Tag: Singapore

Singapore – Building on SGSecure’s “What’s your Role” campaign, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and creative agency VML Singapore have unveiled a new music video aimed at mobilising the community in the fight against terrorism.

Titled ‘Foiled Once More,’ the Ministry of Home Affairs’ new music video features Singaporean singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono as the antagonist planning to inflict harm on the city-state. The video delves into the mind of a terrorist, uncovering his motives as he plots to destroy the city, divide the community, and disrupt their way of life.

The music video stands out as a unique and captivating cinematic and melodic theatrical piece that bolsters Singaporeans’ fight against terrorism. It highlights their resilience, vigilance, and unity in the aftermath of an attack, showcasing how they rise from the rubble to rebuild the city together. This collective effort ultimately thwarts the terrorist’s aim of destroying the social fabric, demonstrating that the community’s strength extends beyond physical devastation.

Furthermore, MHA and VML have taken a unique approach, moving away from the usual portrayal of terrorism as all-consuming doom and gloom. Instead, through this edutainment music video, they emphasise the strength and resilience of Singaporeans, showcasing how an empowered and united community can safeguard the nation from terrorism.

Nimesh Desai, chief executive officer at VML Singapore, said, “In our continuous efforts to build and sustain awareness about terrorism, we decided to leverage the antagonist’s perspective to demonstrate the power of unity and use it to encourage Singaporeans to play their roles together to keep Singapore safe.” 

Also commenting on the campaign, Wilbur Sim, director of the SGSecure Programme Office at MHA, shared, “Our societal fabric is only as strong as its weakest link. The music video is a novel approach to conveying the importance of staying united as one people and bouncing back with tenacity when a terror attack occurs. It takes a whole-of-society effort to keep Singapore, as well as our families and friends, safe from terrorist threats. Together, we make SGSecure!” 

Meanwhile, Nathan Hartono said, “It was such an interesting angle to take on such an important topic. I enjoyed the creative process of figuring out how to craft a story, a song, and a character at the same time! It gave me a lot to think about, especially about the aspects of our safety we take for granted.”

Singapore – Local beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng has launched a special campaign ahead of National Day, highlighting its way of celebrating new pioneers who are paving the way for younger generations of Singaporeans, as they pursue their dreams and achieve success on their own terms.

To celebrate Singapore’s 59th year, Yeo’s is featuring the inspirational stories of athlete Maximilian Maeder, entrepreneur Yumi Pong, chef Ahmad Zahid and urban farmer Rebecca Neo – who are making an impact in unconventional pursuits, choosing paths less travelled than the generation before them. 

Produced by advertising agency Forsman and Bodenfors, the video feature takes viewers through the journeys of changemakers who exemplify the voices of a new generation defying traditional notions of success. For the agency, their stories share a common message – that it doesn’t matter if no one understands you, or if you don’t have established role models before you. In chasing their own unconventional dreams, they are an example of how everyone can dream differently. 

“This shift in the next generation’s mindset towards self-actualisation and pursuing their own dreams, aspirations and purpose was acknowledged by newly appointed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as a way young Singaporeans are embracing a wider definition of success,” Yeo’s said in a press statement.

At only 17, Maximilian Maeder’s story is one of resilience and dedication, having committed to a career in the growing sport of kitefoiling which remains relatively unknown in Singapore. Currently ranked first in the world rankings, the teenager has won two world titles and is representing Singapore at the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.

Meanwhile, Max’s incredible path to success serves as a source of inspiration for young people and young athletes across Singapore and beyond. Yeo’s has been a sponsor of Max since 2022, and is proud to have witnessed his rise from a talented amateur kitefoiler to where he is now, on the path to clinching an Olympic medal as the sport makes its Olympic debut in Marseille in July-August 2024. 

Another featured story is of entrepreneur Yumi Pong, who has pursued a lifelong dream that led to her unique profession as a pole and aerial dancer, as well as owner of her dance studio. Yumi blends entrepreneurship with compassionate leadership, channelling her journey of overcoming adversity through pole dancing into a mission of support and inspiration for others. Yumi’s ethos transcends business success; she cultivates a vibrant community where all individuals, regardless of background, can thrive in a safe space. 

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, the culinary mastermind behind Global Mat Soul Kitchen, commands admiration for his creation of Singapore’s most sought-after biryani. Zahid’s blend of word of-mouth marketing and strategic Instagram prowess have amassed a dedicated following of food enthusiasts eager to savour his legendary recipes. He has a unique sales approach when it comes to Instagram sales: Zahid dictates when he will “drop” his lovingly-cooked biryani of the day, and he encourages self-pickup at his void deck. Behind his love for a good biryani sits Zahid’s genuine desire to unite Singapore’s community through food. 

Lastly, Rebecca Neo’s passion for sustainable agriculture and wholesome dietary practices sees her teaching and demonstrating the farm-to-table journey to students at the Edible Garden City. She endeavours to not only cultivate a deeper reverence for the origins and nature of food, but also wants to pave the way for a more resilient and eco-conscious community, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their sustenance and lifestyle. 

Ang Chong Lee, chief marketing officer at Yeo’s said, “Yeo’s is inspired by the stories of these young pioneers who are redefining what it means to be successful in today’s world. Our own story of success is one of progress and evolution, and the message these new pioneers bring of refreshing their dreams embodies Yeo’s spirit of resilience to ‘Refresh what Matters’.”

He added, “Through our 120-year journey, we’ve learned many of the same lessons – that success is about the courage to pursue one’s goals and make a meaningful impact with passion and dedication, no matter how unconventional the path ahead might look.” 

Singapore – Grab, a ride-hailing company, has acquired the restaurant reservation platform Chope–according to various sources. Grab’s goal is to help level the playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises, who make up the great majority of merchants on its platform but lack the resources of large food and beverage companies. 

Grab will acquire Chope’s operations in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. The acquisition of Chope will strengthen Grab’s omni-commerce strategy and help it enhance its goal of conquering the dining-out market. 

Speaking about the acquisition, Arrif Ziaudeen, founder at Chope, said, “Chope has built products that have served and delighted countless restaurants and their customers for over a decade. We have proudly achieved so much on our journey. Together (with Grab), we are poised to deliver even greater value to our customers and set new standards in a competitive industry.”

In line with acquisitions, Grab acquired the meal review and reservation service HungryGoWhere in 2022, which had shuttered in 2021. Grab redesigned the site and announced that it could use insights from Grab’s super app, such as cuisine trends and popular Singapore destinations.

Singapore – Social media company Hepmil Media Group has announced two new leadership appointments namely Michelle Tan as chief executive officer for Singapore and Cassi Yang as chief operating officer. The announcement was made by Karl Mak, co-founder and CEO at Hepmil Media Group.

With a reputation accumulated over the last 9 years of building SGAG and Hepmil Creators’ Network with us, Michelle is uniquely positioned to lead the company’s largest market to new heights. She is also the first domestic CEO for the company.

Meanwhile, over the past 9 years, Cassi has been involved in every major commercial project & innovation team, and has led market expansion efforts across Hepmil. In her new role, she will oversee all commercial activities across all 6 markets in the region, working to expand and deepen the group’s impact and reach as a group.

“Never in my wildest imagination did I envision that we would come so far as a founding team in a small start-up. Our journey together over the past 9 years has been remarkable, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty and exceptional talent in these two amazing leaders,” Mak said.

Singapore – Global financial services company Allianz has announced that it is set to acquire at least 51% of the shares in leading local insurer Income Insurance. The insurance, which is still subject for regulatory approval, will be done through its wholly owned subsidiary Allianz Europe B.V. 

The planned acquisition is expected to elevate Allianz’s presence in the fast-growing and attractive Singapore insurance market and establishes the company as one of the largest composite insurers in Asia. 

Moreover, the acquisition leverages Allianz’s capabilities in underwriting, product development, and data analytics with Income Insurance’s impressive market reach and strengths in distribution, partnerships, and people. 

The integration of the businesses would result in top positions for Allianz in all segments – Property and Casualty (P&C), Health, and Life – in Singapore. It would also position Allianz to realize significant synergy and capital optimization potential. The transaction is expected to generate a double-digit Return on Investment for Allianz in the mid-term. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024 or in the first quarter of 2025. 

Renate Wagner, member of the board of management at Allianz, said, “We look forward to partnering with Income Insurance, a leading insurer that shares Allianz’s values and commitment to customer excellence. This proposed transaction brings two strong businesses together for the benefit of Singapore’s customers and solidifies Allianz’s leadership position in the region.”

Meanwhile, Anusha Thavarajah, regional chief executive officer at Allianz Asia Pacific, commented, “We are excited at the prospect of the coming together of Allianz, the #1 global insurance brand, and Income Insurance, Singapore’s trusted and leading insurance brand. Asia holds great strategic importance for Allianz, and we are committed to investing in Singapore by partnering with a well-respected local institution.”

She added, “As Singapore and the region benefit from advancements in technology and healthcare and continue to grow in affluence, we firmly believe in the pivotal role of insurance in society to protect and grow their financial security and the well-being of our customers and partners.” 

Allianz intends to offer SGD 40.58 per share for a total transaction value of approx. SGD 2.2 billion (approx. EUR 1.5 billion) for 51 percent of the shares in Income Insurance. 

Meanwhile, NTUC Enterprise Co-operative Ltd–the parent company of Income–will continue to retain a substantial stake in Income Insurance, and together with Allianz, will establish a highly competitive powerhouse focused on Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance in Singapore.

Singapore – Local electric utility company Senoko Energy has tapped DDB Singapore for an innovative and unique initiative – the first ‘National Singlet Month.’ Said initiative celebrates the little actions in daily life, like wearing singlets, that can create ripples of positive change in energy conservation.

The ‘National Singlet Month’ supports Senoko Energy’s ongoing mission to provide sustainable energy solutions that put Singapore’s Net Zero goals within reach.

The initiative showcases Singapore’s quintessential wardrobe staple to highlight seemingly small daily habits that reduce energy consumption and inspire Singaporeans to contribute to a greener future. 

Moreover, the month-long ‘Singlet Wearers’ activation marks the first phase of Senoko’s wider ‘Thank You’ campaign, which spotlights energy savers to support environmental sustainability. DDB kicked off the campaign on 16 July with a social media contest and short film amplified through influencer engagement.

A one-minute video was launched on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram in collaboration with Mothership and social media influencers Xiao Ming (@sgagxiaoming) and Jayne (@jaynejetplane). Saluting energy savers nationwide, the film calls on all Singaporeans to embrace small actions that lead to big changes in energy conservation.

As part of the initiative, a month-long contest on Instagram and Facebook challenges Singaporeans was launched to encourage locals to submit photos of themselves dressed in a singlet while creatively conserving energy at home. The winner will receive a six-day ecotourism experience for two to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia, for which Senoko will offset the carbon footprint. 200 Senoko Energy customers who pledge to support the campaign online will also receive a limited-edition Senoko Energy singlet twinset.

Vinod Savio, chief creative officer at DDB Group Singapore, said, “National Singlet Month is a testament to the power of small actions, like wearing a singlet, in contributing to energy conservation efforts. By dedicating a month to these energy conservation actions, we hope to inspire more people to do their part for a sustainable future.”

Meanwhile, Frederik Baerts, CEO of Senoko Energy, commented, “With the National Singlet Month campaign, we are not only encouraging Singaporeans to reduce their energy consumption. It is a wider movement to recognise the current ways in which Singaporeans are already conserving energy and to encourage them to continue championing such behaviours.”

In addition to ‘Singlet Wearers’, the campaign will spotlight other personas in later phases, such as the ‘Selfless Switcher’ who advocates for power-saving practices like switching off unused plugs, reducing air-con temperatures, turning off lights when not in use to reduce utility bills, and investing in energy-efficient devices. Phase two of the campaign, which will feature more energy-saving personas, is scheduled to launch in 2025.

Singapore – Singlife, a local financial services company, has announced its sponsorship of the locally-made film ‘Wonderland’. This production has received numerous international accolades, including the Audience Award at the 24th San Diego Asian Film Festival, the Local Jury Prize at the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards for stars Mark Lee and Peter Yu at the inaugural Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival. 

Through the sponsorship, Singlife aims to emphasise the message that aspirations are attainable with appropriate planning and patience, and that financial freedom is feasible. Singlife portrays itself as a trustworthy financial partner committed to assisting Singaporeans in achieving a better path to financial independence.

Themes from the film are in line with Singlife’s multi-year marketing strategy, which asserts that everyone has dreams, no matter how big or small. According to Singlife, everyone has their own idea of financial freedom, and it could change over time. 

Wonderland, which is based in Singapore in the late 1980s, follows the tale of Loke, a single parent who wants to grant his daughter’s yearning to study abroad. Loke is portrayed by Mark Lee. When his daughter Eileen (Xenia Tan) goes overseas, the illiterate Loke finds it difficult to speak with her and turns to his neighbour Tan (Peter Yu), who is trying to atone for previous transgressions. 

‘Wonderland’ is a moving tale that revolves around Singaporeans’ aspirations for a better life. The film emphasises themes of hope, sacrifice, and life’s unpredictability. Nestled in the centre of a neighbourhood, it evokes a bygone era of Singapore and narrates the value of friendship. 

This sponsorship comes after Singlife announced in June that it will back Singapore-born national shuttlers Terry Hee and Jessica Tan, a mixed-doubles badminton duo hoping to break into the top ten in the world rankings. Singlife’s sponsorship of Wonderland reaffirms its commitment to promoting local talent. 

Wonderland is not only a film. In addition to showcasing regional talent, the critically acclaimed play encourages a heightened awareness and respect for people. Its themes are universal, appealing to audiences worldwide as well as Singaporeans, even though the story is set in both Singapore and the United States and features primarily Hokkien dialect. 

Speaking about the sponsorship, Debra Soon, Singlife’s group head of brand, communications, marketing and experience, said, “Through our sponsorship, we aim to bring this powerful story to a wider audience, shedding light on the challenges, including financial dilemmas, faced by the everyday Singaporean. It sends the message that everyone can have a dream and you do not have to go through the difficulties of achieving that dream alone. Wonderland is not just a film; it is a reminder of the enduring parental love and the importance of holding onto hope even in the face of adversity.”

Singapore – Gojek has announced that it has deepened its partnership with yuu Rewards Club, as part of its ongoing efforts to bring greater loyalty rewards and benefits to its users in Singapore. The deepening of the integration between Gojek and yuu builds on the initial announcement of Gojek’s partnership with yuu and DBS Bank in August 2023.

In the latest enhancement, users can now link their Gojek accounts with their yuu accounts, which will enable them to earn yuu Points with every Gojek ride taken. This is applicable across all Gojek service types. In the near future, users will also be able to use their yuu Points to directly offset the cost of their Gojek rides, allowing them to save even more on each ride that they take with Gojek.

As part of the launch of the enhancement, Gojek and yuu are also running a limited time promotion until 14 August 2024 that will give users even more rewards when they link their accounts. 

Users will get 3 yuu points per $1 spent after completing their first Gojek ride upon linking their accounts, equivalent to an additional 1% cash rebate. To be eligible, customers have to log in to their Gojek app and link their accounts via the yuu Rewards Club tab on the menu page.

Lien Choong Luen, general manager at Gojek Singapore, said, “I’m excited to deepen our partnership with yuu, which will allow Gojek and yuu users to enjoy even better rewards. Partnerships have always been central to Gojek; with ride-hailing an essential part of many Singaporeans’ daily commute, this will allow users to get more value from every trip that they take, or every purchase they make via yuu.” 

Meanwhile, Chen Peng, CEO at minden.ai, commented, “Our partnership with Gojek and DBS exemplifies our commitment to driving rewarding interactions between consumers and brands. It is also our goal to ensure that these interactions are seamless and convenient. We are pleased to announce that all yuu Rewards Club members can now earn yuu Points with their rides simply by linking their yuu ID in the Gojek app.” 

Singapore – The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has released a Statement of Decision (SDP), noting that the acquisition of Trans-cab by ride-hailing giant Grab is likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the market for the supply of ride-hail platform services to drivers and passengers in Singapore.

According to the commission, it has found that the proposed acquisition is likely to entrench and strengthen Grab’s already dominant position in the ride-hail platform market to the detriment of drivers and passengers.

It has also noted that that Grab’s plans to acquire Trans-cab, which is one of the largest fleets (taxi or private-hire car) not owned by or in partnership with any ride-hail platform in Singapore, to increase the availability of drivers on its ride-hail platform comes at a time when rival ride-hail platforms are facing driver supply shortages.

“There are also various strategies which may be employed by Grab to induce Trans-cab drivers to increase their usage of Grab’s ride-hail platform. The Proposed Acquisition is thus expected to result in a greater degree of “stickiness” of Trans-cab drivers to Grab’s ride-hail platform and a potential reduction in usage of rival ride-hail platforms. Consequently, rival ride-hail platforms’ access to Trans-cab drivers post-merger is likely to be significantly restricted,” the commission said in a press statement.

CCCS also notes that if competition constraints on Grab from rival ride-hail platforms are weakened, drivers and passengers could face higher prices and fewer choices for ride-hail platform services. 

Grab has also recognised that through the proposed acquisition, it will likely be able to significantly save on the incentives that it would have to pay to drivers as compared to if it employed alternative means to increase driver supply.

Nonetheless, CCCS is welcoming both parties to address the competition concerns raised before the commission makes its final decision about the merger.

Grab first announced its interest to acquire Trans-cab via its GrabRentals arm in July 2023, with initial feedback from the public regarding the merger happening a month later. Initial concerns about the merger have already been manifested by the agency since last year, considering it will make Grab becoming the dominant ride-hailing company in Singapore, discouraging competition.

India – Urban Company, an Indian home service company, has chosen M&C Saatchi Performance, a growth marketing agency, to help it expand into international markets in Singapore and the UAE. 

Through this partnership, Urban Company will be able to take advantage of M&C Saatchi Performance’s strategic advice and experience to prosper in global markets.

Urban Company’s international expansion will be spearheaded by M&C Saatchi Performance, which has a track record of leading digitally-driven companies like MPL and UpGrad in their international expansion. 

As part of this partnership, M&C Saatchi Performance has promoted Partha Sharma to country director in India. Sharma will lead the Urban Company account.

Speaking about the partnership, Roshat Adnani, managing director APAC, at M&C Saatchi Performance, said, “It is with great enthusiasm that we partner with Urban Company as their chosen Digital Agency on Record to support their international expansion into the dynamic markets of Singapore and the UAE. Our extensive experience steering Indian brands toward global success equips us for this endeavour. With experience and teams in markets like Singapore & UAE, proven data-driven strategies, and a nuanced understanding of digital businesses, we are well-prepared to amplify Urban Company’s growth. We are dedicated to delivering substantial value to Urban Company.”

Meanwhile, Joon Ming, AVP, marketing, at Urban Company, expressed, “We are excited to partner with M&C Saatchi Performance for our expansion in Singapore. Their deep market insights, combined with a robust local presence and a proven track record in digital business growth, make them the ideal choice to support our international ambitions. We look forward to leveraging their innovative strategies to enhance our footprint and achieve new milestones in these dynamic markets.”