Singapore – Global security intelligence company LogRhythm has announced the appointment of Joanne Wong as the new interim chief marketing officer to lead the charge on the company’s brand and marketing strategy. 

In her new role, Wong will lead LogRhythm’s global brand and marketing strategy, with a key focus on collaborating with sales to grow pipelines, elevate brand visibility, and empower customer satisfaction. 

Wong is among the pioneers who were with the company when it started its operations in Asia Pacific with a regional headquarters in Singapore. She brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent over nine years working on successful marketing initiatives at LogRhythm. 

Prior to her role, she served as the vice president of international markets for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions. She is also a lawyer by training and has built most of her career in the technology sector, with over 25 years of experience in the industry. 

Furthermore, beyond her role, Wong actively promotes gender equality and diversity in tech. As a founding member of LogRhythm’s Global Diversity Council, she spearheaded efforts for workplace inclusivity. Her work earned her nominations for the Women in Security ASEAN Region Awards and the Channel Asia Women in ICT Awards in 2023.

Wong’s appointment not only bolsters LogRhythm’s leadership but also highlights the company’s dedication to cultivating an inclusive workplace where people from diverse backgrounds are offered equal opportunities. Her promotion reinforces the company’s commitment to employee advancement through strategic internal promotions.

As LogRhythm celebrates International Women’s Day, it reaffirms its pledge to nurture a culture that cherishes and leverages the distinct viewpoints and contributions of every employee. 

Wong will join the executive leadership team and report directly to Christopher O’Malley, president and CEO of LogRhythm.

Commenting on the appointment, O’Malley said, “Joanne’s strategic mindset and proven ability to deliver growth at scale will be critical assets to a revitalised LogRhythm. As we continue to innovate, Joanne will play an integral role in leading the future of LogRhythm’s brand and connecting us with our customers in meaningful ways that drive accelerated growth for our security solutions.”

Also speaking on her appointment, Wong shared, “I am both thrilled and proud to step up as the Chief Marketing Officer. LogRhythm is a company with both a strong legacy and great potential in the SIEM market, as well as a great culture where every professional can thrive. It is an honour to lead the charge in shaping our brand’s story globally, and I look forward to working with our talented teams across the world in our pursuit of making security easy for our customers.”

USA VML is promoting Jeff Geheb as its new global executive lead for VML Enterprise Solutions. This appointment will come in addition to his present position as global chief experience officer. The transition will take effect immediately.

As the global executive lead for Enterprise Solutions, Geheb will oversee the growth and administration of VML’s line of Enterprise Solutions. global consulting, data, technology, and innovation services, businesses, and goods are all included in this. Geheb and Neil Stewart have created Enterprise Solutions, a recently launched VML product. 

Neil Stewart, on the other hand, will take on a new role as CEO of WPP Open within WPP. 

Since Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R announced their merger late last year, Geheb and Stewart have developed a working relationship. They will continue to work closely together as they adjust to their new positions and set up VML’s worldwide Enterprise Solutions management framework. 

Leading the charge in the global expansion of the customer experience (CX) profession, Geheb has been a key figure in VML. With a staff of over 700 professionals skilled in CX consulting, product and service innovation, digital ecosystems, data and customization, technology modernization, CRM, and loyalty program design, the business has grown under his direction. 

Speaking about the promotion, Jon Cook, global CEO at VML, expressed, “I’m thrilled that our organisation has a talent like Jeff leading these critical offerings for the new VML. It’s a major undertaking and Jeff is the perfect person to bring

continuity and integration to all that we have to offer to our client partners. The depth of VML Enterprise Solutions is a great differentiator for VML, especially after all Jeff and Neil brought together from legacy VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson as a new offering.” 

He added, “When you combine Jeff’s leadership across Enterprise Solutions and our Customer Experience practice, it deepens the connectivity of VML even further.” 

Meanwhile, Mel Edwards, global president of VML, commented, “Neil has been a phenomenal leader for our business, driving the growth of our technology, data, and platform expertise for over 13 years. His continued close partnership with Jeff in growing and strengthening our Enterprise Solutions offering will be paramount to VML’s evolution.” 

Speaking about his promotion, Geheb said, “The potential of the unparalleled mix of technology and creative talent that is coming together under VML will be transformative for our clients and our industry. VML Enterprise Solutions gives us a flexible model to both power VML’s Brand Experience, Commerce, and Customer Experience practices and work directly with technology and digital leaders to find solutions for their most complex business challenges — that potential is exciting for me.” 

“Neil has been a tremendous thought partner and friend, and we will continue to work closely together as WPP Open and VML into the future,” Geheb added. 

Singapore – Ogilvy Singapore has announced the promotion of Ishita Roy and Frederick Tong to joint heads of strategy. 

Roy and Tong have been members of Ogilvy Singapore for the last ten years, and they have both contributed to the agency’s expansion, improvement of its standing, and strengthening of client relationships. With a range of experiences and abilities, they are promoted to take the lead in their new positions as Ogilvy Singapore’s strategy leaders.

Since joining Ogilvy in 2017, Tong, who has over 18 years of experience in creative, digital, and PR agencies, has been helpful in the company’s new business successes. His skill has been shown by the campaigns he has created for the Early Childhood Development Agency, Decathlon, IHG, and AIA. Tong was named Campaign Asia’s SEA Strategic/Brand Planner of the Year in 2022. 

With her 17 years of expertise, Roy has worked as an agency brand strategist in addition to being a marketer. Roy was involved in leading strategy for clients like the Changi Airport Group, Pringles, NCPC, Swisse, and, most recently, Mondelez, since she joined Ogilvy in 2017. She was shortlisted as a finalist for Campaign Asia’s SEA Strategic/Brand Planner of the Year in 2023 as a result of her accomplishments.

Speaking about the appointment, Kunal Jeswani, group CEO at Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia, said, “Both Ishita and Fred are fantastic Ogilvy ambassadors and I am so happy that we have been able to create the opportunity for them to take leadership roles in the company. Their promotions to Joint Head of Strategy are a testament to their strategic capability as much as their ability to lead people and build culture.”

Meanwhile, Arvind Srivastava, chief strategy officer for Asia at Ogilvy, commented, “Ishita and Fred embody the strategic excellence that defines Ogilvy. Their combined expertise and vision will undoubtedly elevate our strategic capabilities and drive innovation across all facets of our work.” 

Philippines BBDO Guerrero builds its creative team with the promotion of Mica Dela Rosa to creative director

Dela Rosa joined BBDO Guerrero in 2019 as a copywriter and has contributed to the agency’s portfolio. Some customers she works with include Chowking, Cornetto, and the Department of Tourism. Notably, she was a major contributor to the development of winning ads including It’s More Fun in the Philippines and The Pepsi Can Light Stick, which won awards at contests like the Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards and the Kidlat Awards.

As the agency’s ambassador, Dela Rosa has taken an active part in a variety of competitions, including New Stars 2023 and the Young Lions competition sponsored by the Philippine 4A. She was granted admission to the London International Awards Creative LIAisons program as one of the network’s emerging creative talents. She profited from one-on-one mentoring during this program from some of the world’s most brilliant creative minds.

Speaking about the promotion, Dela Rosa said, “BBDO Guerrero is a great place to grow as a creative. I’m very grateful for the trust, and excited to do more fun and meaningful work with our partners.”

Meanwhile, David Guerrero, creative chairman at BBDO Guerrero, said, “We are proud to see Mica develop her creative confidence over the years. She approaches work with authenticity and a unique perspective. She is a great collaborator and a joy to work with, and she has our full support as she achieves even greater things in her new role.” 

Indonesia M&C Saatchi Performance, a global performance marketing agency, has announced the promotion of Nachiket Desai to the position of country director for Indonesia. Desai will continue to report to Roshat Adnani in his new role as country director Indonesia.

As the country director for Indonesia, He will focus on driving company expansion and improving profitability. Among his duties are the creation of services tailored to the Indonesian market, with a focus on direct-to-consumer (D2C) businesses, digital transformations, and retail commerce.

After more than six years with the firm, Desai started his career in Mumbai and afterwards moved to Indonesia. He is credited for leading the charge to open the Jakarta office in 2019.

The Indonesia team at M&C Saatchi Performance has grown under Desai’s direction, growing to include more than 70 marketers and contributing to the agency’s overall success. His strategic insight and dedication to quality have not only increased income but also expanded the customer base, allowing to create a firm presence in the Indonesian market.

Speaking about the appointment, Roshat Adnani, managing partner APAC at M&C Saatchi Performance, expressed, “I am delighted to announce Nachiket’s promotion to Country Director Indonesia, a journey that began when he joined as our first hire in 2019 for the Jakarta office. From Sr. Account Manager to a key leader in our 70+ member team, Nachiket has played a pivotal role in not only growing our business but has also been instrumental in shaping a collaborative and innovative work culture. 

He added, “As we expand in the market, we trust Nachiket to take our business to newer heights while making Jakarta a centre of excellence in the region.”

Meanwhile, talking about his appointment, Desai said, “I’ve witnessed in first-person the huge growth that our business has experienced in Indonesia since we first launched. When we opened in 2019, there was only a few of us and today we’re over 70 in the team. The country’s growing economy and fast talent development in the digital industry present us with a dynamic landscape to make a meaningful impact for brands investing in digital media.” 

“Stepping into this role, I’m enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead. Driving our clients’ growth will remain our priority while we leverage the latest performance marketing technologies to innovate. In the long-term, we hope to make our business in Jakarta a centre of excellence for the whole APAC region,” Desai added. 

Sydney, Australia – Media agency Initiative has announced the promotion of Ryan Haeusler to the newly created role of national head of communications design and Emma Greenhalgh to Sydney head of communications design.

The leadership promotions come as the media agency seeks to elevate its planning offerings for its clients.

Haeusler joined Initiative in 2015 and previously held the position of Sydney head of communications design. In his new role, he brings with him years of experience, including that of spearheading the LEGO account that has been recognised for its quality and innovative media planning in the ANZ marketplace.

Haeusler is also known for his innate ability to lead his team to consistently deliver idea-led, culturally empowered ecosystems that drive effectiveness, which is evident in the projects he has worked on before.

Meanwhile, Greenhalgh, in her appointment, will step in to take Haeusler’s former role as Sydney head of communications design. Prior to her role, she served as the communication design director for IAG.

Greenhalgh strongly advocates for industry causes and has been instrumental in leading planning for NFP “WhatAbility”,  a disability support service that specialises in community service.

Both promotions are effective immediately, and Greenhalgh will be reporting directly to Haeusler. The latter will also report directly to the chief strategy and product officer, Chris Colter.

In these new appointments, Colter shared that he couldn’t be prouder to recognise the talents of two of the agency’s most outstanding team members and expand their remit further across the agency and their clients.

He said, “Ryan and Emma are two fiercely intelligent, collaborative, and creative craft leaders and have been the driving force behind a lot of Initiative’s success and the success of our clients. They have a proven track record in making the impossible possible, in architecting some of the most integrated, innovative, and, most importantly, effective work for our clients, and in designing new planning solutions that keep us on top of our game. I can’t wait to see them create the next era of Initiative.”

Meanwhile, on his promotion, Haeusler said, “I’m thrilled to be extending my remit into the Melbourne and Perth markets and to get access to all the amazing people and clients that come with it. Initiative has always put a major focus on strategic media planning as a craft, so I’m super excited to see what Emma and I can build (and break) to make it even better.”

Greenhalgh also added, “Initiative’s culture encourages high achievers to aim for the top, and I love the fast-paced environment. Ryan’s shoes are big ones to fill, but I am confident I can bring new perspectives to the role and continue to help our clients stay ahead of their competitors via an enhanced comms design offering and thought leadership.”

China – Sunny Zhu has been appointed as the general manager of the Shanghai office of the international creative agency We Are Social. Zhu’s responsibilities in this position include managing daily office operations and leading clients’ strategic expansion initiatives.

She formerly held the position of business unit director, and is now a general manager. In her new position, she will continue to work with companies like Google, Ferrari, and Korean Air while also focusing on regional growth and working with a team of 40 people. 

She joined We Are Social in 2016, and Zhu now reports to Tristan Qin, China Region EVP, with an extended scope of responsibilities. This encompasses leading the agency’s strategic initiatives and managing internal training and development programs throughout the organisation.

Speaking about her new role, Zhu said, “The team in Shanghai has been growing in recent years, and I’m excited to be part of a dynamic business that’s making great creative work. There’s a great spirit of collaboration and innovation, and in this next chapter, I’m looking forward to leading the team and driving results for clients.” 

Meanwhile, Pete Lin, CEO of North Asia, said, “Sunny has always stood out as an ambitious and talented leader, and over the years she has become a driving force and positive influence within the agency.” 

He added, “We’re excited to see how Sunny will help accelerate the growth of the Shanghai office as it becomes a dominant force in the Chinese advertising landscape.”

Sydney, Australia Yury Glikin has been promoted to the recently established role of commercial director overseeing Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) by Outbrain, a technology platform operating on the open web. This appointment is effective right away. 

Glikin will directly report to Amrita de la Peña, managing director APAC at Outbrain. 

Glikin will focus on building strong relationships with agencies and brand investments in his promoted role. In order to provide Outbrain’s clients with better service, this transformation entails improving Outbrain’s technological infrastructure and value proposition in partnership with agencies. 

He joined Outbrain in 2021 as head of sales for ANZ. Since then, his responsibilities have grown to include overseeing the creation and implementation of Outbrain’s commercial and sales strategy as well as the identification of new business opportunities for regional revenue growth. His responsibilities include developing new strategic partnerships, maintaining relationships with significant clients and stakeholders, and managing the Outbrain ANZ sales team.

Glikin has 20 years of experience creating strategic business alliances and managing

sales groups. He worked as the Australian country manager for Fiverr before joining Outbrain. held positions at HotelsCombined.com, Nine, BizCover, and Booking.com.

Speaking about his promotion, Glikin said, “With continued industry changes, Outbrain’s core proposition of connecting advertisers with premium audiences in contextually relevant environments is only going to become more important. Ensuring our team is set up for success to help achieve this is incredibly important, and I’m thrilled to be entrusted with guiding the ANZ team along this journey.”

Meanwhile, de la Peña, commented, “In just a few years at Outbrain, Yury has achieved fantastic results even amongst an unpredictable economic environment. His authentic style matched with the commitment he has for the team and our partners makes him a great fit for this new, strategic position. I’m excited to see the team scale to new heights under his guidance.” 

Shanghai, China – Wunderman Thompson has announced the promotion of Carter Chow to chief executive officer of Wunderman Thompson Greater China.

Previously CEO of Wunderman Thompson China, Chow’s promotion comes as the agency focuses on building a united approach and strategy in Greater China, as more client opportunities call for a consolidated response from agencies.

With 25 years of experience, Chow returns to lead the digital transformation of J.Walter Thompson as CEO where he modernised the entire service offering – driving the agency into a state of hyper growth.

In 2019, Chow notably led the merger of Wunderman and JWT in China by combining and elevating existing teams to bring new, unique and integrated capabilities to the China market.  Since then, the market has experienced significant changes and years of economic uncertainty, but Chow continued to remain consistent – growing alongside clients such as The Estée Lauder Companies, Volkswagen, HSBC, P&G, Danone and so on.

Speaking on his promotion, Chow commented, “We have exceptional teams and excellent capabilities in many of our markets, especially within the Wunderman Thompson Greater China offices. From Shanghai to Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei, each office brings its distinct and market-leading expertise. We can achieve remarkable feats when we‘re all in it together, empower one another, and harness our collective synergy.”

Meanwhile, Ewen Sturgeon, international CEO at Wunderman Thompson, said, “Carter is known for building a robust and successful business with people at the heart of it all; encouraging a culture of creativity and growth. I have no doubt Carter will take our Greater China business to new heights with a united approach.”

Maggie Wong and Evan Teng, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Hong Kong and Taipei respectively, as well as Win Mak, CEO of Mirum Hong Kong (part of Wunderman Thompson), will remain leaders of their markets and will work with Chow to create a more consolidated response to the opportunities and challenges that present Greater China clients.

Indonesia – McDonald’s Indonesia has revealed its new J-Pop advertisement jingle titled ‘Nihon No Fureeba’ written fully in Japanese, to promote the relaunch of McDonald’s ‘Taste of Japan’ burgers.

‘Nihon No Fureeba’ is a full, untranslated Japanese pop song made to promote the comeback of McDonald’s Taste of Japan burgers in Indonesia. The song’s lyrics talk about crispy nori and yakiniku sauce, ingredients highlighted on the fast food chain’s Japanese flavoured-inspired burgers. 

Written in a completely different language, the message the advertisement jingle aims to highlight is that even though some might not understand McDonald’s onigiri-looking burgers, they’ll love the taste anyway. Just  like they love Japanese songs. 

Advertising agency Leo Burnett’s cultural findings on Indonesians’ adoration for Japanese pop songs propelled the idea of creating the jingle. The agency tapped Indonesian-Japanese singer Ica Zahra to create the song, which was released as a Japanese single without subtitles.

Within one week, the music video was watched more than three million times. The song became the talk of the radio, and hundreds of covers and TikTok dances were made. 

Soon after, the agency and the singer revealed that the song, which most people didn’t understand but still listened to, was actually an untranslated ad to promote McDonald’s product relaunch. The jingle has topped the country’s music charts and become the #1 search on music search application Shazam causing a huge jump on the burger’s first-week sales. 

With the launch of ‘Nihon No Fureeba’, people’s curiosity towards the burgers spiked so fast that first-week sales surpassed those of the past 3 years. 

“Because no one knew that it was an ad. The lyrics were in Japanese, untranslated, and  people thought that it was just a nice feel-good J-Pop song!” explains Ravi Shanker, chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Indonesia on how an ad became a popular favorite pop song in the country. 

“Japanese pop culture is strong in Indonesia. People love Japanese pop songs and put  them in their playlists, sing along, even wearing cool t-shirts with Japanese letters—all  without understanding what they mean,” he continued. 

Meanwhile, Michael Hartono, marketing director at McDonald’s Indonesia, said, “At the end of the  day, the campaign is making people love not only the burgers but also the brand. Even after people realized that it was an ad, they still continue doing karaoke with it, and  the song–I mean the jingle–is now in thousands of Spotify playlists to this day.”