Singapore Creative agency BLKJ Havas has announced the promotion of Guilherme Machado as its executive creative director to strengthen the agency’s creative offering whilst pursuing more clients and campaigns on a pan-regional level.

In his new role, Machado will work closely with the leadership team to further drive the creative work by combining advertising with authentic storytelling and unique perspectives.

In 2021, Machado joined BLKJ Havas as an associate creative director where he was able to deliver critically acclaimed works for the agency. Before joining BLKJ Havas, he also worked as an associate creative director at agency McCann Australia.

Rowena Bhagchandani, CEO and co-founder at BLKJ Havas said that as the agency expands its regional remit with clients, it will continue to strengthen its position as the APAC Havas creative flagship of the region.

Meanwhile, Machado added, “Creating work that doesn’t look like traditional advertisements has been a key motivator since I started my career, and I can’t think of a better place to continue pushing myself creatively and nurture a team with shared ideals.”

BLKJ Havas is a creative agency that works with brands in culture, entertainment, and media.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Global media and marketing solutions group IPG Mediabrands has announced the promotion of Cindy Eliza Vaz as its chief digital officer for Malaysia. Vaz has previously worked as the head of digital for Universal McCann in the country.

In her new role, she will be responsible for expanding the digitisation of the group in Malaysia whilst leading the digital transformation to provide a comprehensive suite of qualitative programmatic, performance, and tech solutions. 

Moreover, the group has also promoted Debica Sigamani as its chief technology officer to work closely with the executive leadership team in driving business growth and success.

Bala Pomaleh, chief executive officer at Mediabrands Malaysia, shared that Vaz has played an important role in driving business and digital efforts during her stint at UM.

“Her strengths in digital innovation, strategy, data, and tech capabilities will help us continue to drive digital excellence to meet our clients’ business needs, whilst focusing on transparency, accountability, and brand safety,” Pomaleh added.

Meanwhile, Vaz herself expressed, “I look forward to raising the digital profile of Mediabrands, collaborating closely with UM and Initiative on our digital strategy and empowering clients to be more digitally savvy, while continuing to cultivate an ecosystem that nurtures more mentorship and coaching of young digital talents.” 

Last month, global content studio Mediabrands Content Studio has also appointed Marshall Campbell as its general manager of client service and Luke Simkins as its group creative director.

Australia Havas Media has announced the promotion of Kevin Fernandes as its national head of partnerships and adtech across all media channels. The appointment coincides with the restructuring of the partnership team, where it fuses online and above-the-line channel planning and buying to focus on engaging with audiences across all channels in all formats.

The restructuring also emphasises the agency’s focus to find the greatest opportunity for marketers to engage audiences along the customer decision journey. Moreover, this allows more seamless delivery of integrated audience data collection and meaningful insights to be activated at speed across multiple media platforms to drive online or in-store purchases.

In his new role, Fernandes will be responsible for leading the newly merged team to develop integrated thinking across all channels. He previously worked as head of data solutions and adtech for Havas Media where he led the delivery of innovative client solutions across addressable and digital offerings. 

Virginia Hyland, chief executive officer at Havas Media Group, said that Fernandes’ promotion is their natural next step as the company experience the integration of digital and data employment across all media channels.

“I am looking forward to leading the team on our integrated digitisation journey, as we look to deliver solutions for the now and future. Utilising data points and technology to continue to evolve advertising innovation, efficiency, and effective results for our valued clients,” Fernandes added.

This month, Havas Media has also named Rebecca Tos as its new managing partner to lead the new Havas Market× business division.

Australia Creative agency Host/Havas has announced the promotion of Anthony Moore as its managing director to continue being hands-on with the agency’s clients including Reckitt, Tourism Fiji, and the Australian Federal Police, whilst expanding his responsibilities more broadly for the agency.

In 2015, Moore joined the agency as its managing partner. He became an integral part of its projects including the creation of Australia’s second most popular podcast for the Australian Federal Police. He also contributed to the win of the hotly contested Tourism Fiji pitch and helped Air New Zealand become Australia’s most trusted brand five years in a row.

James Wright, chief executive officer at Havas Creative Network, said that Moore has been a crucial player in the agency’s success, from developing strong client relationships, supporting the delivery of their iconic campaigns, and building a fun culture. 

Meanwhile, Moore said, “I’m really proud of everything we have achieved together, particularly over the past few years and the culture we continue to build at Host/Havas. The team here are incredibly talented and certainly make my job easier every day.”

Host/Havas specialises in blending creativity and technology to solve real business problems, from brand thinking and design to innovation, CX, tech consulting, and digital development.

India – With its commitment to maintaining growth and maximising business outcomes for clients, marketing communications agency Wunderman Thompson South Asia has promoted Raji Ramaswamy as its chief growth officer and Joy Chauhan as its chief client officer. They will report to Shams Jasani, chief executive officer at Wunderman Thompson South Asia. 

Ramaswamy will retain her CEO role at Contract India, Wunderman Thompson India’s group company and Chauhan will simultaneously work as a managing partner of Wunderman Thompson in Delhi.

In their new role, Ramaswamy and Chauhan will lead strategic growth for the group, focusing on new business and key clients across the region. They will also oversee client retention and business development, nurture teams of talent and drive strategic growth initiatives including the development of new client services and capabilities.

Ramaswamy brings with her over 25 years of experience in marketing and brand management. During her stint in Contract India, she maintained its vision to create the most integrated agency model for the future with a seamless multi-dimensional structure. 

Meanwhile, Chauhan brings with him experience in managing people across multiple business units. In his stint at Wunderman Thompson Delhi, he was responsible for driving the growth of the agency’s brands, people and business.

CEO Jasani said that Ramaswamy and Chauhan’s appointments come at a perfect timing when the agency can drive good impact for clients and business whilst delivering transformational work that builds Wunderman’s capabilities in creative, data, tech, and commerce.

“With India as one of our fastest growing markets and being uniquely poised to provide integrated solutions to our clients, we are on an ambitious growth trajectory with Raji and Joy as enablers to chart the best course for the next growth phase,” Jasani added.

This month, Wunderman Thompson also elevated Gavin Bain as its chief executive officer for Australia.

Singapore – Global, performance-driven content leader Green Park Content has announced the promotion of Fe Husaint as managing director for APAC to strengthen the agency’s operations, power up its growth, and accelerate its success across the region. Husaint previously held the creative and global brand head position at the agency.

Husaint brings with her strong experience in developing a creative and strategic approach to managing brands’ creative remits. She became an integral part of Greenpark’s growth in APAC whilst helping to grow the agency’s revenue with global and regional business.

Marcelo Bittencourt, departing managing director for APAC, said that Husaint deserves the promotion because she has been pivotal in growing the agency’s business and culture.

Meanwhile, Husaint commented, “I plan to inspire a strong, inclusive, and diverse culture—to do my part in powering business growth to the next level. I am also excited to usher in a new era of Greenpark—my vision is to have a holistic approach with creativity and innovation at the core.” 

“I envision a business model that’s driven by innovation such as Generative AI Creative Solutions. This is my future-forward vision to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity, while being able to offer cost-efficient solutions to our Client partners,” she added.

Greenpark has been growing its operations in seven APAC countries with over 130 digital experts within its team.

Earlier this year, Greenpark has also announced the promotion of Lesley Renton as its head of marketing and demand generation for APAC.

London, United Kingdom – Committed to global expansion and future growth, global integrated communications agency WE Communications has announced two regional executive roles for APAC and EMEA, promoting Avian WE group CEO Nitin Mantri to regional executive managing director for APAC, and WE’s UK managing director Ruth Allchurch to regional executive managing director for EMEA.

Mantri and Allchurch will both help in strengthening the agency’s operations in APAC and EMEA by overseeing client retention and business development, nurturing the teams of talents, and driving strategic growth initiatives through the development of new client services and capabilities. 

The two new hires will report to the president of International and global chief operating officer Kass Sells, who oversees WE’s eight international markets and its affiliate network. 

Speaking on Mantri’s appointment, Sells said that he has demonstrated his ability to develop teams and business operations that fuels the agency’s growth. Meanwhile, Sells considers Allchurch as a leader of action who will extend her knowledge to EMEA, after seeing her as an instrument for growth in their UK Business.

Sells added, “I’m proud of how each of these leaders has evolved at WE, developing their teams, building successful relationships with clients, all with an eye toward the future.”

Meanwhile, Melissa Waggener Zorkin, global CEO of WE Communications, said, “Our sector and services growth, expanded client partnerships, and acquisitions in these international markets have created an exciting inflection point for our business. We are well positioned to make strategic changes to our broader international leadership team that will enable us to build our blueprint for future growth.”

Mantri will maintain his Avian WE Group CEO title while Allchurch will continue to manage WE’s recent acquisition of Hopscotch Consulting.

Australia – Global brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R has announced the promotion of current client service director Vanessa Tout to the role of managing partner. In her new role, Tout will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the Melbourne-based team and will work closely with the client engagement team to deliver best-in-class work for the agency’s existing client partnerships and prospects.

Before joining VMLY&R, Tout has also led teams at Digitas UK, Isobar Australia, and Versa Agency.

Sarah Bailey, managing director of VMLY&R Melbourne & Sydney said that she loved working with Tout for the past 12 months. She also expressed that Tout’s character and experience connected the agency and the people across its global network.

Bailey added, “Her positive impact on our team and client partnerships such as Monash and Ford is evident and I’m really excited about working with Ness to drive further creativity and innovation in 2023 and watch her build on our strong offering in Melbourne.”

Speaking on her new role, Tout said, “I’m excited to be stepping into this new role to support the continued connection and growth of our culture, our team and our client partnerships.”

Tout added, “Since joining VMLY&R I have been so impressed by our team’s passion, talent and commitment to doing truly connected work. This really is the most connected global network I’ve been part of. Our proposition of Creating Connected Brands and the specialist capability we offer to deliver on that – brand experience, customer experience and commerce – is really resonating with our clients. It resulted in some excellent growth across our existing partnerships in 2022, as well as a number of brilliant new business wins.”

Singapore – With the reopening of borders and easing of travel restrictions globally, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to celebrate the return of travel through the extension of the ‘Stay Longer, Save More’ campaign until September 30 2022. The promotion allows for savings of up to 20% off for three or more consecutive nights’ stay by 30 September 2022 and other exciting discount opportunities.

Further sweetening the resumption of travel, members can earn Wyndham Rewards points when they complete their stay by September 30, 2022. Wyndham Rewards is one of the world’s best hotel rewards programs with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals with a plethora of enticing perks and points.

Under the ongoing ‘Stay Twice and Earn a Free Night’ promotion, members can stack their rewards and will be awarded 7500 bonus points after completing 2 qualified stays when they register and book on the Wyndham Hotels website by September 2, 2022, and complete their qualified stays by September 6, 2022. Valid for four years, Wyndham Rewards points can be saved for use or redeemed anytime to satiate members’ thirst for travel.

Some featured hotels by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts include the Ramada by Wyndham Newmarket Auckland, the Wyndham Bangkok Queen Convention Centre, the Wyndham Garden Cam Ranh Resort, and Wingate by Wyndham Sanya Luhuitou, and many more.

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has announced the elevation of Chloe Neo, to the role of chief executive officer of OMG Singapore. In her new role, Neo will be tasked to oversee all aspects of OMG Singapore’s business operations, championing the Group Vision, building capabilities, driving greater purpose and measurable success among its agencies in Singapore namely, OMD and PHD and the Group’s data and analytics division, Annalect. Neo will continue to report to Tony Harradine and will officially assume her new role immediately.

Neo’s promotion is an acknowledgement of her stellar track record for nurturing strong client relationships, elevating the agency’s capabilities, and fostering a people-first culture within the agency network. 

Neo’s boasts 14 years in playing an instrumental role in growing OMG Singapore’s business and regional hub services from strength to strength. Under her leadership as chief operating officer, she has established OMG Singapore and its affiliate agencies as the national and global media business partner for notable brands such as Scoot, Income, Razer and Poh Heng, retained major accounts such as Singtel and McDonald’s in multi-year partnerships, and increased Singapore’s business by 30% year-on-year.

On top of propelling business growth, Neo’s client-centric mindset has led the team to launch an array of specialised services and products across digital, commerce, investment, and data analytics. These market-leading solutions are dedicated to fostering healthy client relationships and expanding clients’ capabilities in support of their business transformation journey. While Neo’s commercial vision has allowed her to drive overall business growth, her visionary and talent-focused approach have nurtured a collaborative and people-first culture in the agency network.

Tony Harradine, CEO of Omnicom Media Group, APAC, said that over the years, Chloe has shown her unrelenting commitment to bringing transformative momentum to OMG Singapore. 

“She is a visionary leader, one with a strong track record of accelerating growth and expanding the agency network capabilities into one of the best in the market. Guided by empathy for her team and a passion for fostering rewarding client relationships, I am confident in Chloe’s ability to steer OMG Singapore towards a new era of growth,” Harradine said.