Tag: Southeast Asia

Singapore – Many marketers, 4.9 out of 10, say they are not yet ready to implement and integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), according to a report from Kantar, a marketing data and analytics company.

The study has found that while many marketing leaders (9 out of 10) recognise the potential of GenAI in transforming their operations, their adoption is hindered by insufficient training and high costs.

Due to the challenges that marketers face, the report sees a gap between GenAI’s potential and its adoption. Meanwhile, 5.3 out of 10 of their external partners such as agencies and data providers, are considered to be at the forefront of new technologies. This has led to the industry not being able to unlock the full potential of GenAI tools, with its impact rated at 5.3 out of 10.

The study also considers efforts to preserve traditional marketing skills as a contributor to their hesitation to adopt GenAI.

Addressing marketers’ reluctance, Kantar details how GenAI can revolutionise marketing. This includes building long-term strategies, streamlining daily tasks, and engaging consumers in real time.

Kantar’s study aims to help marketing leaders encourage their teams to eliminate fear of GenAI tools.

Lyn Lim, head of commercial growth at Kantar Consulting, said, “The overwhelming consensus among senior marketers is that GenAI is going to revolutionise the industry. But reality today is that many companies don’t feel ready yet. We see that leading organisations are making the shift from using GenAI predominantly for efficiency reasons to now also driving effectiveness. Those that get it right will succeed by building excitement and understanding around GenAI among everyone in their business: how they can help them achieve more with greater efficiency, speed, and effectiveness. We believe APAC marketing has the potential to leapfrog the world in its adoption of GenAI, just as it’s led the world in other aspects like social commerce and mobile marketing.”

Singapore – UNL Global, a mapping technology company in Singapore, is collaborating with GrabMaps to enhance its location services for businesses in Southeast Asia (SEA).

Combining their technologies, UNL and GrabMaps will leverage their location data and expertise to offer hyperlocal location services.

GrabMaps contributes its comprehensive location data, including extensive addresses, imagery, and points of interest across Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The mapping data also leverages Grab’s network of merchants, consumers, drivers, and delivery partners, with insights gained daily from orders, rides, and real-time feedback.

Meanwhile, UNL provides pixel-based mapping and real-world game engine solutions, which enable digital representations of various locations.

Through the partnership, UNL and GrabMaps will offer better services for businesses in the region, aiming to eliminate problems in unreliable addressing and lack of last-mile data among others.

Additionally, the partnership will allow businesses and developers to have more optimised search and navigation services, predict more accurate estimated time of arrivals, and customise routes for specific vehicle parameters.

Xander van der Heijden, CEO and founder of UNL, said, “As one of the fastest-growing regions globally, Southeast Asia’s booming economy and increasingly connected population demand innovative solutions to meet the unique challenges of this dynamic region. We are excited to be joining forces with GrabMaps to bring the best-in-class location solutions to Southeast Asia’s markets. GrabMaps’ excellent map making capabilities and unmatched location data quality together with UNL’s advanced micro-location technology is a powerful combination, providing businesses with the tools they need to thrive in an environment where precision, efficiency, and customer-centricity are essential to staying ahead.”

“We are excited to support UNL Global in offering more accurate location data to help drive the growth of businesses and developers in Southeast Asia. GrabMaps’ extensive and highly granular data from across the region can help UNL’s customers improve operational efficiencies and unlock growth opportunities. UNL Global’s own micro-location technology, combined with our capabilities and insights, will enable UNL Global to offer more tailored solutions for their customers’ fast-changing needs,” Hazel Chen, regional head of group business development & partnerships at Grab, said.

Singapore – Creative agency McCann Worldgroup Singapore has brought feng shui recommendations to the digital space with a personalised phone app layout guide.

Called ‘Phone Shui,’ it provides a guide for organising apps aligned to their career, romance, finance, and health goals.

Aimed at mobile-savvy Gen Z, ‘Phone Shui’ aims to inspire mindfulness in their digital habits, introducing the traditional ideas of harmony and balance in the digital space.

‘Phone Shui’ provides personalised recommendations based on users’ zodiac signs, offering optimal and intentional app placements while injecting humour. 

“As a Gen Z, the digital space can get overwhelming. Phone Shui is about welcoming luck and a sense of winning every time you unlock your screen, giving you a fun way to create balance and intention in today’s hyper-digital world,” Seth Low, art director at McCann Worldgroup Singapore, commented.

Philippines – The Jollibee Group has introduced the first stand-alone Milksha concept store in the Philippines, tapping into the country’s milk tea culture with the Taiwanese brand.

The new Milksha store opened on January 20 at SM North Edsa, Quezon City.

Milksha, majority-owned by Jollibee Group since 2021, was previously brought to the country through integration in select Chowking stores.

Also known as the brand Milkshop in Taiwan, Milksha employs traditional Taiwanese methods to brew its beverages, using premium imported ingredients.

“Milk tea has become such a big part of Filipino daily lives. What makes Milksha well-positioned for this market is its dedication to using fresh and premium natural ingredients and crafting unique, refreshing flavors that can capture the evolving taste buds of Filipino milk tea lovers,” Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Foods Corp. Philippines chief executive officer, said.

“We’re very happy to have Milksha in our Jollibee Group family. Milksha’s choice ingredients and innovation bring something genuinely delightful to our customers,” Ernesto Tanmantiong,  Jollibee Group global CEO, said.

Peter Huang, Milksha Global founder and CEO, also commented, “I thank all of the partners joining this project. We look forward to expanding, providing more jobs, and making every milk tea lover happier with every cup.”

Singapore – Advertising agency BBH Singapore has tapped Stéphane Missier as its chief strategy officer, taking over from Chris Chalk, who left the company in December.

In his new role at BBH Singapore, Missier will lead a team of strategists for the agency’s growth. He will work with the agency’s major clients such as Samsung, Nike, UOB and Income Insurance.

Bringing 20 years of experience in the industry, Missier most recently serving as Wieden+Kennedy’s group strategy director for 10 years. He has led campaigns for various brands such as Nike, Team USA, FanDuel and Bud Light.

Missier will be directly reporting to BBH Singapore’s chief creative officer Sascha Kuntze and managing director Sid Tuli in his role.

“BBH Singapore is building a global agency for a new era. Its commitment to building a culture where difference thrives and embracing the diversity of its clients sets it apart from the crowd. I’ve always considered myself a black sheep and have long admired the work of BBH. I’m thrilled to join the flock and begin this exciting journey,” Missier commented.

 “I’m so grateful for everything Chris did for us over the last three years and I wish him all the very best as he relocates back home. Stéphane is an incredibly talented and highly experienced strategist that has shaped some of the most culturally significant campaigns of the past decade. He’s lived and worked in 8 countries before Singapore, helping build the biggest brands anywhere, and he is exactly the type of talent we need to take us forward,” Tuli said.

Singapore – Creative agency GOVT Singapore has announced new key appointments to drive growth to its senior management team.

GOVT Singapore has named Phang Mei Jeng as its managing director, Kevin Poh as executive creative director (ECD) and Khoo Kai Qi as client services director.

Phang joins the agency from Ensemble Worldwide/Mediabrands Content Studio in Malaysia, where she spent 7 years in the company until she rose to the position of managing director. She has also served as BBDO Proximity China’s business director, working with brands such as PETRONAS, Pizza Hut, Visa, OPPO, Ford, Gillette, Braun, and Toyota.

Phang takes over from former managing director Alvina Seah, who remains as GOVT group of companies’ partner.

Meanwhile, Poh was promoted from his previous role as group creative director, having spent 7 years with GOVT. Poh has worked with brands such as Sentosa, Julie’s Biscuits, Puma, and Asahi.

Poh steps into the ECD role following Tim Chan’s appointment as chief operating officer in The Betterment Group, the agency’s parent company.

Khoo, on the other hand, has gained over 13 years of experience in agencies such as Publicis, JWT, Tribal DDB Worldwide, and Moon Rabbit Singapore.

“Change is the only constant in life, and even more so in our industry. Our move to bring in new blood and elevate stalwarts like Kevin to bigger leadership positions is all about keeping the agency’s energy fresh and dynamic. At the same time, it allows the Co-Founders to spend time pursuing new opportunities for the Group and its agencies. And there’ll be more exciting ventures in the pipeline we’ll share in the coming months,” Leon Lai, CEO of The Betterment Group, said.

Manila, Philippines – The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a global development institution and member of the World Bank Group, has announced its investment of up to $130 million to Asialink Finance Corporation. The move aims to boost lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines, advancing financial inclusion.

The investment, directed towards small business financing, is set to prioritise women-owned or led MSMEs with 60% of loan proceeds specifically designated for the sector.

With the funding, Asialink strengthens its strategy towards financial inclusion, serving MSMEs and individuals without access to bank financing.

Additionally, IFC will help Asialink implement a framework for environmental and social management system and finance principles aligned with international standards.

“We hope to demonstrate the viability of lending to this sector and encourage other players to develop solutions that cater to MSMEs,” Jane Yuan Xu, acting country manager for IFC Philippines, said.

“Because ultimately, we are not just funding companies, we are creating jobs at the grassroots level. Every loan to an MSME can mean five, ten or twenty new jobs in local communities. And that’s what drives an economy forward,” Xu added.

“We are very grateful for IFC’s support, which will allow us to expand our lending to more MSMEs, particularly in underserved regions of the country and those that have historically been excluded from the formal financial sector,” Robert B. Jordan Jr., chief executive officer of Asialink Finance Corporation Group of Companies, commented.

“MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, but in many parts of the country it’s still a huge struggle to access the financing they need to grow and thrive. With this investment, we will help change that,” Jordan added.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – CIMB has announced a reorganisation of its senior leadership team, with Effendy Shahul Hamid, most recently the CEO of group consumer and digital banking, stepping down to pursue other interests. 

Effendy has however agreed to remain as an advisor to the group CEO until the end of June 2025, in order to facilitate a smooth and orderly leadership transition.

“Effendy is a highly respected banker and we are sad to see him go. The Board and Management wish him the best, and we appreciate his loyalty and commitment to the group over the last 20 years.” said Novan Amirudin, group chief executive officer at CIMB Group.

Effendy has spent the last 20 years at CIMB, leading numerous business units at the banking Group. Beginning his CIMB career in investment banking, Effendy then took on leadership positions that saw him building out the marketing and communications discipline at CIMB, reorganising its proprietary investments and asset management practices, turning around its commercial bank, building its digital business portfolio and to most recently, running its key customer franchise, the consumer bank. 

He is also credited with driving the nation’s cashless agenda, conceptualising and executing the Touch n’ Go eWallet joint venture between CIMB’s subsidiary, Touch n’ Go and China’s Ant Group.

Meanwhile, Haniz Nazlan, who joined CIMB in 2021 as group chief strategy officer, has been appointed CEO of group consumer banking. Haniz has played a key role in driving major initiatives, including the Forward 23+ Strategic Plan, the transformation of CIMB Cambodia, and the Group’s re-entry into the securities business. With over 18 years of experience in corporate strategy and asset management, Haniz brings expertise from leadership roles at Permodalan Nasional Berhad and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera.

Gurdip Singh Sidhu will take charge of CIMB’s digital businesses, including Touch ‘n Go, CIMB Philippines, and CIMB Vietnam, alongside his responsibilities as CEO of CIMB Malaysia and CIMB Bank Berhad. With 18 years of experience at CIMB, Gurdip will focus on enhancing operating resiliency, innovation, and strategic growth across the Group’s digital assets.

Khairul Rifaie will expand his responsibilities to include group chief strategy officer, in addition to his current role as group chief financial officer. As group chief financial & strategy officer, Khairul will lead the development of CIMB’s strategic roadmap, balancing growth opportunities and operational efficiency. His career spans roles at KPMG London, Goldman Sachs, and UBS Malaysia before joining CIMB Group.

Victor Lee Meng Teck has been named CEO of growth markets, overseeing CIMB Singapore and CIMB Cambodia. Victor’s leadership in CIMB Singapore has been marked by a successful turnaround through strategic restructuring and cultural transformation. With over 25 years of banking experience, he is well-equipped to drive growth in key markets.

CIMB also announced the appointment of Ros Aziah Mohd Yusoff, currently the group chief technology officer, to the CIMB Group Executive Committee, and the re-designation of Animesh Mukherjee from group chief human resources officer to group chief people officer, reporting directly to the group CEO.

“The new organisation structure reflects CIMB’s purpose, strengthens our leadership bench, and consolidates related roles to enhance synergies across the Group. It is designed to enable greater focus and accountability as we advance the Group’s strategic priorities into the next strategy cycle while ensuring operational resiliency,” Novan said.

Vietnam – Apple has revealed its second ‘Shot on iPhone’ campaign with a new music video celebrating Tết, the Vietnamese New Year.

‘Save the Music,’ was done in collaboration with TBWA\ Media Arts Lab Southeast Asia, featuring Vietnam-based artist Wren Evans. 

The music video was directed by C Prinz through the production company Smuggler. Meanwhile, Heckler Singapore worked on its post-production. C Prinz also collaborated with Vietnam’s BƯỚC NHẢY dance crew and choreographer, Tyrik Patterson, to ensure that the sequences appear cinematic for all social media platforms.

Highlighting the capabilities of iPhone 16 Pro, the music video was shot entirely using the phone’s camera, showcasing its slow motion, zoom, and stabilizing features.

Centered on Evans’ love for music, the video also highlights Vietnam’s culture of creativity to inspire others to take on a distinct artistic direction.

The music video, launched ahead of Tết celebrations across social media channels, aims to inspire others to dance and capture their experiences using the camera.

Singapore – Superapp Grab has forged a partnership with high-tech enterprise BYD to provide its driver-partners in Southeast Asia (SEA) with more access to electric vehicles (EVs).

Through the partnership, Grab and BYD aim to make EVs accessible to driver-partners in SEA, offering competitive rates and battery warranties. Drivers can opt to rent the vehicle or seek financing support from Grab’s car ownership schemes.

With the availability of green vehicles, the companies strengthen their sustainability efforts to advance zero-emission modes of transportation.

The option for an ‘eco-friendly ride’ in the Grab app is available in some countries, including Singapore and Thailand. This allows Grab to prioritise allocating EVs to users without any additional charge.

Additionally, BYD and Grab will collaborate to ensure deep technology integration between the vehicles and the platform. This includes the installation of the Grab driver application in BYD vehicles, allowing efficiency for drivers to view their jobs, navigation, and messages on a large screen. The EV’s sensor and data will also be integrated into Grab’s platform to track driving patterns and behaviours.

The data from the EVs, including wiper signals and speed, provides Grab with the necessary information about weather and traffic, allowing it to predict passenger demand and improve the accuracy of each ride’s estimated time of arrival.

The regional partnership covers Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, said, “We are excited to partner with Grab as the leading on-demand transport provider in Southeast Asia and push forward the transition to electric vehicles in the region. BYD, as the world’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, will best integrate our technology with Grab’s, and we look forward to working with them to deliver a unique and unparalleled experience for their drivers and users. We continue to be dedicated to our goal of building a zero-emission ecosystem and we are committed to supporting Grab’s fleet and driver-partners. Through this collaboration, we are working together with Grab to realize the vision of cooling the earth by one degree.”

Chuck Kim, managing director of group business development at Grab, said, “Sustainable growth in Southeast Asia is a priority for us and we are always looking to improve our offerings to both our driver-partners and Grab users. This collaboration enables us to drive the transition to EVs forward by lowering the financial barriers that are often associated with EVs, and in the long run deliver economic benefits to our driver-partners which may include fuel cost savings. We are confident that a reliable partner like BYD who are committed to delivering high quality vehicles and services allows us to showcase the benefits of EVs and make green transportation an accessible option to everyone.”