Tag: Southeast Asia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Global media and marketing solutions group IPG Mediabrands has announced the promotion of Cindy Eliza Vaz as its chief digital officer for Malaysia. Vaz has previously worked as the head of digital for Universal McCann in the country.

In her new role, she will be responsible for expanding the digitisation of the group in Malaysia whilst leading the digital transformation to provide a comprehensive suite of qualitative programmatic, performance, and tech solutions. 

Moreover, the group has also promoted Debica Sigamani as its chief technology officer to work closely with the executive leadership team in driving business growth and success.

Bala Pomaleh, chief executive officer at Mediabrands Malaysia, shared that Vaz has played an important role in driving business and digital efforts during her stint at UM.

“Her strengths in digital innovation, strategy, data, and tech capabilities will help us continue to drive digital excellence to meet our clients’ business needs, whilst focusing on transparency, accountability, and brand safety,” Pomaleh added.

Meanwhile, Vaz herself expressed, “I look forward to raising the digital profile of Mediabrands, collaborating closely with UM and Initiative on our digital strategy and empowering clients to be more digitally savvy, while continuing to cultivate an ecosystem that nurtures more mentorship and coaching of young digital talents.” 

Last month, global content studio Mediabrands Content Studio has also appointed Marshall Campbell as its general manager of client service and Luke Simkins as its group creative director.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Drinking water is essential for daily activities, especially if people want to be refreshed and hydrated. But natural bottled water brand Spritzer proves in its latest campaign that they are more than just a thirst-quencher drinking water, showcasing that its product can make skin look healthy and youthful because it was made with Silica.

In collaboration with advertising agency FCB Shout, Spritzer released a 60-second video ad titled ‘Nourishing Youthful Skin from Within with Silica’ which showcased the benefits of Silica, a mineral which is scientifically proven to boost collagen production to make the skin look ‘youthful’. 

Malaysian celebrities Ayda Jebat and Merqeen served as the stars of the campaign.

Shiao Chan, Spritzer’s head of marketing said that Silica has a key role in producing collagen that makes the skin beautiful, therefore, it’s a key to change the perception of the consumers towards Spritzer mineral water as a merely thirst-quencher drink.

Syahriza Badron, general manager of FCB SHOUT, added, “After all, we live in a world where skincare is rapidly ascending on the consumers’ list of priorities, as evidently seen in the extensive routines they are willing to go through each day to ensure good skin health.”

Other works from the campaign will be shown across all media channels.

In 2021, FCB was tapped by Spritzer to handle its creative mandate.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Whilst some individuals get anxious from suffering skin issues, Indonesian skincare brand Somethinc reminds everyone that there’s a solution to easily handle skin issues by unveiling newest products in its latest ad.

In collaboration with advertising agency TJT Creative Lab, the 90-second quirky ad showcases the skincare brand’s newest product line, Calmdown® Series, which is designed to provide relief and comfort for people who have calm sensitive, angry, and irritated skin.

This also features the products’ patented active ingredients and technology that instantly soothe irritated skin. The innovative range of products is an idea of Irene Ursula, who founded Somethinc skincare brand.

Irvine Prisilia, executive creative director at TJT Creative Lab, said that they want to elevate the skincare brand beyond a product story and create something that would resonate with audiences, therefore, they decided to craft this quirky ad.

Calista Primalia, creative director at Somethinc, added, “We love the quirky story of showing our skin cell as an angry skin cell and creating havoc in our skin. It is one of those ideas with legs a mile long. Allowing us to expand our messaging across channels and platforms.”

Other works from the campaign also include over 30 billboard spots all over Indonesia to reach a wider audience and promote the benefits of the new product range.

Singapore – Australian large-scale marketing events specialist and brand experience creator The Company We Keep (The CWK) has announced its expansion to the Southeast Asian market, marking its presence with a new office in Singapore. It has also appointed Victor Darmawan to be its director of business, and will run the new local office.

Through the new expansion, The CWK will establish with its foundation clients Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, and Docusign, and will ensure the company to be able to service the whole Asia-Pacific region with a local team of producers supported by the wider advanced capabilities of the Australian team, composed of more than 50 people.

With 16 years of experience working in agencies across Singapore and Indonesia, Darnawan will initially be supported by two producers and coordinators locally, with other project aspects such as digital, creative, and design being serviced from Australia.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I’m so excited to be part of the launch team for The CWK – Singapore. The business already has a globally recognised list of clients, being able to now provide on-the-ground local event support, while leveraging the skill set and expertise of the existing Australian team members, means we can expand those partnerships, and in time, further build our international portfolio.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Ruffell, CEO at The CWK, commented, “Local knowledge is imperative for what we do for our clients. We have always partnered with trusted local preferred suppliers and contractors in these regions, and they have always guided and advised us on local nuances and differences.” 

He added, “Having an office in Singapore solidifies this, giving us a community hub and a competitive edge in the area. We are incredibly fortunate to have already built so much expertise in the region via our Australian team, and see the Singapore office as an evolution of this.”

The expansion of The CWK into SEA is part of the company’s planned expansion this 2023. Since its establishment in 2019, the company has grown to 50 employees and spans two continents, with expansion into the US slated as the next step for the business.

Singapore – InMobi, a leading provider of content, marketing, and monetization technologies, has appointed Aditya Varadarajan as the regional head for its newly expanded partnership with Microsoft Advertising in Southeast Asia to strengthen the in-market presence and enhance relationships with strategic and enterprise clients. 

Varadarajan’s remit also includes helping brands and agencies maximise impact from the multitude of Microsoft advertising products and solutions.

He will be based in Singapore and expand the regional sales team across the key markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. His team will also be responsible for sales, account management, client servicing, and billing in the region.

Varadarajan brings with him an extensive background in handling account management, digital marketing, affiliate marketing, and data analysis. Before joining InMobi, he worked with brands including Google, WalkingTree, and Madhura Agro where he specialised in performance and brand marketing.

Rohit Dosi, vice president and general manager for Microsoft Advertising business at InMobi said that they are delighted to welcome Varadarajan as their regional head in the newly expanded business whilst looking forward to enabling the advertising ecosystem across Southeast Asia, one of the focus markets with growth potential for InMobi and Microsoft Advertising.

In 2022, it can be noted that InMobi and Microsoft have expanded their partnership in Southeast Asia to support enterprise and strategic advertisers in the region.

California, USA – Global advertising technology company Quantcast has announced three new appointments to strengthen its operations in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, including Sonal Patel as its new managing director for APAC, Daniel O’Connor as commercial director for Australia and New Zealand, and Rueben Vijaratnam as its sales director for Southeast Asia.

Patel brings with her an experience in technology and media industries. Some of the notable roles that she previously held covering APAC markets include director of Display Platform Strategy at Yahoo, president for programmatic services & product at dentsu, and managing director and Vice President for APAC at AppNexus. In her new role, Patel will oversee Quantcast’s presence across Australia, New Zealand and entire Asia.

Meanwhile, O’Connor also brings with him a working experience in technology and media industries. Prior to joining Quantcast, he was with IAB SEA and India as programmatic committee member. In his new role, O’Connor will now lead the sales team in Australia and New Zealand whilst reporting to Patel.

Moreover, Vijaratnam also brings his expertise in technology and media. Before joining Quantcast, he was a head of programmatic at technology company Oath. In his new role, Vijaratnam will lead the sales teams in Southeast Asia to develop the company’s presence in the region and will also report to Patel.

Konrad Feldman, CEO at Quantcast, said that they are looking forward to continue the company’s breakthrough in digital advertising as they establish this strong leadership team and relationships with brands and agencies across these regions.

Patel said, “It’s both an exciting and interesting time to expand my remit to include Australia and New Zealand. The region here is incredibly dynamic, with new privacy legislation, expanded legislative powers for both the ACCC and ACMA to keep the tech giants in check, and explosive growth in CTV and retail media, as well as volatile consumer behaviour post-COVID.”

O’Connor added that he’s thrilled to take the new role in the company whilst looking forward to lead the company’s sales team in its transformational phase.

Meanwhile, Vijaratnam commends Southeast Asia’s vibrant digital economy and its huge opportunities for further growth which makes him excited to expand their presence in the region by delivering more value to clients.

Quantcast focuses on programmatic advertising using its patented AI-powered audience platform to provide rich consumer insights, reach audiences, and drive performance and business outcomes for brands, agencies, and publishers.

Bangkok, Thailand – Thai media corporation T&B Media Global, in partnership with digital product company Two Bulls/DEPT®, has launched Translucia website, a metaverse project that combines interconnected multiverses to provide a space for users, creators, and businesses in accessing its products and services.

The platform is also built to promote prosperity and equity of access to all digital citizens, regardless of background whilst aiming to make Web3 and metaverse available to the public in an accessible and engaging way. 

The launching also marks the first milestone of the partnership between T&B Media and Two Bulls/DEPT® which was kickstarted last year. 

Jason O’Donnell, managing director at Two Bulls/DEPT® said that they are thrilled to be a part of the collaboration and development of Translucia Metaverse, whilst adding that it has the ability to change the way people engage.

James Kane, founder & CEO at Two Bulls/DEPT® added, “We’re proud to have found a partner in T&B Global that shares both our values and beliefs that with technology, we can create a better tomorrow. There’s immense opportunity to lead in the metaverse space right now, and we’re glad to see that Translucia is taking charge without losing sight of their values and the greater good for society.”

Other international partners for this project include Dogstudio/DEPT® for video creation, Accenture Singapore for copy and translations, Blackflame China for concept art, Sunovatech India for 3D assets, and Pellartech for Blockchain.

Singapore – With its vision to provide oat-based products that are good for its consumers and environment, Oat-based milk brand Oatbedient, in collaboration with independent creative agency GOVT Singapore, has launched a new brand film that sees its mascot – the bubbly little oat ‘Oatdit’ – reminding consumers of the health benefits they’ll gain from choosing plant-based products. 

Titled ‘Oat My Goodness’, the 30-second clip is associated with uplifting music and colorful illustrations to present the series of plant-based Oatbedient products that are authentically healthy with no nasty ingredients, junk, or fillers.

The campaign also aims to show that Oatbedient brings ‘goodness’ to life whilst reminding that being healthy can also be delightful.

Elaine Teo, Co-founder of Oatbedient said that consumers are often exposed to a variety of products that have low or no nutritional value. Therefore, their vision for Oatbedient is to create delicious clean labelled products that can feed families.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Neo, group creative director of agency GOVT Singapore, added, “Oatbedient is a fun and quirky brand that is already likable. So our job was to make sure we help paint the journey of Oatdit introducing the products in an entertaining way.”

All works from the campaign will run across multiple channels including social media and digital.

Singapore – Global marketing and advertising agency dentsu has announced the creation of a new cluster for Southeast Asia, alongside the appointment of a team of veteran industry leaders. The newly formed SEA cluster will include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The new appointees at dentsu are Sanjay Bhasin, now CEO of SEA; Prakash Kamdar, now CEO of clients and solutions SEA; and Bharti Agrawal​, CFO of SEA. The three will lead the fast-growing market for the network in the region. 

Prior to the new role, Bhasin was CEO of Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam at dentsu. He is a veteran of the industry with 30 years of experience across APAC and SEA region.

Speaking about his new appointment, Bhasin said, “Personally and professionally, I have also known Prakash and Bharti for several decades and we have built an exceptional chemistry during the years of working together. I could not ask for a better, more collaborative and talented team to embark on this new and exciting era together with.”

Meanwhile, Kamdar brings with him 27 years of expertise in digital marketing and digital transformation and has a strong track record in client-centricity and creating transformative solutions. He joined the digital industry back in 1997 and has been CEO of Singapore and Indoniesia at dentsu.

“I have played various different roles at dentsu in the last 11 years, however my deep love and passion has always been for using the combined power of creativity, design, data, media, and technology to create transformative solutions that help businesses and brands achieve their growth and good ambitions.” 

He also shared his excitement over working with Bhasin, Agrawal, and the rest of the agency’s SEA leaders to transform the fortunes of businesses and people’s lives through its integrated growth solutions.

Agrawal, similarly, is a proven leader with over 20 years of extensive financial experience together with operational, commercial and M&A expertise in listed and private organisations across the UK, Brazil, and SEA. 

Rob Gilby, CEO of APAC at dentsu, also commented, “It’s well documented that SEA is experiencing exponential growth and tremendous transformation. Aligning with this is a natural progression for the business and will support significant investment in and commitment to our people, our clients, our partners and our competitive capabilities in this important growth region.”

Most recently, dentsu International has expanded its partnership with foodpanda to support its media transformation journey and bring closer collaboration across the markets of Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Singapore – Just right on time for International Women’s Day, global PR and social media agency W Communications has announced that it has sealed a partnership with Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), the national coordinating body of women’s organisations in Singapore, to manage its corporate communications, community outreach, and engagement programmes.

The agency’s mandate will also include supporting SCWO in redefining its core narratives to further introduce itself as the national coordinating body of women’s organisations in the country.

Moreover, the said partnership goes under the agency’s efforts to boost its portfolio of clients in the social impact sector.

Jolin Ng, general manager at W in Singapore, said that the agency gives importance to equity, therefore, it works with organisations like SCWO to fulfill its commitment towards such causes and support the organisation’s plan of impacting the lives of women and society.

Koh Yan Ping, chief executive officer at SCWO, commented, “We wanted a PR partner who truly understood the intent behind the impact we are making towards the cause and enables us to better engage stakeholders from all walks of life. W stood out with their understanding of our objectives, excellent media relations and of course, strength in corporate storytelling.”

Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations boasts more than 60 member organisations representing over 600,000 women in the country. It provides opportunities, platforms, and services to empower and support Singaporean women. 

Earlier this year, W Communications has also been tapped by food company Deliveroo to manage its corporate and consumer communications.