Tag: Singapore

Singapore – Global behavioural insights practice Canvas8 has further strengthened its Singapore presence with the appointment of Andrea Ng as APAC insights director and the promotion of Hannah Langton from regional partnerships director for APAC to regional lead for APAC.

Ng joins Canvas8 to expand the practice’s insights offer in the region, whilst Langton will continue to build on her existing remit to strengthen Canvas8’s regional office in Singapore and spearhead the company’s entry into key APAC markets such as the Philippines, India, Australia and New Zealand.

In her most recent role as insights director at Kadence International (Singapore), she was instrumental in enhancing qualitative consultancy and steering digital transition for brands during the COVID-19 crisis. Ng enjoys pinpointing underutilised research areas for brands, and devising methodologies and narratives to heighten the significance of insights for businesses.

Meanwhile, Langton has been with Canvas8 since March 2021 and relocated from the UK to Singapore in November 2022 to lead the practice’s Singapore and APAC expansion.

“This is such a dynamic time to be coming on board with Canvas8 in Asia; the practice is no stranger to the Asian business landscape and is set for exciting regional expansion,” Ng said.

Meanwhile, Langton commented, “I am simply thrilled to welcome Andrea as a member of Canvas8’s core team here in Singapore. Her passionate advocacy for cultural truths and representation in brand initiatives will be a considerable asset to our Singapore client offerings and stand us in good stead as we continue to roll-out our Insights-based client solutions across Asia.”

She further added, “Canvas8 sets itself apart by blending market research, strategic consultancy, and trend forecasting to provide forward-thinking, insight-grounded client solutions.”

Nick Morris, founder and managing director of Canvas8 has outlined the brand’s three primary challenges in Asia as follows: ramping up Canvas8’s regional talent pool, remaining sensitive to the cultural nuances of each individual market, and challenging the perception of traditional market research. 

These appointments come recently after three other recent hires in Canvas8’s new Manila office and a junior analyst hire in Singapore.

Singapore – Online employment platform JobStreet, a career and talent partner by SEEK, announced the launch of its free learning platform, seekMAX, to empower Singaporeans and help them seek better careers through upskilling and new job opportunities. 

JobStreet’s seekMAX is an innovative in-app learning platform designed with the aim of empowering professionals to upskill and advance their careers. The new platform will allow JobStreet users in Singapore to freely access over 1,100 educational videos via its mobile app.

The educational videos will include career-related advice, industry-specific content, soft skills, and leadership tips. It will also feature a seekMAX Original series, Salary Squad, helmed by local influencers answering compensation and benefits questions. 

These high-quality and bite-sized videos offered by seekMAX are in collaboration with companies like Microsoft, Complexly, TED, Deutsche Welle, local influencers like Annette Lee, Dr. Jay Kay, Janus Chan, and Jason Ho, and international media like Bloomberg, The New York Times, and Tech in Asia. 

JobStreet also tapped the National Youth Council for their seekMAX Community, allowing them to be thought-starters, spearheading discussions, and engaging people in conversation. 

With the seekMAX community, users can build networks and connect with industry leaders, engage with fellow professionals on career threads, and be updated with the latest industry trends. 

Chew Siew Mee, managing director at JobStreet Singapore, said, “As Singapore approaches Industry 4.0, where automation powered by data can perform everyday tasks, Singaporeans must evolve and upskill in order to stay relevant. We have noticed that while many companies are now actively sending their employees for training, learning and development are also an individual’s responsibility.”

“In a recent JobStreet survey we found that 75% of respondents engage in work-related learning via social media and e-learning platforms. It is heartening to see Singaporeans taking charge of their development, which is why we’re excited to launch seekMAX in Singapore and offer Singaporeans a free and easily accessible platform where they can grow their skills, knowledge, and career. The bite-sized content we offer is ideal for the busy Singaporean, and we look forward to continuing to provide quality content as a dedicated career partner for Singaporeans,” Siew Mee added.

Meanwhile, Lewis Ng, chief operating officer for Asia at SEEK, said, “As the leading employment platform and career partner in the region for over 25 years, our goal has always been to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers. We’re proud to help people lead more productive working lives, as well as to help organisations succeed. We aim to be present for every stage of a person’s professional life – whether  they are looking for a job or looking to take their career to the next level. With our SEEK Better Career Fair and seekMAX, we can deliver our purpose effectively as we work toward becoming the number one digital career platform across Asia.”

JobStreet Singapore will officially launch seekMAX at the SEEK Better Career Fair on August 19 to 20.

Singapore – Tin Pei Ling, an elected member of the Singaporean parliament, has announced her exit from Grab as its director of corporate development, seven months after she took said role.

In a LinkedIn post, she said that she looks forward to embarking on a new journey in her career, and take on a more external-facing and commercial role in the tech sector.

“In the time that I have been with Grab, I am privileged to meet many talented Grabbers with great personalities and get involved in several projects. These are meaningful experiences and memories that I will continue to hold dear and be thankful for,” she said.

While she didn’t mention where she will be moving next, Pei Ling hinted that she will be joining a fintech company, where she will take on a leadership role in strategic partnerships and business development.

“I am excited that this new role will give me the opportunity to support the company’s product innovation efforts and expansion into key Asia-Pacific markets,”

She also mentioned that she has been thankful for her time at Grab, noting she admired the company’s social mission in the Southeast Asian region.

“It has been an invaluable experience for me at Grab, as it was an opportunity for me to return to the private sector, to broaden my horizons, hone new skills and allow me to make a contribution in a different way. I admire Grab’s social mission – ‘to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone’,” she concluded.

She was first elected as an MP for the Marine Parade GRC back in 2011, and was re-elected in 2015 and 2020 for the MacPherson SMC. She has been also appointed as Chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information in the 14th Parliament.

Singapore – TikTok has recently announced the launch of the ‘Scam Prevention Edition’ of its Digital Wellness Hub with the goal of providing users with the resources and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely. 

Introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and the Singapore Police Force (SPF), this initiative aligns with TikTok’s dedication to creating a reliable and secure digital environment for its platform users.

With the Scam Prevention Edition, TikTok will contribute to local scam education and reinforce MHA’s anti-scam ACT (Add, Check, Tell) framework to translate anti-scam awareness into actions. 

This endeavor merges education and entertainment to facilitate engagement with users of all ages on the platform. TikTok will deploy educational messages on scam prevention through various initiatives such as raising awareness through scam identification and prevention challenges as well as a  ‘Shop Safe’ tab that allows users to access educational videos on identifying scams and how to shop safely.

Teresa Tan, head of public policy at TikTok Southeast Asia and Singapore, said, “TikTok has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of scam-related content on our platform. We have implemented policies to guard against scams and take strict enforcement action upon detection. Through the Scam Prevention Edition of the Hub, we hope to strengthen the resources available and build understanding within the community on how it takes a joint effort to keep our platform safe.”

Meanwhile, Gerald Singham, chairman of the Singaporean National Crime Prevention Council, commented, “We are excited to be part of the Scam Prevention Edition of TikTok’s Digital Wellness Hub, which provides useful scam prevention resources to help Singapore residents protect themselves against scams. Through this partnership, we hope to not only raise awareness but also encourage more individuals to take ACTions against scams.”

These efforts are an extension of educational resources available on the Digital Wellness Hub, which was launched in 2022 and anchors all of TikTok’s initiatives around mental wellbeing, cyber wellness, user safety and more.

Singapore – Initiative, a media agency within IPG Mediabrands, has announced their appointment as the media agency of record for global technology and manufacturing company 3M in the Asia-Pacific region

Initiative’s scope, which extends to 13 markets, will cover all media and buying duties for the portfolio of brands across 3M’s Consumer Business Group segment. The markets they will cover include South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, and more.

“Marketing at 3M is on a transformation journey to enhance our digital footprint, accelerate our go-to-market execution, and optimize scale and efficiency. We are very pleased to have Initiative as our media partner, who bring strategic thinking, agility, and understanding of diverse consumer targets, making them a great fit for 3M Asia Pacific’s consumer business,” said Chitkala Nishandar, director, APAC marketing centre at 3M-CBG.

Commenting on the appointment, James Smyllie, president of Initiative APAC, said, “3M is a globally established company that is known for its extraordinary culture of innovation, one that has led to breakthrough solutions for consumers and businesses around the world. We are thrilled to partner with 3M on a strategically unified marketing approach using Initiative’s new Fame & Flow model.”

Initiative’s regional appointment to 3M is effective immediately.

Singapore – Online fashion and lifestyle retail company Zalora, a part of Global Fashion Group (GFG), is adopting generative AI technology with the launch of its proprietary platform-as-a-service integration (PaaS) of OpenAI, TITAN. 

TITAN is used to drive new efficiencies in operations, improve online fashion customer experiences, and unlock growth opportunities for the company. It will also create more immersive and conversational online shopping experiences and data-driven recommendations for customers. 

Among the areas being powered by TITAN is its smart search discovery to handle a wider array of spelling variations and errors and better identify, present, and sort customers’ results, reducing the chances of experiencing zero search results. 

TITAN also powers their conversational shopping assistant, which includes smart prompts and improved real-time interactive features; their production automation to unlock automation across different functions and improve employee productivity gains; and their internal chatbots, which improve employee experience and productivity. 

Gunjan Soni, Zalora CEO and Global Fashion Group COO, said, “With a history of innovations under our belt, we are excited to embrace the future with Generative AI and leverage it to deliver the best ‘tailored for fashion’ e-commerce experience for our customers both during and post-purchase.With TITAN we will once again be the first in the region to offer these innovations to our growing loyal base.” 

Zalora’s drive to innovate is paired with the responsibility to safeguard the millions of customers it serves as well as their personal data. The company is committed to using AI and TITAN in a responsible way, having developed a series of principles to guide responsible innovation, and implementing several measures to protect customers’ data. 

Meanwhile, Sumit Jain, Chief Technology Officer at Zalora, also shared, “ZALORA is excited to leverage the potential of OpenAI via TITAN, our AI platform, to reimagine eCommerce and create a truly ‘wow’ customer experience. The future of retail will be driven by technology innovation, and the extent to which we prioritise ensuring a safe and seamless experience for customers.” 

“By building on OpenAI technology through our proprietary platform, TITAN, we intend to lead Fashion E-commerce innovation in maintaining a safe and seamless experience for customers and taking the online shopping experience to the next level,” he added. 

Zalora’s introduction of TITAN, its proprietary integration of OpenAI technology into its platform, comes alongside a series of new tech advancements the company plans to roll out this year. This includes the development of their conversational shopping assistant and Warehouse Management System (WMS), both of which are still in the early phases of development. 

TITAN will also serve as a gateway for ZALORA and its parent company, Global Fashion Group, to scale new heights in Southeast Asia and replicate this technology across the Group’s different regions, including Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Singapore – Vividthree Holdings, a digital content production company, announced that it has signed a memorandum of undertaking (MoU) with ZKDigimax (ZKDM), a joint venture between ZKTeco and DMMX, to deliver a complete and holistic DOOH media experience for both their existing and potential clients. 

Through this strategic collaboration, both Vividthree and ZKDM can leverage their companies’ expertise in order to improve their resources and boost overall efficiency for mutual benefit. Additionally, this partnership opens up new platforms for collaboration with location owners, paving the way to explore DOOH as a revenue center. 

Vividthree will gain exclusive rights to offer DOOH hardware, a content management system, and cutting-edge AI technology from ZKDM to be marketed across both Vividthree’s new and existing clients. 

Meanwhile, ZKDM will refer content creation requirements exclusively to Vividthree, leveraging the company’s expertise in visual effects and content creation. 

With the union of  ZKDM’s market-leading position in the provision of smart OOH hardware applications such as AI-powered digital signage, LED wall displays, transparent LED screens, etc., and Vividthree’s strong track record in creating effective and impactful DOOH campaigns, the companies ensure their clients an all-round DOOH media experience that will effectively meet their advertising goals. 

The MOU encompasses a 12-month exclusive relationship between both parties in Singapore and Malaysia. 

According to Jonathan Zhang, chief executive officer of Vividthree, “This collaboration brings together the formidable strengths of ZKDM, a renowned total technology solution provider, and Vividthree, an influential digital content production powerhouse. Through this strategic alliance, we are not only equipped to offer cutting-edge hardware and software solutions but also possess the prowess in content creation. As a result, our partnership emerges as an end-to-end advertising solutions provider, catering to every aspect of our clients’ needs.”

Zhang added, “Our combined efforts empower us to present an all-encompassing DOOH media solution, allowing our clients to realize their advertising goals through seamless and immersive entertainment experiences. Together, we envision a future of innovation and transformation, shaping the trajectory of this dynamic industry.” 

Meanwhile, Supardi Tan, chief executive officer of ZKDigimax also commented on the partnership saying, “Prepare to witness a revolutionary leap in the industry as ZKDM and Vividthree unite their unparalleled expertise. This partnership brings together the dynamic capabilities of ZKDM as a total technology solution provider and the creative prowess of Vividthree in the digital content industry. As a result of this formidable collaboration, we now stand as a comprehensive end-to-end advertising solution provider, offering a perfect fusion of cutting-edge hardware, advanced software, and captivating content creation. But our impact doesn’t stop there.” 

Tan added, “This partnership introduces a groundbreaking approach to advertising, seamlessly integrating content with technology to create an entirely new realm of customer experience and engagement. Together, we embark on an exciting journey to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of advertising and leave an indelible mark on the industry landscape.” 

Singapore – In a slew of recent senior appointments in Asia, global brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R has appointed Saw Gin Toh as its new head of strategy for Singapore.

In her new role, Toh joins VMLY&R Singapore’s management team to lead and plan the development and growth of the strategy team, helping to grow business and building trusted connections with key clients and partners. 

Toh brings a mix of strategy and insights development across multiple categories and consumer segments, garnered from more than 20 years of experience with major networks and clients. She started out in strategic planning and insights for creative agencies before moving into communications, channel planning and insights on the media side. Most recently she was head of strategy consulting at Dentsu Consulting.

Commenting on her own appointment,Toh said, “I am constantly on the lookout for new opportunities to apply my knowledge, skill sets, experiences, and exposure in new areas of application. And VMLY&R, a leader in brand experience, customer experience and commerce, provides the perfect opportunity for me to do just that. As the lines between creative and media blur, there is an opportunity for us to offer integrated solutions to clients’ needs by focusing on commerce as the intersection point between business experience and customer experience.”

Meanwhile, Rhys Taylor, managing director of VMLY&R Singapore, said, “Strategy has always been at the heart of what we do at VMLY&R, so Saw Gin’s extensive experience makes her the ideal fit to head up strategy for Singapore, our regional hub.”

 “She has a strong track record in delivering growth for clients by helping them navigate ever more complex marketplaces, as well as having been recognised at regional and global awards as a game-changer, and for insights and research methodologies. She joins an already strong team of capability leads across our broader services — all with the focus of building connected brands for our growing client portfolio,” he added.

Her appointment is a part of VMLY&R’s ongoing strategy to fortify its regional hub in Singapore, as she joins a growing team of capability leads, built to ensure that services are optimized to best suit client needs through creativity, technology, data and culture.

Singapore – zujuGP, a digital football platform managed by businessman Kiat Lim and fronted by global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, has officially launched ‘Kickoff by Zuju’, a first-of-its kind, real-time second-screen fan experience that enables fans to play along during a live football match. 

‘Kickoff by Zuju’ operates within a freemium model and is free-to-play. The users will have the option of purchasing premium features such as virtual goods, gameplay-related benefits, and power-ups, as well as subscriptions to unlock special social interaction and community privileges. 

According to zujuGP, ‘Kickoff by Zuju’ is the first to crack the code for an immersive second-screen football fan experience by providing fans an opportunity to play along with their favourite teams and players in real-time during a live match. 

During a live match, fans using ‘Kickoff by Zuju’ can play along in real-time with their favourite players and teams, on their mobile devices. They can anticipate  micro-events like goals, shot attempts, touches in the penalty box, crosses, and free kicks, all as the match is happening live, which is an upgrade from the traditional fantasy games where “gameplay” occurs prior to the match.

“We are using technology intuitively to elevate the match experience in real-time and create a new football sub-culture. Kickoff by Zuju was inspired by fans all over the world who have long demanded a more engaging and immersive second-screen experience, and we are proud to be able to lead the way,” said Kiat Lim, co-founder of zujuGP.

The football maestro Cristiano Ronaldo will also be featured prominently in a global campaign comprising a series of videos, posts, and activations that will be released on his social channels. 

As part of the campaign, Cristiano Ronaldo will also be releasing a limited-edition collectible card collection exclusively on Kickoff by Zuju. Users will be able to unlock and win copies of these cards, which will be physically delivered to them. In addition, the football star will also be attending real-life engagements such as meet-and-greets exclusive to the platform.

“We are especially excited that Cristiano has been an important part of the development of Kickoff by Zuju, giving us the opportunity to bring fans even closer to players,” continued Kiat Lim.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo shared, “Kickoff by Zuju provides fans with an extraordinary opportunity to connect further with the game, their favourite teams, and players. As someone who is deeply passionate about football and giving back to the supporters who have been with me throughout my career, I take immense pride in being part of this platform that elevates the way fans can enjoy the game.”