Tag: Southeast Asia

Singapore – To mark Great Eastern’s 114th anniversary, the regional insurer has unveiled its new brand purpose – ‘Reach for Great’ – which expresses its promise to be a partner and enabler of its customers’ ambitions and aspirations. This brand refresh stems from extensive research involving more than 2,000 consumers across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia done over the last two years.

Colin Chan, Great Eastern’s managing director of group marketing, shared that in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they rallied their customers to live Lifeproof, encouraging them to be resilient and optimistic in the face of adversity, and at the same time, they kick-started extensive research across their key markets to better understand consumer expectations of their insurance partner, and specifically from Great Eastern as their insurer of choice. 

“Findings from our research pointed towards the enablement of goals with consumers expressing the desire for us to help them in the pursuit of their financial goals and aspirations. This heightened consciousness about the need for financial wellness has been further accelerated as we move out of COVID-19 into a more endemic state of pandemic living,” he said.

To communicate this new brand positioning, Great Eastern has developed a new visual identity with a distinctive new headline typeface, colour strategy, and illustration style added to its brand palette. Taking reference from Great Eastern’s first brand logo in the 1900s, the new visuals sport a heritage crest to reflect its establishment as an inspiring and trusted insurance brand in the region. This new iconic and distinct treatment will be visible in all marketing material, which will be rolled out regionally across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia in the next few months.

Moreover, to launch ‘Reach for Great’ in a relevant and compelling way, Great Eastern has also unveiled a new campaign and brand film featuring consumer profiles across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia going about the unique pursuit of their own ‘greatness’. The real-life stories across the region capture the vast diversity of consumer’s goals and ambitions and show how Great Eastern is able to help them ‘Reach for Great’ through its combination of heritage, expertise, and inspiration, as the brand that believes in empowering everyone to achieve their aspirations no matter how big or small.

Chan added, “This refresh elevates our continuing and unique value proposition as a composite insurer to empower everyone to Reach for Great regardless of their aspirations, life stage or socio-economic status. We believe that Great is for everyone and that Greatness comes in many forms. Through the authentic stories of the people filmed in our brand film, we are that insurer of choice that will be there for life, to enable our customers to achieve their goals and #ReachforGreat.”

The new brand campaign is now available across free-to-air television, digital and social media, website, and out-of-home advertising across its key markets. Consumers can also interact with the brand as it rolls out a slew of product initiatives, rewards, and promotions from September onwards.

Singapore – Global financial superapp Revolut has appointed Raymond Ng, chief commercial officer at Liquid Group, to be its new CEO for Singapore. This follows Revolut’s recent launch of its crypto products in Singapore.

In his new role, Ng will be focusing on leading and building the next chapter of Revolut’s expansion in Singapore, developing and implementing the local business strategy. 

During his previous stint at Liquid Group, Ng managed product and business development and global expansion. He also held senior executive roles with large global corporations such as Microsoft, Visa, and MasterCard, as well as with tech startups.

Revolut said it is committed to establishing Singapore as one of the cornerstones of its global business and plans to establish several global product hubs.

Commenting on his appointment, Ng said, “I’m thrilled to lead the exceptionally talented team and bring Revolut’s super app offering to Singapore as we continue to develop the best financial solutions for millions in Singapore, especially those who are looking for hassle-free digital alternatives to get more from their money.”

Meanwhile, Nik Storonsky, CEO and founder of Revolut, noted, “With a wealth of experience in the mobile, payment and travel tech sectors and an outstanding track record in scaling the business across new markets in the APAC region, Raymond is an excellent fit for the role and his appointment is a major achievement in our continued mission to become the world’s first truly global financial superapp.” 

In April 2022, Revolut has appointed Charles Debonneuil as APAC general manager as it continues to focus on growth in the APAC region. Debonneuil will focus on building out Revolut’s local Growth teams and developing the business’ growth strategy, driving rapid new user acquisition in the APAC region.

Malaysia – In celebration of Merdeka, the Independence Day of Malaysia, Mondelēz International’s chocolate brand Cadbury has launched a touching tribute to the founding of Malaysia. Called ‘Merdeka Unseen’, the campaign uses technology to take audiences on a sentimental journey through history.

Created in collaboration with creative agency Ogilvy Malaysia, the film features Johan, a gentleman that was present during that iconic Merdeka Day in 1957 and brought him back to the stadium to relive that experience. real-time, as he walked through the stadium, memories were projected onto the seats where those moments happened. 

Through Johan’s memories of Merdeka, the film serves as a reminder that generosity has always been at the heart of the Malaysian spirit and when people all take the time to look, they can find goodness everywhere around everyone.

Cadbury said that Merdeka is equivalent to ‘The Superbowl’ in Malaysia. Big and small brands all celebrate this momentous occasion with salutations and tributes. While it is a popular season, the sea of sameness has been prevalent: messages of unity, breaking down cultural barriers and differences, coming together, and resolving differences. But as a brand that has been in Malaysia for over 100 years, Cadbury wanted to show a side of Merdeka that’s never been seen before. 

For 65 years, the topic of Merdeka has centred around the iconic speech of Tunku Abdul Rahman. It’s been studied in schools and plastered across advertising campaigns nationwide. But Merdeka is more than just that speech. Through the use of technology, the film brought to life the many symbolic moments that happened that same day, defining the spirit of what it means to be Malaysian. Instead of centring the narrative around one man’s speech, Cadbury centred the campaign around the millions who watched that speech and more.

Nikhil Nicholas, SEA marketing lead for chocolates at Mondelēz International, said, “Cadbury Dairy Milk has always strived to shine a spotlight on the generous instinct that exists in all of us and found the perfect opportunity here to do just that this Merdeka, by recreating Johan’s memories of the everyday goodness that he witnessed all around him on that momentous day.” 

Meanwhile, Nizwani Shahar, Ogilvy’s chief executive for Malaysia, shared that Cadbury Dairy Milk is an iconic global brand, and they are proud to be part of a winning team that continues to drive brand impact and business growth in a modern landscape. 

“We hold the Cadbury flag high having worked on this business for so long and the ability to keep pushing out impactful, powerful work is a true testament to a solid partnership with clients who give us permission to play and push boundaries,” said Shahar.

Adrian Miller, Ogilvy’s chief creative officer for Malaysia, noted that the truth of today is that no one wants to spend any second of their day watching any form of advertising, especially during an occasion like Merdeka where the same stories have been rinsed and repeated. 

“But what people do want to watch is a powerful story that they haven’t seen before. A story that intrigues them and adds value to their day. That’s what we aspire to do with every piece of work and that’s a shared ambition we have with our partners at Mondelēz,” said Miller.

Singapore – In an aim to bring innovation and knowledge sharing to a new level in the finance space, the Asia-focused fintech company ValueChampion will be launching a new immersive Metaverse finance world with HSBC, Allianz Insurance Singapore/Allianz Partners, and Advisors Alliance Group (Representing AIA Financial Advisers Pte Ltd), as well as Funding Societies, and IG.

To enrich and gamify the learning process, ValueChampion has partnered up with Our World Is Flat (OWF) to build an entirely new virtual world for people to explore. OWF is creating a new Web 3.0 experience with the use of immersive technologies through ValueChampion’s platform.

Called the ‘#VCWorld’, the new Metaverse virtual world is developed to engage and connect with personal finance enthusiasts. It aims to bring all players’ financial wellness to the next level, with the goal to make financial knowledge accessible and inclusive.

Official brands will embed their own virtual characters and brand experiences into the Metaverse to interact with the players, guiding them along the road to financial success and safety. Players will get to learn about the six verticals of financial products in a bite-sized and fun manner in the game.

According to ValueChampion, this is an exciting next step for them who is always on the lookout for different ways to provide more creative and effective content for its audience.

“Financial literacy is essential to everyone, especially in these uncertain economic times with unprecedented inflation and price hikes in daily necessities. People are increasingly aware of investing and growing their money, protecting themselves financially from unanticipated situations and educating themselves on financial products. While the internet is a treasure trove of information, consumers have to be cautious about the accuracy of the information they obtain online,” said the fintech company.

Singapore – Singapore-headquartered fintech company FOMO Pay has secured a US$13m investment, which will be used to accelerate its growth and to invest in talent acquisition and infrastructure. 

The Series A round was led by Jump Trading Group’s digital assets arm Jump Crypto. Other participating investors also include HashKey Capital, Antalpha Ventures, Ab Initio Capital, and Republic Capital.

FOMO Pay will also use the funding to strengthen its research and development capabilities, as well as to bolster its geographical expansion. Moreover, the firm will extend its client base, expand geographically, and diversify its product offerings.

Louis Liu, founder and CEO of FOMO Pay, noted that they are seeing significant growth across all business lines, as their volumes for the first half of 2022 have already surpassed the full-year 2021 levels, and their client pipeline is extremely strong.

He further shared that they will continue to strive hard towards building Asia’s first licensed payment ecosystem with interoperability between fiat and cryptocurrencies, and they are grateful for the unwavering support and belief from their investors, stakeholders, and partners. 

“We are extremely proud and grateful to be one of the front-runners in this industry in Singapore. Singapore has been at the forefront of innovation with a world-leading licensing and regulatory framework. Our goal is to work in harmony with all stakeholders, on both developmental and regulatory approaches to achieve the vision of Singapore as an innovative and responsible global digital asset hub,” said Liu.

Meanwhile, Tak Fujishima, head of Asia of Jump Crypto, said, “FOMO Pay has established its firm footing as a leading local digital payment and banking solution provider which we believe is the future gateway for financial services. The financial technology space is rapidly evolving and we believe FOMO Pay will continue to be a leading innovative player in this space in creating a seamless and secure payments ecosystem.”

Singapore – Crypto.com, a Singapore-headquartered online platform that supports investors to invest in cryptocurrencies, has appointed Chin Tah Ang, former executive director and head at Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), to be its new general manager of Singapore. 

In his new role, Ang will be bringing his strategic business development experience in the technology sector and deep understanding of the Singapore market landscape.

Ang’s most recent role was at DISG, a joint office between the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). DISG’s aim is to build a great technology ecosystem in Singapore by anchoring global technology leaders, building local champions and nurturing future-ready talent in Singapore. Aside from this, Ang has also previously served in a variety of roles with EDB, advancing strategy and policy engagement for the EDB in various international markets.

Commenting on his appointment, Ang said that Singapore is leading the way as a vibrant hub for fintech and Web3 innovation, and he is thrilled to join a company at the forefront of these efforts.

“Crypto.com will continue to collaborate closely with our public and private sector partners to address critical issues, promote responsible digital asset innovation, and ensure the sustainable growth of Web3 in Singapore,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, shared that he is pleased to welcome Ang who brings a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of local market conditions, the competitive landscape, as well as regulatory matters and technological trends.

“Chin Tah’s proven leadership and expertise will continue to guide us in a critical market for the future of our business and industry,” said Marszalek. 

In June 2022, Crypto.com received in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for its Major Payment Institution License.

Singapore – Tim Williamson, former managing director for APAC at Telum Media, has launched his own strategic communications consultancy. Called ‘Leon Communications’, the Singapore-headquartered consultancy is focused on the financial and professional services sectors.

Williamson brings a range of media and public relations experience to his new business, with previous roles at the BBC, Bloomberg, and Brunswick. Moreover, he also held the role of APAC managing director at Cognito Media, and led the financial services practice at WATATAWA in Singapore.

Speaking about his new business, Williamson said, “We bring clients a combination of strategic thinking, sector and market experience, and hands-on execution backed by a relentless focus on helping them achieve outstanding results that support real business objectives.”

Manila, Philippines – To celebrate COMCO Southeast Asia‘s sixth anniversary, the integrated communications agency based in the Philippines has unveiled its new global headquarters in Makati, the business capital of the Philippines, as part of its expansion. 

The new headquarters will house COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises’ current and upcoming ventures – COMCO SEA, COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), Camp COMCO Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, as well as SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, and Taro Digital AOX.

Each area is inspired by different pop culture references rooted in COMCO’s love for movies, series, music, books, and all the emerging platforms out there. The COMCO SEA workstation is called the ‘Millennium Falcon’, while the executive office is dubbed the ‘Cerebro’. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the areas are ‘Rivendel’ for the Corporate Services Unit, ‘Black Castle’ for the Digital and Multimedia Arts Unit, ‘Watch Tower Hall’ for the conference room, ‘Bifrost Bridge’ for the reception, and ‘Room of Requirements’ for the stock room, as well as ‘Wooley Hall’ for the lounge area. 

Following its launch during COMCO SEA’s Blazing Sapphire anniversary event last year, COMCO Middle East and Africa is now in full blast servicing various brands in the market. In its first year, COMCO MEA has already worked with notable brands in the Middle East such as Buono Buono, Nolte, Open Thrill, Paus, and POPC Live!, as well as Red Shrimp, and TruCARE, amongst many others.

Moreover, COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, also recently conducted property roadshows for Philippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as amongst the group’s first of many synergy initiatives.

COMCO SEA also continued to strengthen its client portfolio for its sixth year, winning major accounts in recent inter-agency pitches for premiere brands/organisations such as MR. DIY, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Lenovo, as well as Skechers, and Lalamove, amongst others.

Manila, Philippines – Global visual communications platform Canva has launched ‘Canva Whiteboards’, a new and collaborative way to seamlessly organise ideas and bring them to life. This is available for free on the web, desktop, and mobile.

From workshopping projects to project planning and brainstorming, Canva Whiteboards is a simple and interactive way to map out big ideas with all the familiarity of the Canva editor. It offers seamless integration with Canva Presentations, which allows users to expand their page to a Canva Whiteboard with a simple click of a button — creating an infinite space for brainstorming, and real-time collaboration, which empowers users to capture ideas and brainstorm with their team instantly, as well as extensive media library, which enables users to access to Canva’s media library of over 100 million images, videos, audio tracks, and graphics.

Melanie Perkins, CEO and co-founder of Canva, shared that after more than a year of development, they are excited to launch Canva Whiteboards to the world – bringing the power the community knows and loves about Canva and enabling them to collaborate with their team on an infinite canvas

“In this day and age with teams working worlds apart, we believe the right visual communication tools will not only help teams come together with ease but will also fuel greater collaboration and productivity in the workplace. This is at the heart of Whiteboards, and we’re excited to see the magic it will unlock for our community around the world,” said Perkins.

Canva has also unveiled Canva for Teams, a new paid subscription plan for teams of all sizes looking to create professional content together and collaborate with premium workplace tools and content management workflows.

The new subscription plan includes all the magic previously in Canva Pro and unlocks features exclusively on Canva for Enterprise, to become the new plan for teams of two or more people. It includes features like brand controls, approval workflows, and template locking. With the rollout of Canva for Teams, Canva Pro is now Canva’s paid subscription for solo users like entrepreneurs and content creators. 

Jen Howard, VP of Canva for Teams, said, “As companies embrace flexible and hybrid-working models, there’s an increasing reliance on technology to communicate and collaborate. In today’s visual economy, workplaces need compelling ways to meet the needs of globally distributed teams. Canva for Teams, our new paid subscription plan, is built to empower millions around the world to seamlessly create and collaborate together.” 

Meanwhile, Yani Hornilla-Donato, country manager of Canva Philippines, commented that they are happy to unveil both Canva Whiteboards and Canva for Teams in the Philippines as they continue to empower content creators, entrepreneurs, and teams of all sizes to collaborate at scale, wherever they may be.

“With Filipinos going digital now more than ever, Canva Whiteboards will be instrumental in bringing any team’s ideas to life while the introduction of Canva for Teams will empower businesses with an all-in-one design tool they need in creating impactful content,” said Hornilla-Donato.

Manila, Philippines – Buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform Atome has partnered with global financial services company Mastercard to launch the Atome Card in the Philippines, offering Filipino consumers a new way to pay with credit. 

The Atome Card provides cardholders with an Atome line of credit that can be used to pay online and in-store retailers by simply presenting their Atome Card during check-out. It offers no annual fees, sign-up fees or other hidden charges, easy application on mobile, payment flexibility, virtual or physical card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and easy view/manage of payment schedule.

At launch, consumers in the Philippines can register their interest for the Atome Card with one click, directly via the latest version of the Atome app, or via the Early Bird registration in the Atome website. Selected consumers from the Early Bird phase will receive an email inviting them to apply for the Atome Card.

Magic Tang, Atome’s payment partnerships director, commented, “The launch of the Atome Card marks an exciting new chapter for Atome, as it’s the first financial service we offer apart from Buy Now, Pay Later. With no annual fees and minimum income requirements, the Atome Card will give many underserved segments in the Philippines access to a flexible credit facility, the first such innovative solution across the region with more markets to come in the next few months.”

Meanwhile, Simon Calasanz, Mastercard’s country manager for the Philippines, said that Mastercard is delighted to partner with Atome on this innovative product that will contribute to building a cash-lite society and drive financial inclusivity by serving more than 70% of Filipinos who are unbanked or underbanked and do not qualify for credit cards.

“The Atome Card will enable cardholders with choice, control and flexibility to manage their finances and is available to use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. For merchants, this also means increased sales and better conversion rates, extending the benefits of digital commerce to more consumers and businesses in the Philippines,” he added.

In July 2022, Atome partnered with local-based online payment processing platform PayMongo to expand BNPL acceptance among merchants in the country. The partnership will enable PayMongo’s over 10,000 merchant network in the Philippines to offer their customers flexible deferred payment options, with no additional annual or service fees as an alternative checkout payment option.