Tag: Singapore

Manila, Philippines – The Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has announced that it is bringing Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters, two Singaporean food franchise establishments, to the Philippines via a joint venture with Food Collective, Pte. Ltd. (FCPL).

Under the joint venture, JFC will own 60% of the business while FCPL will own the remaining 40%. Both companies have committed to invest up to PHP250.0m to the join venture, which shall have its own resources and personnel with JFC taking the lead in the management and operation of the business. 

The joint venture will be the franchisee of both brands in the Philippines.

Tiong Bahru Bakery is famous for being the “Home of the Hand-made Croissants” and for its baked goods and Coffee, with a commitment to producing high-quality food and coffee and celebrating traditional techniques and its local neighbourhoods. 

Meanwhile, Common Man Coffee Roasters operates all-day dining restaurants in Singapore and Malaysia, with an aim to be a champion for speciality coffee and the best all-day dining concept in Asia.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, chief executive officer at Jollibee Foods Corporation, said, “We are excited to enter this joint venture with FCPL to own and operate the Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. These brands will be a strong addition to JFC’s foreign franchised brands and will allow JFC to capture an even greater opportunity and strengthen JFC’s position for further growth in the Philippine market.”

FCPL is a majority-owned subsidiary of Titan Lifestyle Holdings Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan Dining LP in which JFC has a 90% participating interest. The company is incorporated in Singapore and its primary activity is owning and operating lifestyle brands, including Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters. 

There are currently 16 Tiong Bahru Bakery and 5 Common Man Coffee Roasters, across Singapore and Malaysia.

Singapore – Converge ICT Singapore, the international unit of Philippine fiber broadband and technology solutions provider Converge ICT Solutions is now fully geared up to provide service to enterprise customers outside the Philippines.

And with this continuous growth and expansion, Converge appoints technology sales strategist Victor Koh to lead Converse SG as its general manager and head of international and wholesale sales. 

In his new role, Koh will be responsible for managing the company’s operations while driving revenue growth by extending connectivity services and fiber optic capacity to international markets.

Koh carries with him over 30 years of expertise in the information technology and telecommunications industries. He has a proven track record of developing strategies for penetrating new markets.

“Converge has a good opportunity to develop a strong presence in the international carrier space. I’m excited to fulfill my role and support Converge to become the partner of choice for regional international carriers especially as the market becomes more competitive in broadband services,” Koh said.

Converge attained a Facilities-Based Operations (FBO) Licence in Singapore this year. The license allows the company to deploy telecommunications infrastructure and provide connectivity services to wholesale and enterprise customers in the region.

“We realize the opportunities presented by wholesale as a driver for our enterprise business, and Converge will continue to capitalize on that,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO and co-founder of Converge. 

“Converge SG stands ready to enable telecommunication firms, carriers, cable companies, and other businesses in delivering intra-Asia and Trans-Pacific connectivity capabilities for their operations,” he added. 

Through its global subsidiary, Converge offers a variety of international connectivity services, such as Ethernet-International Private Line (E-IPL) service, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) service, and submarine cable capacities, among others.

Grace Uy, president and co-founder of Converge, said, “Converge SG was built on the premise of serving the wholesale needs of international carriers, ISPs and telecommunication firms. We hope to finally capture various growth opportunities for the Wholesale business.”

The fiber broadband provider also continues to expand its networks as it participates in the Bifrost Cable System and the South-East Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X), which are both set to be operational by next year. 

“With our investments in our international broadband network, we are ready to service and enable the growth of business clients in the region,” Converge SEVP and COO Jesus Romero shared. 

Converge now operates one of the largest international networks in the country with points of presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.

Singapore – Universal Music Singapore, a record label under the Universal Music Group (UMG), appoints music industry veteran Alice Kent as the new general manager to bolster the company’s presence in Singapore and across the region. 

In her newly appointed role, Kent will supervise all aspects of the company’s operations, including the company’s artist and repertoire (A&R) projects, marketing strategies, partnership ventures, and business expansion efforts. 

Alice Kent previously served as the marketing, partnerships, and business development director for Live Nation Entertainment Singapore. She also worked for Warner Music Group Singapore as their business development, sync, and partnerships director and for Sony Music Entertainment Asia as the regional marketing director. 

Calvin Wong, CEO of Southeast Asia and SVP Asia for Universal Music Group, commented on the appointment, saying,”We welcome Alice’s enthusiasm and industry savvy to Universal Music Singapore as General Manager.” 

“She brings with her a pioneering spirit and a wealth of experience from her decades of working in the music and entertainment industry, covering many aspects of the business from brand partnerships, label marketing, and artist management to sync deals, non-traditional sales, live shows, and concerts. All of which, combined with her passion for music, will help Universal Music Singapore drive continued growth,” he continued. 

Kent carries with her an expanded portfolio, which includes collaborations with Billie Eilish and the Singapore Tourism Board, partnerships with Singtel and PayPal, and even securing sponsorship agreements for K-Pop group BlackPink. 

“I am honoured and excited to be part of the dynamic and multi-faceted Universal Music team. I look forward to making a positive impact and bringing my industry expertise and creativity to the strong body of work and artist roster that Universal Music has,” Kent said. 

She further added, “Singapore is such a diverse and dynamic market, and this is where I will be focusing on the growth potential for all creative partnerships and brand deals. In addition, I intend to take a keen eye on domestic and regional artists’ prospects while strengthening our repertoire and artist development efforts, building upon Universal Music’s leading position.”

Singapore – Innovation platform Plug and Play, in partnership with government agency Enterprise Singapore, has announced the launch of the ‘Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) San Francisco Acceleration Programme’, providing an excellent opportunity for Singapore startups to explore and expand their products in the tech focused regions of San Francisco and the US.

Set to begin this October, the programme will be aiming to empower and assist Singapore-based startup tech companies with the resources and knowledge to thrive in one of the world’s largest and most diverse markets.

The GIA San Francisco Acceleration Programme will be having three main offerings for the companies involved. Firstly, participant companies will be receiving practical training through interactive workshops accompanied by one-on-one discussions through office hours to provide personalised guidance.

In line with this, each startup will be matched with a mentor who will provide tailored support across various aspects, including marketing, product development, partnership building, investment assistance, and pitch polishing.

Lastly, the programme will culminate with a 2-week in-market immersion in San Francisco, providing startups with an opportunity to pitch and showcase their solutions to a regional network of corporate partners, investors, and industry leaders.

Commenting on the program, Jupe Tan, managing partner at Plug and Play APAC, said, “We believe that the GIA San Francisco Acceleration Programme will be an exceptional opportunity for Singapore startups to tap into the innovation culture and networking opportunities in Silicon Valley. Through our tailored mentorship and business development support, we aim to empower startups to make valuable connections and accelerate their growth trajectory.”

Meanwhile, Lim Seow Hui, director for Americas at Enterprise SG, mentioned, “We are very heartened to partner Plug and Play to support tech startups in building connections and capabilities to grow their businesses as they expand into the United States as it presents immense opportunities as a market for business growth. San Francisco is also a good starting point for Singapore companies and startups, in many areas of tech such as biotech, fintech, sustainability and digital economy.”

Singapore – The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced that it is committing S$150m to drive technological innovation in the financial sector. The financial commitment was made under the renewed Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme (FSTI 3.0).

FSTI 3.0 seeks to accelerate and strengthen innovation by supporting projects that involve the use of cutting-edge technologies or with a regional nexus, while doubling down on MAS’ commitment to promote a vibrant technology ecosystem for the financial sector.

Moreover, FSTI 3.0 will continue to support advanced capability development and adoption in key areas such as artificial intelligence and data analytics (AIDA), and Regulation Technology (RegTech). 

Specifically, MAS will focus on promoting AIDA adoption in smaller financial firms and supporting the needs of less digitally mature firms looking to acquire regtech solutions. Across tracks, applicants will also be required to devote resources to talent development, in order to strengthen the Singaporean fintech talent pool.

FSTI 3.0 will comprise several tracks which include enhanced centre of excellence; innovation acceleration; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) fintech.

The scope of grant funding will be expanded to include corporate venture capital (CVC) entities, at funding support of up to 50% of qualifying expenses, capped at S$2 million per project. Moreover, the funding will enable CVCs to offer strong mentorship and support to help start-ups scale and develop resilient and viable business models.

Moreover, MAS recognises the importance of partnering with the industry to support innovative fintech solutions arising from emerging technologies such as Web 3.0. MAS will conduct open calls for the use of innovative technologies in industry use cases. Grant funding will be provided to support actual trial and commercialisation.

Lastly, MAS also aims to support the development and deployment of projects that address ESG data, reporting, and analytics needs of the financial sector, at funding support of up to 50% of qualifying expenses, capped at S$500,000 per project.

Ravi Menon, managing director at MAS, said, “Since 2015, the Financial Sector Development Fund (FSDF) has awarded $340 million as part of the FSTI programme to drive the adoption of technology and innovation in the financial sector. Transformative technology projects that MAS has piloted with the industry include SGFinDex, Project Orchid’s Purpose Bound Money, Project Veritas’ Responsible AI, green and sustainable finance through Project Greenprint, as well as large payment initiatives such as the cross-border payment linkage with Thailand.”

He added, “Notably, FSTI 1.0 and 2.0 helped strengthen the digital capabilities of financial institutions which served them and their customers through the COVID pandemic. With FSTI 3.0, we look forward to continued collaboration with the industry to advance purposeful financial innovation.”

Singapore – Travel and lifestyle PR agencies GHC Asia and Accela Communications received a joint mandate to reposition the newly transformed Grand Hyatt Singapore as ‘A Grand Living Room and Wellness Haven in the Orchard Road area’. 

The dual-agency appointment is part of Grand Hyatt Singapore’s marketing strategy to elevate the hotel’s luxury positioning, rooted in legacy and exceptional service, that spans over five decades.

As the hotel enters phased completion in its multi-year transformational journey, it aims to secure its enviable position as Singapore’s long-established favorite place for locals and visitors alike to meet, convene, and celebrate for generations to come. 

“The appointment of GHC Asia and Accela Communications comes as we prepare to reveal Grand Hyatt Singapore’s reimagined spaces, which will be more theatrical and captivating than ever before,” said Charis Choi, regional vice president of sales and marketing Southeast Asia for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. 

Choi further reveals that “GHC Asia will lead the strategic communications and uplift the hotel’s luxury positioning, with a focus on partnership marketing and international media outreach, while Accela Communications will drive creative communications for the lifestyle concepts at the hotel’s signature restaurants, bars, and Damai Spa.”

GHC Asia has carried with it a 20-year expertise and international network in the travel, tourism, luxury lifestyle, and property sectors since its inception in Hong Kong in 1998. 

“We are delighted to have been selected to lead the relaunch PR campaign for such an illustrious and much-loved hotel as Grand Hyatt Singapore. Like many people, we have a lot of fond memories of special occasions within its familiar spaces over the years. The hotel’s rich history and international acclaim give us a strong backdrop from which to build new stories and forge meaningful partnerships, driving awareness across traditional media, digital platforms, and social touchpoints,” said Paul Hicks, founder and CEO of GHC Asia.

Meanwhile, Accela Communications will take the lead for consumer PR for Grand Hyatt Singapore’s reimagined F&B and wellness concepts and will develop guest-centric story angles for the hotel’s iconic lifestyle destinations. The agency is renowned for its integrated communications approach to generating creative and innovative campaigns across traditional, social media, and digital marketing. 

Erin Padilla, CEO and co-founder of Accela Communications, shared that “We’re thrilled to be part of this significant moment in Grand Hyatt Singapore’s history. As long-time champions of the property, we’re excited to have won the agency bid to lead creative PR activations for the relaunch. Grand Hyatt Singapore is loved by locals and international travellers for its world-class hospitality and innovative dining experiences. We can’t wait to bring back Singapore’s urban oasis right in the heart of the Orchard Road district.”

The iconic hotel welcomed its first guest in 1971 under the name Singapore Hyatt Hotel, which was subsequently renamed Hyatt Regency Singapore in 1979. In 1998, the hotel rebranded as Grand Hyatt Singapore after a major upgrade of its 677 guestrooms and suites, complemented by the introduction of world-class gourmet concepts.

“Within the World of Hyatt, Grand Hyatt hotels offer a front row seat to major gateway cities and resort destinations, bringing travel dreams to life by celebrating the iconic in small details and magnificent moments. Our guests would be able to expect service excellence and first-class accommodations within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture, inventive restaurants, luxury spas, and sophisticated meeting spaces,” said Charis Choi.

“We’re very excited at how Grand Hyatt Singapore’s evolution makes it more than ever the perfect embodiment of the Grand Hyatt brand promise. We can’t wait to show the newly transformed hotel to our ambitious guests around the world seeking confidence and the new in familiar,” she further added.

Singapore – Vistar Media, the global provider of programmatic software and digital signage solutions for out-of-home (OOH), announces a partnership with Ten Square, the largest outdoor LED display in Singapore. 

Vistar Media will serve as Ten Square’s supply-side platform (SSP) partner for programmatic DOOH transactions. And with this partnership, advertisers across Southeast Asia and around the world can now access Ten Square’s groundbreaking 3D anamorphic screen via Vistar’s SSP. 

“As we double down on our investment in programmatic DOOH across Southeast Asia, I’m excited to forge such a strong partnership with Ten Square, bringing advertisers one of the most unique out-of-home formats in Singapore for their advertising efforts,” said Ben Baker, managing director, APAC, at Vistar Media.

He further shared that “Partnerships like these are crucial to our efforts at Vistar to accelerate the overall adoption of pDOOH, and I’m confident this will help advertisers continue to recognise the unique value the channel can bring to an omnichannel media mix.”

The iconic Singapore Ten Square is an eye-catching digital billboard that stands at 305 sq m.tall and boasts high-resolution images with a 10mm pixel pitch and more than 3 million pixels, including anamorphic content on three sides.

Being the first of its kind in Singapore, it offers an immersive experience for onlookers passing by a high-traffic shopping hub in the city. It is situated on the facade of the iconic one-stop car vending machine in Singapore’s bustling CBD.

Ten Square also includes an event space that can be utilized for brand activations, launches, and promotions.

Franck Vidal, director for Southeast Asia sales and partnerships at Vistar Media, shared that they are thrilled to welcome an innovative partner like Ten Square to join their robust network of digital inventory in Southeast Asia. 

“Ten Square’s unique screen truly leans into the future of programmatic out-of-home, and the immense creative potential that comes with the channel. I’m excited to witness firsthand how advertisers tap into this unique canvas for their advertising campaigns,” he continued. 

Meanwhile, Gary Hong, founder of Ten Square, comments on the partnership, saying that, “We are thrilled to partner with Vistar Media to help brands execute iconic pDOOH campaigns across our standout, “state of the art” screen that sits on the façade of the eye-catching car vending machine.” 

“With these innovations, we hope to elevate creatives and branding to new heights, captivating audiences even in the darkest of nights through our mesmerizing 3D anamorphic “ready” billboard. The seamless fusion of technology and artistry empowers brands to make a deep and lasting impression on passersby,” he added. 

Singapore – Global communication platform Slack reveals that it will roll out a completely redesigned interface and new user experience aimed at helping users stay organized, focused, and productive. 

The redesign is expected to roll out in the coming months and will feature a more intuitive layout and better organization to finish work faster. To go into specifics, the new design helps users navigate through channels and conversations easily, focus on what’s important and knock out distractions, and find essential tools faster and easier for a more simplified experience. 

The redesigned Slack features easier navigation of channels and messages across multiple workspaces. The sidebar will become a default ‘Home’ view, with those in the Enterprise grid having the ability to view channels from every workspace, all in Home.

Another prominent feature introduced with the new design is the dedicated pages for a more focused view. With this, notifications will be housed deeper within this view, so users will have more control over when they want to work and when they’re ready to collaborate with the team.

Slack’s new design also emphasizes the importance of having useful tools one click away. With the revamped design, a new ‘create’ button will allow users to start new messages, channels, canvases, and huddles. And a new “more” button is introduced for simpler access to workflows and apps without friction.

Noah Weiss, chief product officer of Slack, said that, “We know millions of people start and end their workday in Slack, so we took great care to ensure these improvements make it a more productive and pleasant home. The new experience helps teams stay better organized, focus on what’s important, and quickly access a growing set of tools in Slack.”

Other than the highlighted features, Slack will also introduce hover functionality to monitor activity quickly, device-specific updates, and new themes.

Singapore – In line with Singapore’s continuous efforts to promote safety in situations of crisis, the Ministry of Home Affairs worked alongside Wunderman Thompson Singapore on its latest ‘SGSecure’ campaign, ‘What’s your role?’, to educate the public about what they can do, as well as empower them to play their parts to help keep Singapore safe.

The new campaign by Wunderman Thompson Singapore and the Ministry of Home Affairs features everyday people and shows how they play their roles in protecting others simply by drawing on their personalities and innate strengths.

The campaign was portrayed visually with posters and a short film depicting how individuals can contribute to security with examples such as the ability to bring people together in both peacetime and times of crisis, the eye to spot fake news, the strength to stay calm in emergencies, and even the courage and heart to support those at risk of radicalization.

Nimesh Desai, chief executive officer at Wunderman Thompson Singapore, said,  “Despite being one of the safest countries with a well-established system, we recognise that people living in Singapore cannot take anything for granted. Hence, the premise of the campaign – we all have a part to play.”

Meanwhile, Gerald Chue, group creative director, Wunderman Thompson Singapore, commented, “We wanted to step away from the usual doom and gloom that instils fear, and inspire Singaporeans to rise up instead, by using their own skills to keep our home safe and secure.”

In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of marketing, staying updated with the latest trends and honing your skills is essential to succeed. Fortunately, Singapore boasts a thriving ecosystem of marketing training providers, catering to professionals and aspiring marketers alike.

Whether you’re seeking hands-on workshops, comprehensive certification programs, or personalised coaching, these training providers are dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge and expertise necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving marketing industry.

In this listicle, MARKETECH APAC takes a look into the standout features and unique approaches of the top marketing training providers in Singapore, opening doors to new opportunities and propelling your marketing career to unprecedented heights.

ClickAcademy Asia

ClickAcademy Asia, with its vision of creating a future-ready workforce, has been dedicated to providing high-value training that empowers businesses and professionals to thrive in the online realm. With over a decade of experience, they have successfully transformed the careers of numerous marketers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to excel in the digital age.

Some of its offered services include Skills Future Singapore (SSG)-funded training programmes, in-house and bespoke training programmes, lead generation services, research services, and content production services. 

Moreover, ClickAcademy Asia is committed to delivering tailored training solutions to businesses of all sizes, ensuring the programs align with specific organisational requirements.

ClickAcademy Asia boasts a wide roster of experienced professionals who possess a deep understanding of digital marketing. For the company, it’s important to deliver industry-leading expertise. This is evident in their commitment to quality content, meticulously curated and regularly updated to reflect the latest trends and advancements in the ever-changing field of digital marketing.

As an accredited training partner (TP) with the SSG, ClickAcademy Asia’s courses qualify for government funding, making them more accessible and affordable for businesses. This accreditation underscores their commitment to providing quality education and professional development opportunities.

ClickAcademy Asia serves a wide list of local and international clients; including Changi Airport Group, Hitachi, Kimberly-Clarke, Lenovo, NTUC, OCBC Bank, Prada, PwC, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Management University, SingTel, Standard Chartered, Temasek Polytechnic, Thomson Reuters, Toshiba, Unilever, amongst others.

To learn more about ClickAcademy Asia and the various digital marketing courses offered, you can contact them via their official website. You can also either email them at [email protected] or drop them a message via WhatsApp via the number +65 9388 8755.

Equinet Academy

The Equinet Academy was first introduced in 2013 and offers a variety of courses in order to accelerate the process of digital marketing transformation across all industry sectors. Some of its courses range from content marketing, social media advertising, digital marketing analytics, search engine optimisation (SEO), and e-commerce marketing.

For the company, they aim at providing concise and actionable tips and insights that will help marketers achieve their organisational goals in a more cost-efficient and productive manner. Their way of teaching is anchored in the idea that marketers need quick wins and actionable strategies they can immediately apply to their existing marketing campaigns.

Lastly, they envision themselves as the ones equipping businesses with competent marketing personnel, improving productivity and innovation and maximising returns across all industry sectors. Some of their clients include DHL, IKEA, Nikon, NTUC, SingTel, and Starhub. 

GEX Academy

GEX Academy aims to draw upon the expertise of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors who have an intimate understanding of navigating challenging decisions with limited information. The company is dedicated to providing aspiring marketers with a guiding hand and unwavering support on their journey towards achieving financial freedom and career success.

Additionally, they aim at bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, GEX equips its students with valuable tips and resources to excel in the real-world marketing landscape. The platform creates a collaborative space where students, mentors, and alumni can exchange knowledge and insights beyond the confines of traditional classrooms.

Impossible Marketing

Impossible Marketing, founded in 2012, offers a variety of digital marketing-related courses for those who want to diversify their independent marketing skills. Interested users may enroll on classes revolving around topics such as influencer marketing, web marketing, lead generation, SEO marketing, email marketing, and web application development.

For the company, as a Google and Meta business partner company, they believe that through their existing course partnerships, they are able to empower those who want to enrich their marketing knowledge via in-house training and in-house experts who have a wide range of experiences and backgrounds to teach the new generation of digital marketers.

Next Level Singapore

Next Level Singapore puts focus on business growth and employability for business owners and individual professionals, respectively through their own courses. For them, they offer quality engagement experiences for learners as part of their taught courses. They believe that through active interactions and guidance from trainers, the overall learning process will encourage learners to ask questions and clear any doubts that they might have.

Moreover, aside from their own training programs, they also offer digital marketing services to busy business owners to achieve the best possible results with maximum return on investment. For them, they strive to deliver organic growth of traffic and increase lead conversions for any business projects that they take up.

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As the demand for marketing expertise continues to soar, the importance of choosing the right training partner cannot be underestimated. Whether it’s honing digital marketing strategies, mastering data analytics, or understanding consumer behaviour, these top marketing training providers offer a gateway to success in the competitive industry.

Aspiring marketers are encouraged to explore the array of offerings, considering factors like course content, industry relevance, and instructor expertise, to make an informed decision that aligns with their career goals. By investing in high-quality marketing education, professionals can equip themselves with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the dynamic marketing landscape of today and contribute significantly to the growth and success of businesses in Singapore and beyond.