India – FCB/SIX India has strengthened its senior leadership team with key promotions, elevating Dhruv Shah to senior vice president of customer experience, Anmol Dang to vice president of media (West), and Salman Shamsi to associate vice president of brand reputation management.

These senior appointments reflect FCB/SIX India’s strategic drive for aggressive expansion and service enhancement, aligning with the agency’s rapid growth trajectory and commitment to operational efficiency.

Adopting a data-driven approach, FCB Kinnect restructured its performance and customer experience verticals, giving rise to FCB/SIX—a globally connected, data-centric agency. Together, FCB Kinnect and FCB/SIX form an integrated powerhouse, offering comprehensive, full-funnel services. The agency’s seamless integration of creative and media drives powerful, amplified results for its brands.

To accelerate its growth, the agency also appointed Ankit Banga as chief business officer. His expertise in growth-focused strategies has been instrumental in expanding both the agency’s operations and its client portfolio.

Commenting on the appointments, Banga said, “Our identity is shaped by the people who drive us forward. Dhruv, Anmol, and Salman have all shown remarkable leadership and dedication to our clients and their teams. With such strong contributions laying the groundwork, we at FCB/SIX India have already witnessed over 50% growth in this year, and I am confident that we’ve only scratched the surface.”

Rohan Mehta, CEO of FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India, added, “FCB/SIX has been crucial to our success, exemplifying our core belief that media and creativity should not be separated. In a short time, we have not only surpassed ambitious growth targets but also showcased our creative mastery of media and technology, as seen in the Cannes-winning Lulumelon EOSS campaign for HDFC Bank. Alongside FCB Kinnect, we’re building a strong foundation, cementing our position as India’s most exciting creatively led integrated agency.” 

Since its 2023 launch, FCB/SIX India has tripled its team to 170 kinnectors and successfully onboarded an impressive roster of high-profile Indian and global clients, including Crompton, SBI, Polycab, Amazon, HDFC Bank, Plum, Aditya Birla Capital, and ZF Aftermarket.

Malaysia – FCB SHOUT, the advertising arm of creative services company THE SHOUT GROUP, has welcomed new faces to further enhance its talent. The new hires include Loong Sheng Mae as group business director, Caryl Tan as associate brand director and Chung Ru Zen as creative group head.

Previously a brand manager with experience working in local and international agencies, Mae’s new role as group business director drives her to lead brand management teams to foster growth for the agency’s key clients. Tan is also set to manage the agency’s clients at both local and regional levels.

As an addition to the agency’s creatives, Zen is expected to elevate FCB SHOUT’s creative output after previously delivering award-winning campaigns with strategic audio. 

Meanwhile, Raphael Castellano has been promoted to creative group head and Jane Leong to senior brand manager.

Syahriza Badron, the general manager of FCB SHOUT, commented, “With the addition of Mae and Caryl, we are confident that our brand management team is now even better equipped to continue delivering unparalleled results for our clients. Having nurtured his skills in both agencies and a creatively progressive organisation like Grab Malaysia, Ru Zen is a unicorn creative who is able to conceptualise really creative solutions while still being grounded in the strategy that guides a business. Things are looking really exciting for us in the agency.”

“I’m extremely proud to have young and dynamic creative talents like Ru Zen and Raphy with us. Not only are they extremely experienced and skilled creatives who are able to consistently tell amazing stories for brands in fresh, exciting ways, they are also natural leaders who have earned the respect of their teams through their aptitude and patience in nurturing the next generation of creative talents. Supported by a strengthened brand management team, the creatives of FCB SHOUT will achieve even greater things for the agency and our clients very soon, I’m sure of that,” Tjer, the head of creative of FCB SHOUT, said. 

“These new hires and promotions are part of our plan to stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry. By strengthening our teams with talented individuals and giving the well-deserved team members their due recognition, we are not only enhancing our creative capabilities but also ensuring that we continue to be a partner of choice for our clients. These are key moves we’re making to ensure that The Shout Group and our agency brands are poised for even greater success for years ahead,” Shaun Tay, co-owner and chief executive officer of The Shout Group and FCB SHOUT, added.

Gurugram, India – Havas Media Network India, Havas India’s specialist media branch, has announced the promotion of two senior leaders to key positions within the organisation. Uday Mohan has taken over as chief operating officer of Havas Media India, replacing R. Venkatasubramanian is now Havas Play’s chief operating officer. Both will continue to report to Mohit Joshi, the CEO of Havas Media Network India. 

Mohan will lead Havas Media India’s strategic growth plans and overall operations in his new position as chief operating officer. 

During his more than 16 years with Havas Media India, Mohan, who has more than 20 years of experience in the media business, has played a key role in the agency. His experienced leadership has brought the agency recognition for its creativity in a variety of industries and resulted in the acquisition of several clients. 

Venkatasubramanian took over Havas Play last year, when the specialised function was launched in India and a number of other countries across the world. 

Venkatasubramanian led Havas Play in a competitive market by supporting a number of IPs and initiatives across its sports, content, and entertainment divisions under his direction. 

Speaking about the promotions, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia (Japan and South Korea), said, “Uday and Venka’s elevations come at an important juncture for Havas Media Network India, as the agency experiences remarkable growth. Their strategic prowess and dedication have been instrumental in driving our agency’s success over the years and their elevation reflects our confidence in their vision and ability to continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and client satisfaction. I wish them all the best.”

Meanwhile, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, said, “With Uday and Venkat at the helm of their respective business divisions, Havas Media Network India has made significant strides, evident in the agency’s expanded client portfolio, new acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. This elevation underscores our unwavering dedication to fortifying our organisational framework by nurturing our in-house capabilities. Leaders like them are key to our goal of making media meaningful for our clients and the industry at large as their exceptional industry acumen is pivotal in leading a team as diverse as ours. I extend my sincerest congratulations to Uday and Venkat on their new roles and look forward to our continued trajectory of growth and success together.”

Hong Kong – FINN Partners, a global integrated marketing and communications agency, has promoted Annouchka Behrmann, a former senior partner, to managing partner, Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Cathy Feliciano-Chon will take on a new job as managing partner, strategic development, Asia Pacific, after her former position as managing partner and Greater China Lead. 

In her new position, Behrmann’s duties include developing the capabilities and services available to clients, especially in corporate communications and purpose, and improving and growing FINN’s leadership position in travel and tourism, hospitality, design, wellness, and luxury. She will also focus on expanding the agency’s product offerings into other industries, such as consumer, B2B, technology, and health. 

After joining FINN in October 2023, Behrmann—a industry veteran with a track record of growing brands and agencies in Asia Pacific—successfully won major new business wins for the Hong Kong office.

Chon will broaden her responsibilities as managing partner, strategic development, Asia Pacific, concentrating on business development, brand strategy, and thought leadership initiatives to strengthen the agency’s presence in the area. 

As a component of FINN Asia’s management team, Feliciano-Chon joined FINN in 2019 as a managing partner. She has played a role in establishing FINN’s standing as a global leader in travel and tourism, with a portfolio of brands, and a current size and revenue ranking of #1. As a thought leader, she has created important industry tools and trend research, speaks at conferences frequently, and is on the advisory board for the Global Wellness Summit. 

Speaking about the promotions, Howard Solomon, founding managing partner in Asia, said, “Cathy’s new role expands our regional leadership bench so we can grow our capabilities across offices and position the group for long-term sustainable growth in Asia. She brings to this new role over 35 years’ experience in brand strategy and marketing communications with clients and projects throughout the region, a track record in thought leadership and a formidable network.” 

Meanwhile, Peter Finn stated, “The growth that we’ve achieved in Asia thus far wouldn’t be possible without the amazing leadership we have in the region. Cathy and Annouchka along with our other Asia Pacific leads know the market well and bring a level of excellence and client service that is second to none. Given our expansive footprint, unrivalled depth and breadth of sector expertise, and flexible ONE FINN model that allows us to offer clients best-in-class, full-service capabilities within a nimble collaborative model, I believe FINN is best positioned to be the go-to agency for clients in need of integrated marketing and communications services.” 

Australia OpenX, a global omnichannel supply-side platform, has promoted Mitchell Greenway to managing director, APAC. In his new job, Greenway will oversee OpenX’s operations in Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. 

Greenway will directly report to John Gentry, CEO of OpenX Technologies. 

In his new position, Greenway will be in charge of growing OpenX’s footprint in the area. Using his CTV experience in the position, he will also concentrate on enhancing OpenX’s CTV footprint in the market. Greenway will also be a part of OpenX’s CTV steering group. 

Greenway was the first person hired by OpenX in the Australia/New Zealand area in 2019. He led the charge in forming the local team throughout his term, which improved publisher access to demand in the area. After that, Greenway spent two years developing OpenX’s CTV supply network and go-to-market plan in North America. He refined his technological skills and streaming leadership throughout this time.

Greenway has worked in digital media and programmatic advertising for 13 years, mostly on the supply side or directly with publishers. Greenway worked in executive roles before joining OpenX, such as managing the programmatic and audience team at Bauer Media and heading the relationship team at Yahoo. 

Greenway takes over the role following the retirement of his predecessor, Andrew Tu, who has over 30 years of experience in digital and programmatic advertising. 

Speaking about his appointment, Greenway expressed, “I’m excited to not only be returning home to Sydney with my family but to be working once again with colleagues and clients in the region, with an enhanced global focus on our CTV footprint and capabilities. The thing that I am most looking forward to, however, is having the opportunity to lead all of the unique regions within APAC — each market has its own needs, and therefore opportunities, from a cultural, content, and overall programmatic standpoint.” 

Meanwhile, Gentry said, “I’m excited to see Mitch expand his role and leverage his extensive programmatic and CTV knowledge to build on the strong foundation in the APAC region that Andrew and his team built. Mitch’s ability to connect at local levels across the region makes him the ideal leader to continue to build on our legacy in APAC, and I’m looking forward to him powering growth through his deep understanding of the evolving CTV landscape.“ 

Australia Mediabrands Content Studio (MBCS) in Australia, has strengthened its leadership and strategic capabilities by promoting Toby Maclachlan to head of strategy & product and hiring Trent Peppercorn to the newly established position of head of Melbourne. The newly-designated posts take immediate effect.

Maclachlan, in his new role at MBCS, will assume the responsibility of leading the overall strategic output and team across both offices. His role involves enhancing MBCS’ integrated product offering, with a specific emphasis on delivering creative and innovative experiences aimed at establishing deep connections with people.

Maclachlan, who has been the head of creative strategy at Initiative Media for three years, brings three years of expertise to his new position. His experience includes a range of positions in brand planning and leadership across FMCG, entertainment, fashion, automotive, government, and tourism.

The move to Melbourne is planned for Peppercorn, who was MBCS’s Head of Creative Services. His duties in this new role will include growing the workforce to satisfy client demand and guiding the office through the next stage of growth. 

The appointments follow MBCS’s steady annual growth since the company’s founding in 2022. The agency was founded with the intention of improving the way that IPG’s media-driven and supported creative, content, and experience capabilities are integrated.

Speaking about the promotions, Olivia Warren, managing director, MBCS, said, “Our agency’s growth and new client wins come down to the experience, creativity and capability of our team. Toby and Trent’s new roles recognise their leadership and success, and importantly will create new opportunities and pathways for our next generation of leaders to grow, while continuing to create the very best outcomes for our clients.” 

She added, “When we repositioned in 2022 our point of difference was powering our creative and strategic thinking by media, so we invested early in creative and strategy talent that could sit alongside our media specialists to deliver campaigns anchored in this ethos. Move forward to 2024 and our team has exponentially expanded, our client roster continues to grow and our creative capabilities allows us to conceive and execute integrated campaigns across both offices.” 

Speaking about his appointment, Maclachlan said, “2024 is going to be an interesting year; defining and pivotal on so many fronts, in so many ways. People expect a lot of brands RN. And rightfully so. Who brands are, how and where they show up for people, it really matters. I’m looking forward to helping brands navigate their now and next — IRL, URL, and whatever WEB 3, ai, spatial computing and next gen social media etc. brings — with true-to-brand strategies and ideas that hit different and make difference.” 

Warren commented about Maclachan, “Toby is the definition of a high achiever striving for outstanding solutions to assist clients solve their problems. He’s generally known for finding solutions to seemingly impossible asks, that are true to brand and results driven.” 

Speaking about his appointment, Peppercorn expressed, “It’s an exciting time to make this move and I am incredibly pumped to embark on a new chapter of my career and continue to work alongside such a skilled and inspiring team not just in Sydney but now in Melbourne.” 

“My new role will see me work closely with both offices providing the ability to apply my craft to help solve a range of client problems regardless of the platform, fitting perfectly with MBCS’s proposition of borderless creativity. I’m excited with opportunities to grow Melbourne’s client base organically and also bring new and exciting clients on board. It’s a burgeoning market and I am excited about the potential of what lies ahead,” Peppercorn added. 

Furthermore, Warren stated, “Both promotions are genuinely worthy and I’m delighted Toby and Trent are stepping into these new, expanded and elevated roles. I’m looking forward to seeing what our new leadership team can achieve in their new roles.”

Singapore   FCB SHOUT recently made important strategic hires and promotions in its operations, creative, and brand management divisions, which took effect in September 2023.

Jonathan Chan, James Voon, and Suah Boon Chuan have been promoted from associate creative directors to creative directors, taking on expanded roles that involve managing essential client relationships and leading new business endeavours in the creative department.

Along with these internal promotions, Anndrea Lye and Tan Lai Kuen have been appointed senior copywriters and senior designers. FCB SHOUT has also grown its team by adding Choong Eu Jin and Raphael Castellano as senior copywriters.

Jin brings a wealth of experience from network agencies across the region, while Castellano, recruited from the Philippines, brings a distinctive perspective to the agency’s creative endeavours.

Melanie Mustapha has been promoted to brand director in the division of brand management. In her role, she will be tasked to improve the agency’s brand management abilities. 

FCB SHOUT also welcomed Mandy Chock back as a creative strategist. Chock will work closely with the brand management team to provide FCB SHOUT’s clients with efficient solutions.

Furthermore, Adrienna Ooi has been elevated to the role of operations manager.

Speaking about the promotions and appointments, Tjer, head of creative at FCB SHOUT, commented, “We are delighted to announce these key promotions and the addition of new talents to the creative team. They are the cornerstone of all that we do in the agency, and being able to bolster our pool of creative talents will enable us to continue navigating an increasingly challenging landscape; I strongly believe that these future leaders are pivotal in ensuring the agency’s growth in the years to come.” 

Meanwhile, Syahriza Badron, general manager and Jamie Tan, head of operations of FCB SHOUT said, “These strategic moves mark a significant step in strengthening our team. We are confident that these promotions and new hires will enable us to continue delivering exceptional results for our clients and driving our agency’s growth.”

Shaun Tay, co-owner and chief executive officer of FCB SHOUT, remarked, ”Our enduring dedication to excellence continually compels us to implement strategic enhancements within our team. These transformative changes solidify our steadfast commitment to delivering outstanding results to our clients and further cementing our agency’s reputation as the #1 Malaysian agency.” 

APAC – Global creative agency Amplify, has announced two new key appointments namely, Sabrina Khong as the new associate creative director and Caitlin Todd as a new business lead.

These appointments follow Amplify’s vision of diversifying and strengthening their offering and expertise across multiple fields as an advertising agency. 

Khong joins from Foxtel, where she was an Art Director working on conceptualisation and creative strategy for Foxtel campaigns. Previously, she was an associate creative director at Section in Singapore where she worked with brands such as Uniqlo, PlayStation, Durex, and Nikon.She was also an art director at Publicis Singapore for three years, where she worked on winning pitches for brands including Tiger Crystal, Samsung, HPB and Disney.

On the other hand, Todd comes from three years at integrated social agency, Ground, in Sydney. Prior to that she was with Hill+Knowlton Strategies in London, starting as a junior consultant and working her way up. Throughout her career Todd has worked with a broad range of clients across the entertainment, tech and lifestyle space including Nike, Activision Blizzard, Huawei, Sennheiser, Intel, Oatley, and Team GB.

On these hires, Gareth Davies, managing partner at Amplify, said, “We’re truly excited to welcome Sabrina and Caitlin to the team. Sabrina’s experience delivering quality creative work across multiple mediums, from social campaigns to TVCs and augmented reality experiences along with Caitlin’s experience  across PR, strategy, social and digital makes them both a perfect fit for Amplify.”

Speaking on her appointment, Khong said, “I am thrilled to be collaborating with so many talented individuals in the Amplify team and I look forward to pushing the boundaries of creativity and contributing to the already impressive list of clientele.”

Meanwhile, Todd also commented, “I’m very excited to have joined Amplify and I’m particularly looking forward to working alongside such a talented team as we continue to grow our exceptional client relationships.”

Singapore – Global advertising agency Havas has announced the promotion of Darrell Nelson as the CEO of Havas Japan, and Aga Giedroyc as the CEO of Havas Thailand, taking over former Havas Thailand CEO, Santiphong Pimolsaengsuriya.

These appointments follow Havas’ recent leadership appointments in Malaysia and Cambodia, moving towards its growth plan in the involved regions.

In his new role, Nelson will collaborate closely with his teams to drive new business and local client strategies, focusing on leveraging Havas’ integrated capabilities for growth. He will also continue to serve as the APAC head of cultural strategy.

Meanwhile, Giedroyc is now tasked with leading Havas Thailand’s business operations and implementing comprehensive plans for growth. Her experience with Havas has played a crucial role in catalyzing the agency’s transformation, forging trusted relationships with clients, and spearheading digital capabilities across the network. She will also be continuing her current role as the EVP of corporate development for Havas SEA, Japan, and Korea. 

Speaking on his appointment, Nelson said, “I am thrilled to take on the leadership role and contribute to Havas’ ongoing expansion in Japan. I feel incredibly fortunate to already have an amazing and diverse team in place, dedicated to driving impactful and creative work for a great roster of clients here in Japan.”

“Our integrated Village model, which seamlessly combines creative and media efforts while collaborating with our Vivendi partners, continues to be the driving force for growth. As we continue to expand with new offerings in market, we are in a great place to continue the momentum we have in Japan and across the region right now”, he added. 

Also sharing her thoughts on her promotion, Giedroyc mentioned, I am eagerly anticipating this journey, where I’ll work alongside a remarkable team to infuse Thailand’s unique creativity into Havas’ ethos, ensuring we continue to shape meaningful brands that truly matter through a synergy of creativity, media, and entertainment.”

Meanwhile, Alberto Canteli, CEO/chairman Havas, Nordics, CEE & Middle East, SEA, Korea & Japan, commented, “The new leadership structure aims to accelerate the development of the collaborative Village model and strengthen our position in the crucial Southeast Asian and North Asian markets. Darrell has consistently demonstrated his commercial acumen and ability to grow our business in Japan. Aga’s proven ability to build and enhance capabilities in the region will augment our value proposition in Thailand and reinforce our commitment to creative excellence and smart media accountability for growth and momentum.”

India – Surjo Dutt has been appointed as the new chief creative officer (CCO) for the West and South regions at Dentsu Creative  India, starting from September 1.  In his new role , Dutt will be responsible for leading the agency’s creatives, coordinating with creative teams, and developing solutions that make use of modern creativity for brands and aid business expansion. 

He will be reporting to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative India, in his new position.

Dutt has 24 years of experience, worked on more than 400 projects spanning over 70 brands and 20 categories. His career includes positions as the former chief creative officer at FCB India, national creative director – North at Sapient Nitro, and vice president and executive creative director (ECD) at JWT.

He has worked with companies including Pepsi, Frito Lay, Hero Motocorp, GSK, Google, Uber, Vistara, Dominos, Pernod Ricard, Nokia, Airtel, Nestle, and British Airways over the course of his career.

Speaking on the appointment, Wadhwa expressed, “I am delighted to welcome Surjo as our creative partner on this exciting journey at DENTSU CREATIVE India. Having previously worked alongside Surjo, I am well aware of his incredible talent for building powerful brands – a quality he has consistently demonstrated across every project he has been involved in.”

He added, “His seamless grasp of strategic contributions and deep understanding of the contemporary media landscape make him the ideal candidate to embody our philosophy of ‘Modern Creativity’. I firmly believe that together we will produce work that will leave a lasting mark in the industry.”

Meanwhile, Dutt said, “Dentsu has established itself as a creative powerhouse in India, delivering impactful campaigns that have made a huge impact across various categories. The conglomerate’s work has garnered recognition not only within the industry but also at prestigious national and international award platforms. I am genuinely thrilled and deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity.” 

He added, “I extend my gratitude to Amit and the dentsu team for acknowledging the value of my work and approach. I am looking forward to playing my part in this exciting new phase of DENTSU CREATIVE’s journey in India. The fact that I have previously worked with Amit and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it is the icing on the cake for me.”