Tag: Taiwan

Taiwan – Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has banned the use of DeepSeek’s newly launched AI service from China in the public sector, citing concerns over data privacy and security risks.

According to a report by the Taipei Times, MODA has advised government agencies and critical infrastructure to avoid using DeepSeek, stating that it “endangers national information security.”

MODA’s ban covers employees of government agencies, public schools, state-owned enterprises, semi-official organisations, critical infrastructure projects, and government-endowed foundations. However, it did not provide details on enforcement. 

The ministry also referenced the ‘Principles on Restricting the Use of Products That Endanger National Cyber Security,’ a 2019 Executive Yuan regulation that bans government agencies from using IT and communication technology products or services deemed a national security risk.

“DeepSeek AI service is a Chinese product. Its operation involves cross-border transmission and information leakage and other information security concerns,” the Taipei Times reported, quoting the ministry.

Taiwan’s ban on DeepSeek comes amid growing global concerns about how the service collects and handles personal data.

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission plans to send a written request to DeepSeek seeking clarification on how user data is managed, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, authorities in France, Italy, Ireland, and other countries are also investigating DeepSeek’s handling of personal data.

DeepSeek has recently gained attention in the AI industry, with its free AI assistant model surpassing U.S. rival ChatGPT in app store downloads. The company’s claim that it matches the capabilities of leading U.S. AI models for a fraction of the investment have also stirred interest among global investors.

Taiwan – The country’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has announced its decision to block the proposed merger between Uber Eats and foodpanda, citing concerns that it would significantly harm competition. 

The government agency had argued that since foodpanda is Uber Eats’ primary competitor, the merger would give Uber Eats unchecked market dominance, potentially leading to higher costs for both consumers and restaurants.

The FTC also emphasised that Uber Eats relies heavily on individual customers and small to medium-sized restaurants for its business. If the merger went through, these groups would have limited alternatives outside the platform, leaving them vulnerable to the company’s increased influence in the food delivery sector.

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) vice chairman Chen Chi-ming, said, “Post-merger, UberEats would be less constrained by competition, giving it more incentive to raise prices for consumers and even increase commissions for restaurant operators.”

He added, “The disadvantages to market competition from this merger far outweigh its economic benefits,” noting that the merged companies’ market share would exceed 90%.

While the merger promised some advantages, such as improved operational efficiency and cost benefits tied to denser networks, the FTC concluded that these potential gains were far outweighed by the harmful impacts on market competition.

Uber Eats had proposed measures to address the regulator’s concerns, but the FTC dismissed these as short-term fixes that would fail to sustain the existing level of competition in the industry.

It should be recalled that Uber Technologies and Delivery Hero SE have reached an agreement for Uber to acquire Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for US$950m in cash back in May this year. Delivery Hero SE had also previously confirmed the sale of select foodpanda businesses, albeit the only confirmation they had was for their SEA businesses.

Singapore – Max made its debut across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong with regional activations across seven markets – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

The series of creative and immersive outdoor marketing efforts showcased the streaming service’s rich collection of blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic hits, best-in-class real-life stories, and family favourites, inviting fans to feel, experience, and become part of the stories, connecting with local audiences through dynamic and culturally relevant campaigns. 

On November 19, Max celebrated its arrival with a spectacular regional light-up moment across all seven markets. Scenes from Warner Bros. Discovery’s beloved brands and franchises, including ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ and ‘Barbie’ were projected on prominent buildings and landmarks. 

Moreover, audiences were invited to join in local launch celebrations, where fans in the Philippines explored ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘House of the Dragon’ themed Christmas trees and were treated to a magical Harry Potter Christmas tree light-up countdown by James and Oliver Phelps, followed by an amazing fireworks display. In Thailand, audiences were captivated by a life-size “Krathong” installation during the Loi Krathong Festival, as well as on-ground pop-ups inspired by ‘Barbie,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Friends’ and ‘Harry Potter.’

In Taiwan, pop-ups of iconic Warner Bros. Discovery brands including Game of Thrones and Harry Potter allowed guests to step into the world of their favorite shows. 

Upping the ante, Max also took over prominent train stations, transportation, billboards and building projections across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, transforming daily commutes into Warner Bros. Discovery-inspired journeys.

To connect viewers in Asia with Max, a series of creative social content brought iconic characters from Max’s loved shows into the heart of each market, incorporating characters into Asia’s vibrant culture, where characters ‘react’ to hyperlocal landmarks, dishes and cultural experiences. 

“The extensive launch campaign generated significant excitement, fostered emotional connections, and positioned Max as the region’s newest streaming experience. The campaign has successfully launched Max on an upwards trajectory in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, deeply connecting with local audiences in the region,” the streaming service said in a press statement.

Singapore – Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that its streaming service Max will launch on November 19 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and  Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. Max will be a brand new streaming experience in the region bringing fans blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic titles, real-life content and other family favourites through a strong product experience. 

Max brings together entertainment titles from brands like HBO, Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Max Originals, and the best of Hollywood movies, as well as programming from Discovery, TLC, AFN, Food Network, ID and HGTV all in one place. 

From November 19, subscribers can enjoy an elevated streaming experience on multiple devices with  an easy to navigate interface including personalised recommendations, seamless search, genre rails and brand hubs. 

Moreover, by providing a more intuitive way of exploring Max, subscribers can create up to five unique profiles, each customisable with favorite characters as avatars, receive content picks based on viewing habits and customise profiles for kids, curated with age-appropriate content and parental controls.

JB Perette, CEO and president of global streaming & games at Warner Bros. Discovery said, “We are thrilled to bring Max to more consumers in Asia. Max brings together unparalleled quality content  from iconic brands like HBO, Discovery, the DC Universe, Harry Potter, AFN, and Cartoon Network, as well as Hollywood blockbusters all in one place. Building on successful launches in the U.S., Latin  America and Europe, Asia Pacific represents the next phase of Max’s globalization, making Max available now in over 72 markets with more to come in 2025.”

Meanwhile, James Gibbons, president at Warner Bros. Discovery, APAC commented, “Warner Bros. Discovery has long entertained fans across Asia Pacific with culture-defining content from powerhouse brands. For the first time, this programming will be available in a brand new streaming app for regional audiences, with Max combining incredible breadth and depth and a best in class viewing experience.” 

Taiwan – Vistar Media, a global provider of out-of-home (OOH) media technology solutions, has forged new strategic partnerships with two major Taiwanese media owners, KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings, significantly expanding its footprint in the region.

This strategic move aligns with Vistar’s goal to bolster its OOH marketplace across the APAC region, bringing its advanced programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) solutions to Taiwan’s expanding outdoor advertising sector. Integrating KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings’ inventory into Vistar’s global marketplace represents a crucial milestone in the company’s continued regional growth across Asia-Pacific. 

Speaking on the partnership, David Mou, chief visionary officer and chief business development officer at KanBan Culture, said, “KanBan seeks to onboard the most iconic, impactful, and contextually significant DOOH inventories in Taiwan onto the global pDOOH ecosystem. Vistar Media’s technical prowess, brand stature, and most significantly, its well-rounded support, enable KanBan to credibly and confidently deliver pDOOH executions to brand clients’ and media owners’ simultaneous satisfactions. Vistar is therefore instrumental in enabling KanBan to convert the minds of successful but otherwise traditional IO media owners towards pDOOH acceptance.” 

YF Juan, international operations at PilotTV Holdings, added, “As Taiwan’s programmatic DOOH leader for retail, transportation, and healthcare channels, PTV-i welcomes programmatic buyers through our collaboration with Vistar Media. This partnership is set to enhance the reach and effectiveness of DOOH campaigns across our extensive network, and we look forward to opening up our premium inventory to buyers both local to Taiwan and around the world.” 

These new partnerships further strengthen Vistar’s global DSP, allowing buyers worldwide to easily purchase DOOH ad space from a single account. Following recent successes like launching programmatic capabilities in China, opening a Melbourne office, and achieving 182% YoY growth in Southeast Asia, Vistar reaffirms its commitment to expanding its OOH marketplace across the region.

Ben Baker, managing director of APAC at Vistar Media, said, “Taiwan represents a significant growth opportunity for Vistar Media, and we are thrilled to officially enter this vibrant market thanks to partnerships with media owners in the region. Our presence in Taiwan will allow us to provide advertisers with the tools they need to create impactful, data-driven digital out-of-home advertising campaigns.”

He continued, “Through our partnerships with KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings, our global and omnichannel demand-side platform (DSP) buyers across APAC can access a wider range of inventory that was previously difficult to reach. Taiwan’s bustling urban areas and high-foot traffic locations are ideal environments for programmatic DOOH, and we look forward to helping brands capture the attention of this important market and achieve measurable results.”

Beyond its new inventory in Taiwan, Vistar Media maintains a strong presence across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, mainland China, and Hong Kong.

Taipei, Taiwan – Uber Technologies and Delivery Hero SE have reached an agreement for Uber to acquire Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for US$950m in cash. The acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and is targeted to close in the first half of 2025. 

Separately, the companies have also entered into an agreement for Uber to purchase US$300m in newly issued ordinary shares of Delivery Hero.

Until closing, Delivery Hero is dedicated to continue operating foodpanda Taiwan as before, offering the best possible service for its customers and vendors. In the period following closing, foodpanda’s local consumers, merchants, and delivery partners will be transitioned to Uber Eats.

The deal will combine Uber’s global expertise in operating a high-efficiency marketplace with foodpanda’s extensive coverage across Taiwan and its relationships with beloved local brands. The deal will also give consumers greater choice across food types and price points by bringing the complementary groups of merchants on Uber Eats and foodpanda onto a combined platform.

Moreover, due to its existing presence in Taiwan, Uber is best placed to build upon the significant local operations developed by Delivery Hero and foodpanda over the past years, and invest further into an improved experience for consumers, merchants, and delivery partners.

Niklas Östberg, CEO and co-founder of Delivery Hero, said, “The strength of our Taiwanese business is a testament to the hard work of many teams over the last eight years. In order to build a world-leading service, we have come to the conclusion that we need to focus our resources on other parts of our global footprint, where we feel we can have the largest impact for customers, vendors and riders. This deal gives foodpanda an exciting runway in Taiwan and we wish them all the best in their next chapter.”

Meanwhile, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, senior vice president of delivery at Uber, commented, “Bringing together our distinct customer bases, merchant selections, and geographic footprints will allow us to deliver more choices and the best prices for consumers, stronger demand for restaurants, and more earnings opportunities for delivery partners. Taiwan is a fiercely competitive market, where online food delivery platforms today still represent just a small part of the food delivery landscape. We’re so excited about the opportunity to deliver even greater convenience and value that this transaction would unlock in the years ahead.”

Once completed, this deal would be one of the largest ever international acquisitions in Taiwan, outside of the semiconductor industry. It is worth noting that Delivery Hero SE previously confirmed the sale of select foodpanda businesses, albeit the only confirmation they had was for their SEA businesses.

Taiwan – OMD Taiwan, a subsidiary of the Omnicom Media Group, has named Jason Chen as its new general manager to support business growth. 

In his new role as general manager, Chen will focus on the continuous development and growth of OMD’s client partnerships, commercial operations, product, talent, and culture. 

Chen emphasised his commitment to using his extensive experience to address the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rapid development of marketing technology. The agency network will leverage Chen’s invaluable wealth of experience and insights in combining media, data, and marketing technology to create win-win marketing campaigns for brands and consumers. 

He will lead the team in utilising global resources, technology, and data insights tools to enhance OMD’s competitiveness and talent development and deepen the agile thinking within the agency brand. Chen’s main aim is to assist brands in creating better consumer experiences, continuously strengthen the leading position of client brands, and drive business growth, making OMD the most trusted business partner for clients.

Chen previously spent nearly a decade at OMG and OMD in Taiwan, leading its digital transformation for clients. Now, with over 18 years of experience in digital and media, Chen returns to the OMG network with extensive expertise in marketing, data-driven marketing technology, media integration, and client service. 

Prior to his appointment at OMD Taiwan, he worked at GroupM and has also worked at d.vibe Digital, dentsu Solution Center, and tech start-up Ainotam, making significant industry contributions in the areas of media, data, and marketing technology. 

Overall, his remarkable leadership earned him several accolades and numerous successful pitch wins, resulting in internationally acclaimed case studies for various brands. 

Charlotte Lee, CEO at OMD Asia Pacific, said, “Jason’s demonstrated expertise in client management, business operations, and digital strategy presents a significant advantage for OMD in Taiwan, especially as we capitalise on emerging opportunities to explore new possibilities for our clients. His recruitment aligns with our ambition to accelerate growth through digital leadership, business transformation, and a connected culture.” 

Also speaking on the appointment, Kelly Huang, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Taiwan, shared, “Jason’s leadership in digital transformation at OMG and OMD makes him one of the most influential figures in our industry. In recent years, OMD has been actively transforming and expanding, keeping pace with the rapid changes in the market. In this rapidly changing market environment, talent, data, and client servicing have always been core values of our group. Faced with the current changes in the environment, we need an agile-thinking team. We are very pleased that Jason has returned and accepted this new challenge. We believe that under his leadership, OMD will once again reach new heights and create new milestones.” 

Taiwan – Prior to celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024, McDonald’s Taiwan kicks off a full year of festivities with its latest campaign called ‘Simple Happiness’, in collaboration with Leo Burnett Taiwan.

Starring Taiwanese pop icon Jolin Tsai, the film by Leo Burnett Taiwan depicts moments of simple happiness across four decades, beginning in 1984, the year McDonald’s Taiwan first opened its doors.

Leaping from 1988, when McDonald’s launched its first Happy Meal, through to 2024, when McDonald’s Taiwan will celebrate its 40th anniversary, the film transitions from village streets to cityscapes in the blink of an eye using 3D animation with a timelapse effect to express the passage of time.

In a first for Taiwan, the film’s various eras were filmed entirely in a Virtual Studio in collaboration with Moonshine XR Studio using the latest 3D modelling and mapping technology. The film even uses AI to faithfully recreate McDonald’s most iconic packaging designs of yesteryear, which exist today only in people’s memories.  

Speaking on this innovation, Hsiao Ya-chuan, the film’s director, mentioned, “Simple Happiness is a leap forward for Taiwanese filmmaking. We created five distinct settings using 3D modelling and huge LED screens. Simulating natural sunlight was one of many hurdles, but after months of extensive planning and testing, our story was freed from the constraints of physical locations, giving us greater control, flexibility and creativity.”

With Jolin Tsai’s new song featured in the video, she also commented, “It has been over 20 years since I first collaborated with McDonald’s, and I’m truly honoured to be part of this 40th anniversary celebration. The narrative masterfully intertwines the journeys of growing up in various eras, and the courage that McDonald’s can instil along the way.”

Talking about the campaign, Brenda Kou, CMO, Asia business unit, McDonald’s, said, “To commemorate McDonald’s 40th anniversary in Taiwan, we loved the idea of creating a ‘happiness time machine’ campaign that revisits memorable moments of simple happiness over the past 40 years. By embracing the latest virtual production technologies, it also looks to the future, positioning McDonald’s Taiwan as an icon of food, tech and transformation.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Yang, CEO and CCO at Leo Burnett Taiwan, also added, “McDonald’s holds a special place in the hearts of Taiwanese people. When it first opened in 1984, it brought new cultural influences and immediately became a place where shared memories are created, like a good friend we’ve all grown up with. After many years of adapting global propositions to local culture, McDonald’s Taiwan is a loved and essential brand among many Taiwanese people.”

Taiwan – Global marketing and advertising agency dentsu has announced the establishment of a new ‘Greater North’ cluster that brings Mainland China and three of the regions in Asia into one structure, with a new leadership team and Jennifer Tang to spearhead as the CEO. 

The new Greater North cluster will merge dentsu’s markets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan to form one management structure.

With the new cluster, dentsu also announced the appointment of its visionary team of leaders from the agency’s respective markets who are expected to drive success and growth for the new cluster.

Tang, who is currently serving as dentsu Taiwan’s CEO, will take the helm as Greater North’s CEO. She is recognised for her transformative management approach, transforming the Taiwan business with her six-year visionary journey and making it among the strongest in the APAC region. 

She is known for her unwavering focus on integration, innovation, data, and technology, which enabled dentsu Taiwan to capitalise on high growth opportunities by expertly predicting and navigating the changing expectations of consumers and delivering competitive advantage for brands in the market.

Together with Tang, Joshua Wong from dentsu Taiwan will serve as the new cluster’s CFO. He is an innovative and strategic leader who brings a critical commercial lens to investments and operations. Having worked with Tang, he was part of Taiwan’s transformation journey to deliver some of the strongest results in the group.

Chu Yin Mak will remain as dentsu China’s CEO and dentsu APAC’s executive committee member. With 25 years of career experience, his mastery of the varied imaginative value delivery, technology, data, and ecosystem landscape, along with his ability to identify and take action on significant growth opportunities from evolving market conditions, is expected to bring a significant advantage to the group.

Also working with the new group is Simone Tam, who is now appointed CEO for the Greater Bay Area. Tam has been overseeing both Dentsu Creative and dentsu Hong Kong as CEO since 2021 and has been growing both over the course of her career. 

In her new role, she will capitalise on the huge potential of the Greater Bay Area, overseeing a geo-centric business unit comprising the hyper-growth territories of Hong Kong, the Guangdong Province, and Macao as the new CEO. 

Lastly, Donna Kim, dentsu Korea’s CEO, will also join the Greater North cluster’s leadership team. With 30 years of experience building successful domestic enterprises for large global MarComms businesses, she is expected to further drive growth for the group. Her deep level of industry knowledge and thorough understanding of building brands in and out of Korea bring a strong media perspective to the fore. 

Rob Gilby, CEO APAC at dentsu said, “Jennifer is a vocal advocate of co-creation and collaboration, and together with her leadership team will deliver new untapped growth opportunities for both our clients and our business. Bringing together these markets into one management structure with an integrated cluster strategy will enable each leader to spearhead an agenda that benefits all markets, delivering new innovation and client opportunities, improved speed to market, greater autonomy to deliver solutions, and economies of scale aligned to market needs.”

He added, “Jennifer needs no introduction; she has won a number of accolades for her own leadership and the culture she has overseen in the Taiwan business, while her teams have been recognised on the global stage, from Cannes Lions to Spikes, Clios, Madstars, and RECMA. She is a passionate advocate of B2B2S and dentsu’s impact on the communities it’s a part of, living the values that are fundamental to the way we do business.” 

Commenting on her appointment, Tang shared, “We’ve been given a significant opportunity to drive unprecedented scale and build our business around our clients and their needs, which is unique to dentsu and our model in market. The formation of this cluster ultimately drives greater opportunity for our clients, giving them frictionless access to a collaborative community of experts across marketing, consulting, and technology.”

“I am excited to work with the exceptional leaders in Joshua, Chun, Simone, and Donna, who bring significant expertise across a range of specialisms. Together we will drive new growth for brands and opportunities for our people by delivering new services and solutions that tackle our clients’ greatest challenges, fueling our growth and broadening the horizons for professional development within our teams,” she added. 

Taipei, Taiwan – Singaporean bank DBS has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the consumer banking business of Citi in Taiwan. The acquisition was completed over the weekend, according to the company.

With the acquisition of Citi Consumer Taiwan, DBS will become one of Taiwan’s largest foreign bank by assets. DBS Taiwan will have clear market leadership in loans, deposits, cards and investments amongst foreign players in the market. Additionally, close to 3,000 employees from Citi Consumer Taiwan have moved over to DBS.

Speaking about the acquisition, Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS, said, “Our successful integration of Citi Consumer Taiwan with DBS continues our strategy of building meaningful scale in our core Asian markets. By bringing a prized Citi franchise into our fold, we accelerate our consumer business growth in Taiwan by at least 10 years. Overnight, revenue from the market will more than double to over SGD 1.3 billion.”

He added, “With the transaction, I am also confident that we will be able to provide more value to our customers, in particular, helping them grow their wealth through innovative products, and helping those who are business owners expand into new markets or participate in regional trade flows.”

Meanwhile, Ng Sier Han, CEO of DBS Taiwan, commented, “I am delighted to welcome our new Citi colleagues to the DBS family. Since we announced the transaction back in 2022, we have been working towards a seamless transition of the two businesses. Today marks a momentous milestone for DBS Taiwan, made doubly significant as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in the market.”

He added, “Over the years, DBS Taiwan has made significant strides with new innovations in digital banking and more recently, advancements in sustainability. Our enlarged franchise affords us greater opportunity to continue availing best-in-class products and services to our customers as we set ourselves apart as a different kind of bank – one that enables them to Live more, Bank less.”

The slew of acquisitions in Asia-Pacific also includes UnionBank acquiring the Philippine operations of Citi’s consumer banking business in 2021. This comes over two years after Citigroup announced that it is exiting its consumer businesses in 10 Asia-Pacific markets.