Pictures, Twinnings Teas, and Versuni; as well as regional powerhouse brands such as Bank of New Zealand, the Hoyts cinema chain, DBS Bank, Mamy Poko, Marigold, Rebsico, Hyphens Pharma, and Double Dragon Properties.

Japan – Philips Japan has partnered with esports team SCARZ, supported by FUSE, Omnicom Media Group’s sports division. The partnership makes the Philips S9000 rotary shaver the official grooming product for SCARZ’s e-motorsports division, uniting precision grooming with high-performance gaming.

Over six months, FUSE will help Philips and SCARZ create exclusive content, including a documentary, fan contests, and masterclass videos, breaking away from traditional shaver marketing in Japan.

The Philips S9000 rotary shaver, with its advanced rotary technology, mirrors the precision and agility of SCARZ’s e-motorsports athletes, highlighting a perfect synergy between grooming innovation and competitive gaming.

Maria Cecilia Grandi, personal health marketing director at Philips JAPAC, said, “Philips Shavers, with their high quality and innovative rotary performance, have gained more attention from the young audience in Japan, eager to find the best tool that is both effective and gentle on their skin. The SCARZ team is the perfect partner to bring our rotary performance to life and highlight the fun in a great shaving experience.”

Natsuko Nozawa, personal health digital and creative lead at Philips Japan, also shared, “With the partnership with SCARZ and FUSE, Philips Japan celebrates car enthusiasts’ passion about racing and mastering the rotations/turns and the deep emotions that love for cars and for self-care through an amazing shaving experience can create.” 

“Through FUSE’s profound understanding of creating brand love and bringing an innovative approach to communication in media, Philips can diversify its creative expression in the Japan market through this unconventional and passionate partnership,” Nozawa added. 

Philips’ six-figure sponsorship brings together grooming and gaming, two fields driven by precision and performance, under the theme “mastering rotation leads to victory.”

Commenting on the partnership, David Lister, head of content at FUSE APAC, said, “Philips Japan and our wonderful client, Natsuko Nozawa, saw the value in e-Sports over several options we had worked through because fundamentally, e-Sports is a content creation and amplification machine. 

“E-Sports teams exist 100% in created content—in games and on social platforms. In that context, there is a lot that SCARZ can do in their content-first environment to tell the Philips rotary shaving story for us through personalities, racing, and performance. It has rotary at its heart and the ability to be easily scaled through their platforms,” Lister added. 

India – Global sports and entertainment agency Fuse, a division of Omnicom Media Group (OMG), has officially launched its new office in Mumbai, India, with industry veteran Jigar Rambhia appointed to lead the expansion.

Fuse’s launch in India is a strategic move by OMG to capitalise on the country’s rapidly growing sports marketing potential, offering a comprehensive range of services to support brands with end-to-end partnership solutions.

With the new office opening, Fuse has also secured its first clients, Shriram Finance and Uni League Cricket, and will focus on helping brands with strategic planning and the activation of impactful sports partnerships.

Kartik Sharma, Group CEO of Omnicom Media Group India, said, “Sport and culture are increasingly seen to be significant growth drivers for brands, and so we are excited to bring Fuse’s expertise into the market—it further underpins our commitment to create transformational experiences for our clients.”

Meanwhile, the new Fuse office will be led by Rambhia, who previously served as chief operating officer at Sporjo, a sports industry consultancy, where he played a key role in driving business growth. He also brings 16 years of experience from Wavemaker and has worked with agencies such as TME (Rediffusion Y&R) and Madison Communications.

“The momentum in sports in India is at an exciting juncture, and we’re fully equipped to capitalise on this to drive effective partnerships for brands. Sport has increasingly become a vital part of India’s cultural fabric, and with Fuse, we are strategically positioned to help brands harness the power of this medium to drive deeper connections with audiences across the market,” Rambhia shared. 

Also commenting on the launch, Louise Johnson, Global CEO at Fuse, said, “Fuse’s expansion and launch in India marks yet another critical milestone for us, underscoring our commitment to driving growth for brands through the power of sports and entertainment. With Fuse’s specialist sports marketing expertise combined with Omnicom Media Group’s data and technology offering, we are exceptionally positioned to capitalise on the sports market in India.”

“Through our extensive network and under the leadership of Jigar, we can offer brands the chance to create memorable experiences for their audiences and integrate themselves into the heart of India’s sporting culture,” Johnson added. 

Fuse boasts a team of sports and entertainment experts operating in key global markets. Recently, the agency expanded into Spain under the leadership of Juli Ferre and into Brazil with Luiz Fiorese at the helm. Its current international clients include PepsiCo, Nissan, and Philips.

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group agency PHD today announced the appointment of Eileen Ooi as CEO for Asia-Pacific. With over 19 years of industry experience, Ooi was most recently CEO at OMG Malaysia. Prior to that, she spent four years with PHD Malaysia as its managing director. 

In her new role, Ooi will lead PHD business operations across APAC and work with clients from many of the world’s most well-known and successful brands, including Volkswagen Group, CHANEL, Diageo and Singapore Airlines. Ooi will report directly to Tony Harradine, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, APAC, and Guy Marks, CEO, PHD Worldwide.

With Ooi’s successor expected to be named in Q4, she will continue to oversee OMG Malaysia as CEO in the interim, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained momentum.  

An avid advocate of talent development, Ooi actively contributes to the broader advertising industry by participating in local and regional speaking engagements. Additionally, Ooi was recently re-elected as President for the Malaysian Digital Association (MDA).

Tony Harradine, CEO at OMG Asia Pacific, said, “Eileen has a unique ability to identify strategic opportunities and effectively converting them into tangible results. Under her visionary leadership, OMG Malaysia has undergone a remarkable transformation, achieving significant business growth, with client and employee confidence at an all-time high.”

He added, “With her cumulative experience as well as her understanding of the business needs at PHD and at the group-level, Eileen will successfully steer PHD Asia Pacific towards a new era of growth.”

Meanwhile, Guy Marks, CEO at PHD Worldwide, commented, “PHD promises our clients that we will help them outthink, outpace and outgrow the market. With her record of driving growth for her clients and her agency alike, Eileen is the ideal choice to ensure that PHD APAC delivers on that ambition.”

He added, “She’s a practitioner with an eye for detail, she moves at pace and is a fierce collaborator – all things that will make her a great partner to our clients in Asia Pacific. I am excited to work with Eileen to make PHD’s new proposition, “Intelligence. Connected.” a reality in the region, delivering a competitive advantage for our people and our clients.

This appointment underscores OMG’s commitment to promote from within the organisation. It is also a testament of Ooi’s stellar track record for building businesses that are powered by strong client relationships and an unwavering commitment to drive growth and innovation. 

Thailand – Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Thailand has announced the promotions of Jinnarat Sampuntharat as chief operating officer, Rerngrith Jindaporn as general manager of OMD Thailand, and Pittayaphan Sriweawnetr as head of insights and marcomms for OMG Thailand to strengthen its leadership team.

In line with this, Rerngrith Jindaporn has been tasked with driving the agency’s growth, operational efficiency, client relationships and new business opportunities as general manager of OMD Thailand. 

Additionally, to scale its insights and marcomms capabilities, Pittayaphan Sriweawnetr has been handed a broader responsibility as Head of Insights and Marcomms for OMG Thailand.

The changes in the leadership team are part of OMG Thailand’s dedication to helping its clients and delivering results for the growth of the company. The whole roster of OMG Thailand’s leadership includes:

  • OMG Thailand CEO Rochelle Chhaya
  • OMG Thailand COO, Jinnarat Sampuntharat
  • OMD Thailand General Manager Rerngrith Jindaporn
  • PHD Thailand Managing Director Nuvee Pongsathidporn, who will continue to oversee the agency alongside General Manager Chaivut Eiamvuthikorn
  • OMG Thailand CFO Noppadol Vetvoranich
  • Head of Trading and Investment Nannapat Chotrattanakarn
  • Head of Insights and Marcom Pittayaphan Sriweawnetr
  • Head of People Waridda Burapathana

“OMG Thailand has witnessed great success over the past few years, with our digital capabilities and client relationships growing from strength to strength. This new leadership bench is highly talented and this structure provides a cornerstone for OMG Thailand to build upon and create future-facing solutions for our clients,” Rochelle Chhaya, chief executive officer of OMG Thailand, said.

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group Singapore (OMG Singapore) has promoted Jourdan Tan to general manager of digital capabilities and transformation, tasking him with spearheading the company’s digital evolution and enhancing its SEO, programmatic, performance hub, and planning and supply capabilities.

Tan was most recently OMG Singapore’s head of digital transformation and capabilities, and prior to that, he was head of performance. Under his leadership, his team doubled in size while maintaining strong retention and succession rates, showcasing his ability to attract, develop, and advance top talent in the digital landscape.

He also established a task force to foster the growth of OMG Singapore’s digital community and leads quarterly digital sessions to keep teams updated with the latest industry insights.

In his new role, Tan will leverage his vast experience to oversee OMG Singapore’s digital capabilities, driving best practices, talent expansion, and knowledge development.

Tan is part of the OMG Singapore executive committee, comprising CEO Chloe Neo, CFO Reynold Seah, head of investments and commercial Anita Yeong, OMD Singapore CEO Sadhan Mishra, and PHD Singapore MD Sumiati Hashim, and will continue working with them to steer the Singapore operations.

Commenting on the promotion, Neo said, “Jourdan’s ability to harness the power of digital capabilities across a diversified group of thriving talent, innovative products, and solutions reflects his comprehensive understanding of the digital ecosystem as well as his future forward leadership. His leadership and generative mindset have been instrumental in the organisation’s digital transformation.” 

Neo added, “OMG Singapore is riding on the wave of success, having risen a notch to #2 in both COMvergence and RECMA 2023 Billings Rankings, with a significant share in non-traditional billings. This is a testament to OMG’s suite of advanced capabilities and future-facing solutions, which we have continually invested in and established over the years. I congratulate Jourdan on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to working with him and the Singapore executive committee to take OMG to greater heights.”

Also speaking on his promotion, Tan shared, “I am honoured to take on the role of General Manager of Digital Transformation and Capabilities. As we navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape, our growth mindset will be our compass, guiding us to adapt and innovate for the future. Our focus is on delivering robust capabilities with cutting-edge technology and data, ensuring operational excellence at every step. But at the heart of this transformation journey is our commitment to nurturing our people and talents, as they are the true drivers of our success.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Around 57% of consumers in Malaysia plan to be more cautious with their spending in the next six months–yet still show a greater interest in spending and rewarding themselves. This is according to a joint research by Omnicom Media Group Malaysia (OMG Malaysia) and AI-driven research firm Vase.ai.

According to the report, low and medium-income consumers – categorised by their household income of those less than RM4,000 and those averaging between RM4,000 to RM9,000, respectively – reward themselves through functional spending, e.g eating out, groceries, homecooked food, and food delivery. 

The research also found that this contrasts with the spending habits of high-income consumers–those that earn more than RM9,000–who focus on vacations, entertainment/leisure, and electronics.

It is also worth noting that rising living costs could potentially impact consumer spending and lead brands to wonder about their sales growth in the coming months. According to the research, only 23% of low-income consumers feel confident about their financial well-being in the next six months compared to 44% of high-income consumers.

Moreover, trust and brand confidence were the primary influence of brand stickiness across all three consumer groups, the research found, followed by the brand offering the best value. Meanwhile, low-medium consumers tend to stick with a brand if it is easy to find and use, while high-income consumers gauge based on brand familiarity.

Additionally, social media platforms and e-commerce marketplaces are now present in the entire consumer purchase journey, unlike in the past where they were mainly in the top and bottom of the consumer funnel. Shopee, Shopee Live, TikTok Shop, and TikTok Live are gaining popularity and surpassing Instagram, the research found. Meanwhile, adoption for Facebook Marketplace remains low.

In terms of essentials, groceries and eating out are the top two essential items consumers spent on, followed by toiletries, homecooked foods, and household cleaning products. Spending has increased on essentials in the past six months, the research said. This category of items has become a priority for consumers due to their affordability, promotions, and discounts.

For semi-essential categories, consumers mainly spent on clothing and skincare items, followed by healthcare, entertainment/leisure, and cosmetics. Spending in this category has remained stable, with reductions in cosmetics and toys. Purchases in this segment are driven by their value for money, durability, and high-quality.

Lastly, electronics and vacations were the most common expenditures in the non-essential category and overall, the spends focused on premium quality and items that reflect personal taste. That said, 24% of consumers surveyed have not spent on non-essentials in the past six months. Spends on luxury accessories, fitness equipment, automobiles, and designer clothing have also reduced, marking a shift towards prioritising necessities over discretionary items.

Kiron Kesav, chief strategy officer at OMG Malaysia, said, “While there have been various reports regarding the economic uncertainties, rising prices and consumer confidence in Malaysia, we wanted to understand the finer nuances of the consumer sentiments and deduce what to expect in the immediate future. Leaning on the AI-driven insights gathered in the research, we unravelled a sense of how Malaysians from various walks of lives mitigate the financial uncertainties while also finding avenues to reward themselves. It also sheds light on the pockets of opportunity that the brands could capitalise on while they themselves navigate these times of uncertainties.”

Meanwhile, Julie Ng, CEO and co-Founder at Vase.ai, commented, “Amidst the economic uncertainties this year, our joint report provides vital insights into consumer spending trends. It highlights the need for brands to adapt their marketing strategies to meet changing consumer behaviours influenced by economic challenges. The report stresses the significance of crafting relevant, well-positioned, and innovative brand messages to engage a more spend-conscious audience. We hope that this can help inspire brands with practical strategies to succeed in a fluctuating market.”

Singapore – PHD Singapore has promoted Sumiati Hashim to managing director, where she will continue to establish strategic goals for growth and transformation, attract top talent, and mentor the future leaders of the agency.

As the new managing director, Hashim will oversee both national and international operations from Singapore, the Asia Pacific headquarters for PHD, and its parent company, Omnicom Media Group (OMG).

Prior to her promotion, Hashim served as PHD Singapore’s general manager, where her nurturing leadership led to significant achievements. Under her tenure, the agency secured new business wins with IKEA, Razer, and Viu and forged enduring partnerships with clients such as Singapore Airlines and HSBC. 

Since she took charge in 2022, PHD Singapore has also seen an expansion in talent strength and internal mobility, driving the agency through a remarkable transformation journey. The agency’s capabilities also gained wide recognition, as evidenced by the numerous awards and trophies it received.

Hashim’s promotion serves as a testament to her sharp business acumen and her success in building strong client relationships and a thriving team environment. 

For Chloe Neo, CEO of OMG Singapore, Hashim’s sharp business acumen and collaborative spirit add value to OMG’s ‘Agency as a Platform’ model, which combines various talent, technology, and capabilities across the group to drive a more integrated and seamless offering for clients. 

Neo said, “PHD has always focused on attracting the best thinkers in the business, encouraging them to fully realise their potential in a progressive and connected environment that celebrates smart thinking and clever planning to help brands grow. Sumiati leads and lives that defining ethic; she is a respected people leader and has demonstrated the ability to operationalize strategies towards optimal business impact. She understands what makes PHD unique as a brand while leveraging OMG’s capabilities and scale to enable clients’ business ambitions.” 

Meanwhile, having been with OMG Singapore for 12 years, including 10 years with PHD, Hashim described her promotion as a deeply gratifying milestone, marking the culmination of years dedicated to driving strategic growth, nurturing talent, and cultivating invaluable client relationships.

“I am thrilled to lead PHD Singapore into its next phase of innovation and success. Embracing a growth mindset across all aspects of our operations is key for us moving forward. My focus remains on growth, whether it is expanding our client base, scaling services for existing clients, or developing talent,” she shared.

Aligned with PHD’s new brand tagline, “Intelligence. Connected,” Hashim’s leadership vision further emphasises leveraging advanced analytics and AI to optimise campaign performance and achieve superior business outcomes for clients.

“Integral to this strategy is our unwavering dedication to nurturing talent as well as fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within our teams. We will combine human expertise, data, and technology to help our clients achieve greatness,” she added.

Hong Kong – Blue Insurance Limited has tapped Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Hong Kong for its latest programmatic digital out-of-home (pDOOH) campaign that featured a retargeting strategy plan to achieve high accuracy and audience engagement. 

For this campaign, Blue Insurance aimed to boost awareness and consideration for its ‘Term Life Insurance (TL3)’ offering. To achieve this, OMG HK recognised the need for an innovative strategy to enhance the campaign’s effectiveness and introduced an advertising opportunity through clinic TVs.

The OMG HK team capitalised on using clinic TVs and strategically selected MTR stations near residential areas to raise awareness of life insurance among target audiences.

Blue Insurance and OMG HK placed digital ads on TV screens in clinic waiting rooms to educate patients on the importance of life insurance while they waited for consultations. This approach utilised a smaller, more targeted setting to engage consumers who might be considering insurance options. The campaign focused on approximately 60 clinics to effectively reach the intended audience.

The team also strategically chose MTR stations near 14 residential areas in Kowloon and the New Territories for ad placements. The ads were displayed on JC Decaux’s (JCD) trackside TVs and new 98-inch Ultra Digital Panels, making Blue Insurance the first client to utilise this cutting-edge technology. These panels represent JCD’s inaugural digital, 4K screens within their transport advertising network.

Unlike traditional OOH advertising, programmatic DOOH (pDOOH) placements deliver contextually relevant ads to individuals in the vicinity and enable retargeting on desktop or mobile devices, providing Blue Insurance with greater precision in their advertising efforts. The accuracy and effectiveness of this retargeting strategy revealed that over 90% of the retargeted audience, who were near the pDOOH ads, expressed interest in insurance products, with 68% specifically showing a keen interest in life insurance.

Jacky Wong, senior performance manager at OMG Hong Kong, said, “While OOH focuses on reaching a large audience, DOOH prioritises targeting quality. Our goal is to optimise ad spend for our clients by accurately retargeting users on mobile and desktop, ensuring every dollar is spent wisely for maximum impact.” 

Joanne Choy, senior manager of brand, distribution, and marketing at Blue Insurance Limited, also said, “The campaign has enabled us to successfully raise awareness of term life insurance and refundable critical illness insurance among our desired consumer groups. OMG Hong Kong is working with us to review the campaign and offer ways to better utilise retargeting for future initiatives. We are glad to have a partner that understands the importance of innovation and one that equips us with the knowledge and strategies to constantly enhance our marketing efforts.”