Tag: Southeast Asia

Manila, Philippines – Acer Philippines recently launched their Acer Day #MakeYourGreenMark campaign in line with their 20th anniversary, aiming to amplify the brand’s message of Acer’s commitment to a more sustainable future to millions across the globe.

The campaign’s unique call to action helped boost Acer Philippines’ sustainability message through a combination of innovative promotions, CSR partnerships, and event entertainment. Notably, Acer Philippines also released their #AceYourWorld original song and music video featuring brand ambassadors Sarah Geronimo and SB19 as part of the campaign.

For the campaign, Acer Philippines mainly staged a ‘Green Mark’ concert featuring a line-up of famous Filipino artists, and fans earned tickets through green initiatives such as donations to The Green Earth Heritage Foundation and plastic contributions to The Plastic Flamingo. 

The concert was attended by 15,000 on-ground and online fans and reached over 714 million people worldwide. More importantly, the campaign raised funds amounting to over million pesos, which will be used to plant 5,401 trees to help in forest rehabilitation efforts and a donation of over 20 metric tons of plastic to be transformed into a range of sustainable construction materials.

MARKETECH APAC also reached out to Princess Laosantos, senior marketing manager at Acer Philippines, to shed more light on Acer Philippines’ sustainability efforts. 

When asked about the reason as to why Acer Philippines went for a concert initiative as a sustainability platform, Laosantos said that it was mainly because music speaks to all ages, which makes the initiative relevant and relatable.

“Our target audience is young, so we wanted to be relevant and relatable to them. What better way to do that than through music? Music is a universal language that speaks to people of all ages, and we wanted to convey our messages in a language understood by many,” she told MARKETECH APAC. 

It is also worth mentioning that prior to this concert initiative, Acer Philippines had already launched key efforts when it comes to sustainability through previous projects and their product lineup. 

“In 2021, we introduced the ‘Earthion (Earth Mission) Project’, which strives to be more sustainable by using recyclable materials and more sustainable processes to engage an ecosystem where our suppliers follow suit. We have also launched the Acer ‘Vero’ line, a range of products made from  20-30% post-consumer plastics in our computers, displays, accessories, and home appliances. We have also pledged to use 100% renewable energy by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,”she said.  

She also added, “We are very proud of the efforts that our employees, partners, and customers have made so far for the planet. We hope that they all continue to be responsible citizens for the environment. We also hope that they spread the word about what Acer is doing. We always say that sustainability is in Acer’s DNA. Sustainability is also the driving force for the future.”

Singapore – Sprinklr, a platform that manages customer experiences in modern companies, has recently made public the integration of its Sprinklr AI+ platform with Vertex AI on Google Cloud, enhancing its capabilities for unified customer experience management.

The Sprinklr AI+ platform provides generative AI capabilities for use across various business functions with strict governance and security standards. This integration enables users of Sprinklr to improve productivity and user experiences by fusing Vertex AI models with Sprinklr’s own AI.

With over 1,250 industry-specific AI models covering more than 100 languages and 150 countries, Sprinklr AI+ is the next phase in the development of Sprinklr’s AI. In order to provide customers with structured insights, it processes volumes of unstructured data, including text, audio, video, images, metrics, and time series data. 

Additionally, users of Sprinklr now have access to features across all four Sprinklr product suites: Sprinklr Service, Sprinklr Social, Sprinklr Marketing, and Sprinklr Insights, thanks to the integration of GoogleCloud’s Vertex AI APIs.

By implementing generative AI, retail companies can optimise their contact centre operations. This will allow service agents to modify response attributes like length, tone, and grammar with a single click. Additionally, this development gives agents access to personalised, real-time excerpts from chosen articles, streamlining customer interactions and developing service quality.

Speaking about the partnership, Ragy Thomas, CEO and founder of Sprinklr, remarked, “Generative AI is giving our AI wings. Our customers demand the ability to work with their preferred AI tools and partners and offering flexibility and choice is a major advantage. This expanded partnership with Google Cloud allows us to offer our customers access to their preferred generative AI platforms integrated with Sprinklr’s proprietary AI+ focused specifically on deriving insights from unstructured customer experience (CX) data.”

He added, “Together we can help the world’s most iconic brands leverage AI to break down silos and empower marketing, sales, and customer service professionals to serve customers the way they should in the new world.”

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Rocha, director of global partnerships at Google Cloud, said, “Generative AI can create entirely new experiences for users and value for businesses.Through our partnership, Vertex AI will power new generative AI experiences for Sprinklr users while ensuring the highest levels of data privacy and security.” 

Singapore – Snapchat has announced the launch of its ‘strike system’, with the goal of giving its 13 to 17-year-old users a safety measure when browsing their platform. With the addition of this new strike system, Snapchat aims to become a secure and safe messaging platform for minors. 

The company is releasing a number of new features today with the clear goal of enhancing the protection of 13–17-year-olds from potential online risks. These upcoming features have been designed to accomplish three main objectives, to protect teenagers from unwanted contact from people they don’t know in real life, adapt the content viewing experience to the users’ age range, and improve the effectiveness of identifying and removing accounts promoting age-inappropriate content. 

A strike system and detection technologies will be used to achieve this. The company’s goal for the safety and wellbeing of its young user demographic can be seen in the fact that these features are set to go live in the upcoming weeks.

They have implemented this new strike system in an effort to combat accounts that promote content that is inappropriate for children. Any content that is flagged as inappropriate, whether it is discovered proactively or is reported, is immediately removed under this system. In addition, they may decide to ban an account if it repeatedly tries to violate their policies.

“Our commitment to making our platform safer is always on, and we will continue to build on these improvements in the coming months with additional protections for teen Snapchatters and support for parents,” Snap said in a press statement.

Singapore – Joanne Wong has been appointed by FleishmanHillard as the new president of its Asia-Pacific division. Wong, who has nearly twenty years of experience, has previously worked for the agency in roles like executive vice president, managing director for client services, and head of business development for APAC. Wong previously worked at FTI Consulting Strategic Communications as a senior managing director before returning to FleishmanHillard.

In her new position, Wong will oversee FleishmanHillard’s operational performance across nine nations in the APAC region. Her responsibilities will also include managing the growth and financial performance of the region, fostering the development of productive teams and colleagues, and providing leadership that places a strong emphasis on respect, collaboration, and inclusion as fundamental organizational principles.

Wong held a leadership position in the APAC region during her first 19 years at FleishmanHillard and contributed to the region’s expansion and success over the previous 20 years. Her most recent position involved managing regional operations and profitability while working closely with general managers to promote business growth and talent acquisition and retention in key geographic markets.

She also led teams that served clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, energy, technology, manufacturing, and others. She also established and oversaw the organization’s APAC financial Services, public affairs, and healthcare practices.

Wong serves as an advisor to C-suite executives, offering guidance on media and special situation responses, including crises and market strategies. She also presents regional trend analyses to global client’s leadership and boards.

John Saunders, president and CEO of FleishmanHillard, expressed, “I am thrilled to welcome Joanne back to the agency in this key role for our global network.” 

He added, “Joanne’s experience is steeped in consulting and client service. And she has a proven track record of growth achieved by supporting colleagues and teams, creating new paths and opportunities for high-performing employees. She will undoubtedly help us generate growth and commercial results in the region and globally, deepening relationships with our current clients and helping to define the future of our company.”

Speaking about her appointment, Wong said, “I am very excited to return to FleishmanHillard, which nurtured and built my dedication and expertise in the communications profession.” 

“I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team in the region to co-create a network that is recognized for our distinctive capabilities to problem-solve for clients, and as the destination for the best talent to achieve their most-rewarding career experience,” Wong added. 

Philippines – Outbrain, an open-source technology platform, has recently announced a new partnership with Summit Media, a local digital lifestyle media network. Outbrain’s continued leadership in providing product offerings, platform capabilities, and service is shown by this three-year contract.

The partnership creates more opportunities for advertisers to connect with targeted consumer audiences by extending Outbrain’s AI-driven customisation across Summit Media’s premium digital properties, which include platforms like PEP.ph, Cosmo.PH, Smart Parenting PH, and Esquire PH.

A diverse and engaged audience can be reached by advertisers by exclusively featuring Summit Media on the Outbrain network. An individualised user experience is promoted by Outbrain’s platform, which not only improves brand visibility but also incorporates content recommendations from advertisers.

Speaking about the partnership, Eve Solomon, managing director of publisher business development for JAPAC at Outbrain, commented, “Summit Media’s choice to once again partner with Outbrain after a brief stint with another advertising platform brings us great joy and is a clear indication of Outbrain’s unmatched ability to deliver outstanding results for our publishers and advertisers.” 

She added, “With Summit Media’s extensive network of websites, advertisers gain access to a broad and engaged audience, elevating the reach and impact of their campaigns. We look forward to empowering more advertisers to leverage the potential of native advertising and reach their target audiences effectively.”

Meanwhile, Monette De Leon, head of programmatic sales at Summit Media, said, “Outbrain’s platform empowers us to deliver relevant and engaging content to our readers seamlessly. We are confident that this new partnership will further elevate the user experience on our sites and enable us to attract more advertisers to run campaigns with us through Outbrain.”

Singapore – Global hotel company Club Med is putting a strong emphasis on its lifestyle allure, transforming the concept of escapism into a destination through its latest advertising venture,named “That’s l’Esprit Libre.” This campaign not only refreshes Club Med’s image but also emphasises its modern visual identity.

Club Med is rebranding with the tagline “That’s l’Esprit Libre” to reflect its heritage and global presence. Their new campaign addresses the social aspects of travel and vacation experiences by combining a stylish, lighthearted tone with a modern aesthetic.

Commenting about the brand’s revamp, Quentin Briard, Club Med’s CEO of marketing, digital and technologies, said, “With our complete creative overhaul, Club Med is entering a new era aligned with our premium and lifestyle positioning.” 

l’Esprit Libre means having peace of mind and living a different way of life that elevates and enhances the ordinary. “That’s l’Esprit Libre” highlights those special times when we truly unwind while on vacation, letting go of the stresses of everyday life to rediscover what really matters. It urges us to rediscover the easy joys and find contentment in the here and now.

Meanwhile, Jules Renault, director of Soldats Agency, said about the commercial, “It’s anything by a typical commercial. It’s meant to be like a celebration – playful and fun. There’s irony and attitude in the voiceover’s narration, addressing an audience that’s not gone on vacation yet.” 

Singapore – Brand management company Authentic Brands Group has announced a joint venture partnership with e-commerce business partner Baozun, with the latter acquiring a 51% interest in the British heritage brand Hunter across Southeast Asia and Greater China.

Authentic and Baozun have also entered an exclusive, long-term license agreement through which Baozun will design, manufacture, market and distribute Hunter brand products in Greater China. The license agreement will be assigned by ABG Hunter LLC to Hunter IP Holdco as the licensor across the region.

Jamie Salter, founder and chairman and CEO at Authentic, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Baozun to grow Hunter in this important region. This strategic move is in line with our strategy to think global and act local.”

He added, “By partnering with Baozun, a leader in digital and e-commerce experiences in China and Southeast Asia, we are able to combine our expertise in brand management with their deep understanding of the local market nuances and cultural trends.”

Meanwhile, Vincent Qiu, chairman and chief executive officer at Baozun, commented, “We are excited to share our recent partnership with Authentic Brands Group, a leading global brand management company that owns a large portfolio of more than 50 brands, including many iconic and world-renowned lifestyle brands.”

He added, “This marks another milestone in our transformation where all three business lines will cooperate together to deliver an extraordinary suite of services to leading global brand companies in China and other Asian markets.”

Singapore – Cathay Pacific airlines has announced key changes to its management roles across the Southeast Asian region. 

The appointments span from Cathay Pacific’s regional office in Singapore with new key roles, to new country managers in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Cambodia. 

Cathay Pacific’s regional office in Singapore will see the appointment of Jonathan Ng, regional head of customer travel and lifestyle, Southeast Asia, replacing Ray Fung, who is now head of lifestyle strategy and partnerships in Hong Kong. Prior to his current role, Ng was seconded to HK Express as general manager, corporate planning, he was part of the transition team following the acquisition of the low-cost carrier by the Cathay Group.

Adding to Singapore’s regional office is Ashish Kapur as the regional head of cargo, Southeast Asia, replacing Siddhant Iyer, who will take on the role of head of cargo markets and customer solutions in Hong Kong. Prior to his current role, Kapur was the area manager for Cathay Pacific in Northern Europe, where he oversaw the entire Northern European operations and managed the teams based in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Notably, Dominic Perret remains the regional general manager for Southeast Asia, where he is responsible for all commercial, operational and support functions across the seven countries that Cathay Pacific operates in across the region. 

For the new country managers in Southeast Asia, Cathay Pacific has appointed Tony Sham as the country manager for Indonesia, replacing Matthew Choi, who is now general manager of corporate planning for HK Express. Prior to his current appointment, Sham worked as regional head of customer travel and lifestyle for Northeast Asia in Tokyo.

Vishnu Rajendran steps in as the country manager for Philippines, replacing Donald Morris, who is now country manager of Korea. Rajendran was area manager of the Middle East, and was also acting country manager for South Africa & the Indian Ocean, as well as Acting Country lead for Sri Lanka & Maldives.

Robbie Blackwood joins as country manager for Malaysia & Brunei. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he replaces Roger Li, who is now a cadet pilot with Cathay Pacific. Blackwood has gained experience in key areas for Cathay, including cargo, customer experience, and people (HR).

Nicolas Masse also enters as the new country manager for Vietnam & Cambodia, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Masse replaces Jason Choi, who is now regional head of customer travel and lifestyle, Northeast Asia. Prior to this, Masse was Cathay Pacific’s country manager for Korea.

Lastly, Keri Lui remains as the country manager for Thailand, based in Bangkok.

Singapore – Dentsu Creative has been appointed by RMIT University as its creative agency for Australia and Southeast Asia. This is part of RMIT’s new brand strategy ‘Knowledge with Action’.

The appointment marks the first time RMIT has aligned with one brand and creative agency. Dentsu Creative will play a key role in supporting RMIT’s brand in Australia, promoting its heritage as one of Australia’s original tertiary institutions and highlighting its international reputation for excellence in education, research and engagement with industry and community. 

The agency is also responsible for building and strengthening RMIT’s presence in Vietnam as part of its country commitment which has seen the university invest in education, research, partnerships and campus infrastructure as Vietnam’s leading international university. 

For Kirsty Muddle, CEO at Denstu Creative Australia and New Zealand, they look forward to working with RMIT, knowing that its heritage in Australia and its strong global reputation make it a force within the education sector and a wonderful creative proposition for their team to work on. 

“RMIT’s commitment to using its knowledge, skills and capabilities to make a difference in the world, Knowledge With Action, aligns perfectly with Dentsu Creative’s belief in sanpo yoshi, creating work that is good for business, good for people and good for society. Universities are Australia’s third biggest export, and RMIT is a major player in an economically important sector,” she said.

Muddle added, “At Dentsu, we have over 200 RMIT alumni locally and globally, and we are invested in the future of one of Australia’s oldest tertiary institutions as they invested in so many of ours. We cannot wait to help elevate the work RMIT does in Australia and in the broader Asia Pacific region.”

Meanwhile, Chaminda Ranasinghe, chief experince officer at RMIT University, commented, “We are thrilled to be working with Dentsu Creative. The team’s passion and energy for our brand and willingness to build a true partnership were key factors in the decision. Dentsu’s truly global operating model makes them the perfect partner for us to drive growth into other markets and tell the RMIT story around the world.” 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Ant Group and PayNet jointly announced the integration of Alipay+ to promote seamless payment for inbound and outbound Malaysian travellers. 

The partnership will enable all Malaysian e-wallets supported by PayNet to be accepted by Alipay+ merchants network globally in 2024, with a collaboration with Ant Group on joint digital marketing efforts to enhance visibility of businesses directly within the users’ e-wallets.

The collaboration comes amidst travel recovery to Malaysia, with 4.5 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2023, with most coming from ASEAN countries. As travel rebounds, it is vital for businesses to adapt to new digital habits, particularly the acceptance of localised digital payment options like e-wallets, which has become the norm for day-to-day transactions. 

By the end of this year, users of five leading Asian e-wallets, including AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), GCash (Philippines), Kakao Pay (South Korea) and TrueMoney (Thailand), will be able to use cashless payments when they travel to Malaysia with Alipay+.

Gary Yeoh, chief commercial officer of PayNet said,  “This partnership between PayNet and Alipay+ is forged at a vital time when overseas travel and tourism have fully resumed, and are rapidly increasing. Consumers and merchants in both countries who are already accustomed to digital payments expect the same seamless and hassle-free experience when travelling overseas. They also expect this to be conducted at competitive exchange rates.” 

“Since Malaysia has long been a favourite and popular destination with Asian tourists, and vice-versa, this collaboration will likely result in higher trade growth between the two nations. We do see the proliferation of seamless international payments at scale sooner than we think. It is just a matter of time,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group, said, “Alipay+’s collaboration with PayNet  is a significant development for regional travellers. We are jointly making efforts to bring local businesses and international visitors closer together, offering not just convenience to tourists but greater opportunities and visibility for Malaysian businesses.” 

“Travellers today have greater expectations when they travel, particularly the use of digital solutions to enhance their experience. They want it to be simpler, with less complexity and less hassle, and in working with our local partners, this is exactly what we want to achieve – personalised, seamless and borderless experiences,” added Huang.