Commercialize TV (CTV) has appointed Laura Gordon as head of sales in Asia Pacific to lead the company’s aggressive foray into digital video curation sphere.
She will be tasked to create premium advertising solutions for the markets in the region with particular focus on China. She will be based in Singapore and will report to Craig Galvin, CTV’s chief executive officer. Gordon (pictured) joins a growing CTV team, which now spans offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Beijing and with a head office in New York.
Gordon comes to CTV from Omnicom Media Group, where she led the business development function across Asia Pacific for the last five years.
Galvin said: “Commercialise TV has bold ambitions and we are partnering with some of the best organisations in the world to help achieve our vision and deliver better business outcomes for our partners. Gordon’s skills add considerably to CTV’s capability to enable brands to connect and engage with new audiences.”
“CTV is at the crest of a new wave of media, content and integration opportunities in Asia - we have taken a leadership position here - so I couldn’t ask for more. Being here, in a start-up, when video is booming across Asia is an incredible opportunity, and something I believe in,” Gordon said.
Founded in September 2013, CTV has established brand and technology relationships in Asia. Its purpose is connecting established and emerging video creators with new audiences and revenues. Fashion & luxury, action & adventure are its two key content verticals for the company.
Derrick Koh, head of communications, Asia Pacific at Lenovo has left the role, with his duties to be taken over by communications manager, APEM Stephanie Shi.
A spokesperson for Lenovo has confirmed this.
Koh has been in Lenovo’s communications team since 2007.
Steven Cao, the CEO of Edelman China, has been absent from work for over a week, after "cooperating with authorities" on the investigation of his former business partner Rui Chenggang.
Rui, a popular CCTV host, was detained over corruption allegations in mid-July.
Edelman confirmed to Marketing in an email that it had lost contact with its CEO, adding further information about his whereabouts was not immediately available.
Cao and Rui Chenggang founded PR firm Pegasus Communications, which Edelman acquired a majority stake in 2007.
On 13 July, the celebrity CCTV business host was detained by Chinese authorities for alleged corruption allegations.
On the same day, one of Edelman's PR firm Pegasus was embroiled in the media sting with a tweed on People's Daily Twitter account saying Rui held part of the shares in the agency.
Edelman then distanced itself with an e-mail reply saying Rui no longer has any shareholding in Pegasus after the agency acquired all of his remaining shares in 2010.
Guinness has appointed BBDO and Iris Worldwide to handle its global digital duties.
M&M Global has reported that BBDO will lead strategic insight, content creation and digital activation for the brand globally. The current global appointment also adds to BBDO’s existing creative responsibilities in Africa, Western Europe and North America. Iris will lead the brand's integrated marketing though experiential and shopper marketing initiatives.
While a spokesperson for Guinness has confirmed the global appointment, it is not clear how this will affect local partnerships. More updates will follow.
In Asia, the Guinness brand is under Asia Pacific Breweries, while globally it is under Diageo.
Currently for creatives, Guinness already works with BBDO in Singapore and the agency has been with the brand locally for close to a decade. BBDO also handles creative duties for Tiger Singapore. Both the brands sit under the Asia Pacific Breweries company.
The Philippine Star celebrates its 28th anniversary not just by resting on its laurels but by looking ahead, showing how can a broadsheet remain nimble in this interconnected era – all without losing heart.
Every day since July began, the newspaper has featured 28 remarkable stories of selfless giving as part of the #28StoriesOfGiving campaign, a fundraiser to help the 28 people and groups presented in the series.
As the hashtag would imply, the campaign was also deployed on social media where the Star will donate P5 to its “give back” anniversary fund for every tweet or social media post supporting the beneficiaries.
At the end of the series, the Star then mounted a photo exhibit at the SM Mega Fashion Hall last Wednesday in a bid to reach more people, introducing them to these unsung modern-day heroes worthy of recognition but also in need of assistance.” Below are snaps of all the pictures featured in the exhibit.
The overall goal is to raise up to P2 million pesos, but based on the overwhelming response on both platforms, Lucien Dy Tioco, SVP for sales and marketing at the Star, said that the campaign is doing more than just securing financial aid.
“One of the things I learned in this campaign is the power of traditional media such as print in generating responses compared to social media. But social media gains a lot of traction in terms of creating awareness and how it could really cause a snowball effect. Having both is really the way to go to maximize the synergy,” he shared with Marketing.
Maria Fatima Garcia-Lorenzo, co-founder of the Kythe Foundation, shared with the press during the launch that potential donors started knocking as soon as their story was published on the front pages of the Star. Other testimonials that followed from the Manila Doctor’s Hospital and the Storytelling Project also attested to how immediate the response they got from the public when the stories came out.
Tioco said that the campaign made him see how social media could not just connect people but also empower them – giving the word "sharing" new meaning.
“And I am not talking about posting updates and or selfies. We tend to believe that social media is just there to amplify but it can be so much more, especially to people who need to be heard.”
“It’s part and parcel of how we like our readers to be – more positive in the way they share their views now that they have the voice. We also want this to inspire action.”
The #28StoriesOfGiving will be on a mall tour covering five malls. Each lasting 10 days, the exhibit will move on to Greenbelt 3, Robinsons Magnolia, The Block and Eastwood Mall.
DDB Group Singapore's ad campaign for DBS Bank has bagged the Grand Prix award at SPH iink Awards 2014. DDB Group Singapore was also named iink Creative Agency of the Year.
The results of the SPH iink Awards 2014, organised by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), were announced to a crowd of more than 300 guests from the ad industry. Awards were given out to the creative agency, media agency and advertiser responsible for the winning advertisements.
The SPH iink Awards, now into its tenth edition, ran with the theme “Celebrate the Imaginative”. This year's awards celebrated the kaleidoscope of "creative rebels, dreamers and thinkers who inject vitality and excitement into the local advertising scene."
The year's big winner was a campaign by DDB Group Singapore for its client DBS Bank . The campaign, entitled "DBS Private Bank", won Gold in the Print Single - English category (for "Test Us") and garnered a Silver in the the Print Campaign - English category. The campaign also won the much coveted Grand Prix award, which saw DDB Group Singapore bagging a cash prize of SG$8,000.
Points were allocated to the winners and finalists of each category. The Grand Prix winner was the entry that scored the highest number of points, while the highest scoring creative and media agency across all categories were crowned the SPH iink Creative Agency Of The Year and the SPH iink Media Agency Of The Year, respectively.
OMD Singapore was named iink Media Agency Of The Year. DDB Group Singapore previously won the Creative Agency of the Year award in 2011, while OMD Singapore kept up its title from 2013.
The nine award categories this year were:
A1: Print Single – English
A2: Print Campaign – English
A3: Print Single/Campaign – Chinese
A4: Print Classified/Recruitment/Notice
A5: Print Creative Media Buy
B: Digital
C: Radio
D: Out-of-Home
E: SPH IS ON Campaign
The winning advertisers from Categories A (A1 - A5) and E, as well as the Grand Prix winner, will each receive a full-page advertising space in either of SPH's flagship newspapers – The Straits Times or Lianhe Zaobao. The winning advertisers from Categories B to D (digital, radio and OOH) will each receive SG$30,000 worth of ads/digital airtime in their respective media category.
In addition to the winners of the nine award categories, the winner of the Readers' Choice Award was also announced during the awards presentation. "Lost and Found" by Certis CISCO Security won over the hearts of readers and took home the award.
Leslie Fong, senior executive vice-president of SPH’s marketing division, said: "As Singapore's marketing and advertising industry becomes more crowded, the creativity that consumers see in any advertisement becomes the X-factor that makes the ad stand out from the competition. We are proud that the SPH iink Awards has grown to be one of the biggest, recognised and most important advertising awards in Singapore, and remains the only award that recognises the effectiveness and importance of the tripartite relationship comprising creative agencies, media agencies, and advertisers."
The awards, formerly known as the SPH Ink Awards, was originally launched to honour the best print advertisements and the creative people behind them. In 2012, three new categories – digital, radio and out-of-home – were introduced to recognise creative and effective advertisements on SPH's other media platforms. It was also renamed the SPH iink Awards, with the additional “i” representing “Integration”.
Here's the full list of winners:
GOLD
Title: DBS Private Bank - Test Us
Client: DBS Bank Ltd
Creative Agency: DDB Group Singapore
Chief Creative Officer: Neil Johnson
Creative Director: Francis Ooi
Art Director: Ivan Yeh
Copywriter: Neil Johnson
Media Agency: Havas Media Singapore
Credits: Desh Balakrishnan / Felicia Poon
SILVER
Title: Mario
Client: Procter & Gamble (Singapore)
Creative Agency: Grey Group Singapore
Executive Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Art Director: Avdhi Jain / Ernest Tey / Tan Giap How
Copywriter: Nrusingha Choudhury
BRONZE
Title: Birds
Client: Unilever Asia
Creative Agency: LOWE Singapore
Chief Creative Officer: Dominic Stallard
Creative Director: Ang Sheng Jin / Daniel Kee
Art Director: Ang Sheng Jin / Alex Tan
Copywriter: Daniel Kee / Aslinda Khanafi
Media Agency: Mindshare Singapore
Credits: Ivan Wong / Marivic Idanan / Karen Bantugon
FINALIST
Title: Assassin's Creed
Client: Procter & Gamble (Singapore)
Creative Agency: Grey Group Singapore
Executive Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Art Director: Avdhi Jain / Ernest Tey / Tan Giap How
Copywriter: Nrusingha Choudhury
FINALIST
Title: Land of Quattro (Fallen Branches)
Client: Audi Singapore
Creative Agency: Publicis Singapore
Regional Chief Creative Officer: Ajay Vikram
Associate Creative Director: Kris Ng
Senior Art Director: Goh Jia Ying
Art Director: Eugene Pua
Head of Copy: Jury Gregorio
Senior Copywriter: Ho Pei Ling
Media Agency: Mediacom
Category A2 – Print Single – Campaign
GOLD
Title: Lifted
Client: Unilever Asia
Creative Agency: LOWE Singapore
Chief Creative Officer: Dominic Stallard
Creative Director: Ang Sheng Jin / Daniel Kee
Art Director: Ang Sheng Jin / Alex Tan
Copywriter: Daniel Kee / Aslinda Khanafi
Media Agency: Mindshare Singapore
Credits: Ivan Wong / Marivic Idanan / Karen Bantugon
SILVER
Title: DBS Private Bank
Client: DBS Bank Ltd
Creative Agency: DDB Group Singapore
Chief Creative Officer: Neil Johnson
Creative Director: Francis Ooi
Art Director: Ivan Yeh
Copywriter: Neil Johnson
Media Agency: Havas Media Singapore
Credits: Desh Balakrishnan / Felicia Poon
BRONZE
Title: Land of Quattro
Client: Audi Singapore
Creative Agency: Publicis Singapore
Regional Chief Creative Officer: Ajay Vikram
Associate Creative Director: Kris Ng
Senior Art Director: Goh Jia Ying
Art Director: Eugene Pua
Head of Copy: Jury Gregorio
Senior Copywriter: Ho Pei Ling
Media Agency: Mediacom
FINALIST
Title: Face-to-Face Connections
Client: Qatar Airways
Creative Agency: Grey Group Singapore
Executive Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Art Director: Deng Yingzhi
Copywriter: Dunstan Lee
FINALIST
Title: Don't Let The Game Die
Client: Procter & Gamble (Singapore)
Creative Agency: Grey Group Singapore
Executive Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Creative Director: Ali Shabaz
Art Director: Avdhi Jain / Ernest Tey / Tan Giap How
Copywriter: Nrusingha Choudhury
Category A3 – Print Single / Campaign – Chinese
GOLD
Title: Land of Quattro (Torrential Rain)
Client: Audi Singapore
Creative Agency: Publicis Singapore
Regional Chief Creative Officer: Ajay Vikram
Associate Creative Director: Kris Ng
Senior Art Director: Goh Jia Ying
Art Director: Eugene Pua
Head of Copy: Jury Gregorio
Senior Copywriter: Ho Pei Ling
Media Agency: Mediacom
SILVER
Title: M1 Sundays (Male)
Client: M1 Limited
Creative Agency: Young & Rubicam Advertising
Executive Creative Director: Farrokh Madon
Creative Director: Bruce Watt
Art Director: Nico Rahardian
Copywriter: Chua Li Ling
Media Agency: Zenith Optimedia
Credits: Vivian Yeo
BRONZE
Title: Keppel Land 'Thinking Unboxed' - Corals at Keppel Bay
As part of a massive streamlining exercise, Procter & Gamble will be dropping a majority of its brands to focus on its top earners.
The largest consumer products firm today, Procter & Gamble will sell, discontinue, merge or eliminate up to 100 brands in the next two years as part of a cost-cutting exercise – focusing on its top 70 to 80 brands.
These 70 to 80 brands that will remain have accounted for 90% of the company’s sales and more than 95% of its profit in the past three years, said chief executive officer A.G. Lafley on an earnings call last Friday.
According to a Bloomberg article, Lafley said: “This will be a much smaller and less complicated company of brands that will be easier to operate.”
Earlier, P&G has already sold several brands such as pet-food brands Iams, Eukanuba and Natura to Mars and Pringles to Kellogg Co.
The Bloomberg article also said that the company’s remaining brands will be organized into a dozen business units in the four sectors.
However, while the company did not specify which brands would be sold or discontinued, speculations have been rampant. Brands such as Head & Shoulders, Olay, SK-II, Pantene, Wella, Gillette, Fusion, Mach3, Always, Crest, Oral-B, Vicks, Ace, Ariel, Dawn and Downy are listed as its billion dollar brands.
This is likely to have effect on its agency partners globally. According to its last annual report in 2013, P&G spends more than US$9.7 billion on advertising globally. It was also mentioned that the company intends to cut marketing budgets and move to more "efficient digital spends", in an AdAge article.
UPDATE: A spokesperson told Marketing that the company has yet to publish the list of businesses and brands it intends to exit as the process has only just begun; and that the company cannot comment on the implications for Asia and its relevant agency partners in the region.
In its last financial report, Asia pulled in 18% of its global net sales.
The firm has been making a series of major changes to its business in 2012, announcing a major productivity plan with plans to cut costs of US$10 billion over the next five years. It also has been restructuring its marketing and communications operations. (Read also: P&G scraps marketing titles within and our interview with P&G's Asia marketing chief last year.)
In today’s market, the physical and digital worlds are converging to create a new landscape for brand marketers.
More and more brands are utilising innovative digital marketing as part of their overall marketing scheme. What the market still lacks, however, is the personalised interactions and engagement between brands and their target audiences.
I am a firm believer that hands-on experiences using digital mediums and technologies can engage target consumers on a personal level, and convert them from passive audiences to active participants. Such an outcome can significantly enhance ROI for brands, as active participants are much more proactive in publicly identifying themselves with the brand, and invest significant time and resources towards it.
Undeniably, consumer engagement is one of the most defining factors of long-term success for any brand across industries. The potential impact digital tools can deliver to achieve this can be fully maximized through personalized interactions and engagement between brands and their target consumers.
Live Communication was born out of that realisation.
It means making brands accessible at an individual level, telling stories, sharing emotional moments and creating unforgettable experiences.
Uniplan, Gold Winner of Event Marketing Agency of the Year Award at Marketing Magazine’s Agency of the Year Awards 2014, has been delivering impressive results to clients such as Audi, Maserati, Citibank, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Adidas through staging digitized Live Communication encounters.
Live Communication is a type of experiential marketing that is now increasingly recognized and implemented in the marketing landscape. It effectively harnesses the full potential of digital technologies in delivering powerful brand experiences to target consumers, and client-marketers are keen to capitalize on this.
More and more client-marketers are realising that while digital technologies help to further engage and activate the consumption potential in consumers, Live Communications is the ideal vehicle for delivering and amplifying that impact potential to a highly targeted audience. The use of multiple projectors, interactive technologies, multi-touch walls, iPhone applications, and LED installs, are just a handful of examples of the tools utilised to imprint brand experiences for the consumer.
Digital marketing and Live Communications work hand in hand to help marketers achieve the intended marketing outcome, and it is when both are implemented simultaneously that ROI is maximized for brands in the current Digital Age.
Darren Chuckry is executive director of client services at Uniplan.
Razorfish Hong Kong has appointed Seton Vermaak as head of strategy, reporting to managing director Joanna Kalenska.
In this newly created role, Vermaak will lead the team of Razorfish strategists in Hong Kong and contribute to the Razorfish network across the globe.
He is set to work across clients including Nike Hong Kong, JP Morgan, Intel and Lenovo. He joins from Dubai and brings more than 20 years of strategy development experience to the team.
Vermaak has worked his way across the globe from Africa to Europe, Dubai and now here in Asia. He brings in a heavy client-side background and a sprinkling of agency experience, having drive creative community initiatives such as the Creative Cape Town Cluster, a programme that placed significant Cape Town creatives on a platform where they could share their inspiring stories to other creatives.
JWT Vietnam has appointed Steve Clay as executive creative director. JWT has confirmed the move to Marketing.
Clay will be based in Vietnam. In his new role, Clay will be reporting to Saby Mishra, the CEO of JWT Vietnam. Clay will be focusing primarily on the Vietnam market. In his new role, Clay will also be working closely with regional ECD Tay Guan Hin.
He was last regional creative director, APAC at Grey Group where he was in the role for approximately three years. He left the role in December 2013 and was in charge of leading the creatives on the GSK business. Currently the duties are being handled by Till Hohmann.
Prior to the role he was ECD at Lowe for three years, regional creative director APAC at Y&R and ECD at Publicis.
Online lifestyle news organisation Sassy Media Group has expanded to Singapore, Dubai and Australia.
The Singapore and Dubai sites will be run by Sassy business partners who have recently relocated to those cities from Hong Kong. These sites will be mainly owned by Sassy Media Group with a small percentage owned by local partners. Sassy Mama, the version of the site targeted at mothers, had been launched in Singapore in early 2013.
The Australian Gold Coast site is run by a licensee, who will also be operating the upcoming Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney sites to be launched in phases. The next site to be launched is Sassy Brisbane, with its preliminary launch date slated for early 2015.
There are currently 11 members of staff in the Hong Kong office, with three in regional roles. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Sassy Media Group was founded in 2009 and received around 7 million page views last year.
The Singapore office is staffed with two editors and two sales and marketing people while Dubai has one editor and one sales and marketing person.
"Our revenue model is the same in all countries - ads and sponsored content on the website, a weekly newsletter and events with partners who act as our sponsors," Maura Thompson, managing director at Sassy Media Group, said.
"As we expand, we hope to maintain the original purpose for which we started the business - bringing girls together in community with each other - while growing at the same time."
Most of the site's revenue comes from advertising and sponsored content. The next biggest revenue stream is events.
She says the success of breaking into new markets depends on the relationships of business partners on the ground, such as knowing public relations people, working with businesses who target the same demographic as Sassy and organising events where girls and moms can engage with the news site that will also enable cross-promotion with brands.
While Sassy Hong Kong is often stereotyped as a publication for expats, Thompson hopes to also tap into local audiences in the new markets. However, she admits that starting off with expat readers is usually the path of least resistance.
"The easiest path in a new country is to tap into the expat market first and then build up our readership from there. With Dubai, we would focus on expats and people influenced by the West in the beginning. In Singapore and Australia, we can tap into the local market more easily as an English-language publication," she said.
The concept of Sassy does not remain static across markets - for example, the Gold Coast site would probably feature more beach-related content whereas the Hong Kong content is more urbanised.
Licensing out the brand in Australia
Around a year ago, the Sassy Hong Kong team received an email from a woman who had attended Sassy events while she was living in Hong Kong. Having moved back to Gold Coast, she asked if she could run Sassy websites in Australia as franchises.
"We had no one on the ground in Australia, which means no expertise or resources, and it's a big market," Thompson said.
"The opportunity presented itself to us and we had a business partner in Hong Kong who was experienced in licensing. We weren't going to move to Australia. Giving a license means we can expand to that market without diverting attention away from our own sites."
The Australia team had flown over to Hong Kong for training and to learn about the Sassy philosophy and content strategy. They are given the right to use the Sassy brand name and framework but has editorial freedom over their own content. Sassy will continue to conduct strategy sessions with them to ensure that the overall Sassy content strategies remain aligned.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical has added a modern twist to its 60-year-old brand Oronine H Ointment (娥羅納英H軟膏) with a new campaign launching today spanning TV, print and online media.
Created by The Gate Hong Kong, the campaign comes under the name “TSG – Trouble X Skin X Girls”, a resemblance to the naming of a typical girl pop group in Japan.
Five female characters styled in an fashionable manne were created with each one of them representing a specific skin problem our female audience may face everyday – acne, minor cuts, dry athlete’s foot, eruption, chapped skin.
https://vimeo.com/102490627
Oronine H Ointment from Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been in the market since the 1950s and is best recalled as a remedy to moisturize chapped skin in the winter, despite the fact that it can also help relieve various skin problems.
This biggest rejuvenation project aims to reposition its product as an “all-in-one” skin protector, with its communication target audience focused on modern day women, who are looking for an effective and convenient solution for the skin problems they face everyday.
Denise Wong, executive creative director at The Gate Hong Kong, added: "From colour choice to layout, the commercial adopts a heavy dose of Japanese-style. This is very key as local consumer shows greater confidence in Japanese pharmaceutical brands.”
Credits:
Client: Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Brand: Oronine H Ointment
Creative Agency: The Gate Worldwide
Creative Team: Denise Wong, Sonic Choy, Halo Cheng, Fei Leung, Roshan Gunasinghe
Account Management Team: Maggie Wong, Ashley Wong, Dorothy Chan
Production House: Ogle Production Ltd.
Director: Martin Chau
Photographer: Topaz Leung from Studio TM
Media Agency: Media Palette
Mindshare has entered into an exclusive partnership with big data outfit Crayon Data to power its planning, insights and consultancy offering.
The partnership aims to allow greater adaptive solutions for marketers, to identify different consumer profiles and segments, and to target and track profiles across a complex range of media channels, including social media and video.
Mindshare said this partnership continues its focus on developing leadership in Adaptive Marketing - a shift that is impacting how the agency thinks about services, products and ways of working.
Sudipto Roy (pictured), chief client officer APAC and chairman of Mindshare’s Products, Partnerships & Services council, said: “One of today’s key business challenges is the complexity surrounding the collection of data making traditional database processing and management tools ineffective in helping clients make optimal decisions about their customers’ needs.
"It’s a fundamental requirement of business success. Without the ability to support customer needs, organisations fail.”
The agency has identified Adaptive Marketing as the future of marketing and advertising, focusing marketing efforts on value and impact rather than a traditional process.
E-commerce on the rise in Singapore Singapore and Malaysia are leading in Southeast Asia in terms of online and retail sales, with 50% of the population making e-commerce transactions. Read more here.
A new creative tool to help your Facebook ads
Allied APAC, a consolidated subsidiary of Allied Architect which offers social media marketing support for businesses, has developed a crowdsourcing service ReFUEL4 which specialises in Facebook advertising creation. Read more here.
Dailymotion and Pixel Media partner up
Video platform Dailymotion and digital ad sales network Pixel Media have inked a deal where Pixel Media will represent the direct campaigns on Dailymotion.com. Read more here.
BlackBerry collaborates with Smaato Smaato, a mobile Real-Time Bidding (RTB) ad exchange (SMX) and Supply Side Platform (SSP), is collaborating with BlackBerry. Read more here.
Exponential Interactive, a digital media solution agency has launched a range of video-enabled engagement ad formats through its display, video and mobile audience engagement divisions Firefly Video, Adotube and Appsnack. Read more here.
FIC releases The Walking Dead Season 5 Fox International Channels has announced that Season 5 of The Walking Dead will debut in all its 125+ markets on 13 October. Read more here.
AdNear and Mindshare join forces Big data company AdNear and Mindshare have partnered up to push location-based mobile advertising services to brands across Asia Pacific. Read more here. Grey Group Singapore launches production arm
Grey Group Singapore has launched its own in-house production facility called GreyWorks Singapore. Read more here.
Mediatropy beefs up creative team
Boutique digital media agency Mediatropy has appointed Philipp Kristian Diekhöner (pictured) as creative director to help expand the agency’s service portfolio in the fields of brand strategy, experience and innovation. Read more here.
MediaCorp grabs another prime OOH media spot
MediaCorp OOH Media has been appointed as the exclusive media partner to market and manage the new digital screen at Orchardgateway, a new mall located in the heart of Orchard Road. Read more here.
Dentsu Aegis Network gives back
Dentsu Aegis Network Singapore has partnered with President’s Challenge to present the ‘Gift of Art’ to over 600 beneficiaries for its “One Day for Change Committed” initiative. Read more here. Komli boosts its Remarketing Demand Side Platform Media technology company Komli Media has launched an Android app for its Remarketing Demand Side Platform customers. Read more here.
Ogilvy & Mather Melbourne grows team Ogilvy & Mather Melbourne has appointed Belinda Danks-Woodley as group account director and Joe Heath as strategy director. Read more here.
SMRT pushes promotions on iMOB
SMRT has launched the iMOB, or I’m On Board- a single platform that integrates advertising, digital and retail businesses. Read more here.
SPHMBO relaunches Chevron House screen
Advertisers now have the option of a screen-wrap placement, expanding total display size by another 60% to further amplify their campaign creative. Read more here.
Warner Bros picks Vizeum
Warner Bros Home Entertainment has appointed Vizeum as its media agency. Vizeum will be tasked to handle all media strategy, planning and buying duties for the brand in the Australian market. Read more here.
KRDS Singapore bags several new accounts Social media and mobile agency KRDS Singapore has won two new accounts with Converse Singapore and Great Eastern Women’s Run Singapore. Read more here.
CIMB Bank sponsors the colour run
CIMB Bank is once again sponsoring The Color Run event happening over the weekend of 30 and 31 August 2014. Read more here.
ThoughtBuzz and DataSift offer Twitter analytics
ThoughtBuzz, the analytics arm of TO THE NEW, will be integrating with DataSift to provide advanced Twitter analytics for marketers and analysts. Read more here.
King Content ventures into London Australian content marketing agency King Content has opened the doors to a new office in London, hot on the heels of launching in Singapore and Melbourne. Read more here.
iris Singapore gets new creative lead
iris Worldwide Singapore has appointed Ed Cheong as its new creative director, reporting into Grant Hunter, regional creative director and Craig Mapleston, managing director, iris Worldwide Singapore. Read more here.
Maxus Singapore gets new MD as Goh exits for IDA
Maxus Singapore’s managing director Lena Goh will leave the agency at the beginning of June to head marketing for the Infocomm Development Authority. Read more here.
Havas Worldwide appoints regional healthcare MD
Havas Worldwide Southeast Asia (SEA) has promoted Victor Joseph ‘VJ’ Yamat to the role of managing director of healthcare operations SEA in a move that enhances the agency’s effort in strengthening its growing health portfolio and business across the region. Read more here.
OMG hires new lead to head Fuse
Omnicom Media Group (OMG), Asia Pacific has appointed Anathea Ruys to lead Fuse, its branded content, sponsorship and ideation unit that services clients within the network and its brands, OMD, PHD and M2M. Read more here.
Arcade launches Unilever campaign in Japan Arcade has created an integrated campaign for the launch of Unilever’s Clear Hair & Scalp Care range in Japan across broadcast and print. Read more here.
Dentsu bolsters Indonesian leadership In preparation for the next phase of growth in 2014, Dentsu Indonesia has announced the appointment of three key management leaders. Read more here.
Starcom drives social education initiative
In an effort to build and nurture local talent, SMG Social, Starcom’s social and content division, has spearheaded an initiative called ‘SMG Social Connect’ to train Singaporean students to be certified community managers. Read more here. Leo Burnett India appoints new CCO
RajDeepak Das has been appointed as the chief creative officer, Leo Burnett Group India. Read more here.
Evian jumps in on Spider-Man 2 premiere
Evian has launched the second stage of its global Amazing Baby & Me 2 campaign, tying it into the Spider-Man 2 movie. Read more here.
Emirates Airline partners Microsoft Advertising
Emirates Airline and its media agency Havas Media Group have partnered with Microsoft Advertising as one of the key partners for its global brand campaign. Read more here.
OMD Tasmania gets new MD OMD Tasmania has appointed Matt Fishburn to the dual role of Clemenger Tasmania’s new managing director and media director. Read more here.
Nissan creates 3D replicas of car lovers
As a part of their 80th Anniversary celebration, Nissan has launched a new program that embodies the ‘love stories’ between Nissan drivers and their cars. Read more here. ZooMoo makes debut on StarHub
Beach House Pictures and StarHub has launched Singapore debut of ZooMoo on StarHub TV, Asia’s first kids channel fully dedicated to wildlife. Read more here.
Game Of Thrones gets more fans
The season four US premiere of Game Of Thrones on Sunday, 6 April was watched by an average of 6.6 million viewers, making it HBO’s most-watched program since the finale of The Sopranos in 2007 (11.9 million viewers). Read more here.
LOOK Out for the Philips food truck
In a bid to showcase its Airfryer, a Philips Airfryer birthday food truck – laden with crisp, guilt-free, air-fried food – which was running around the streets of Singapore. Read more here.
Twitter appoints head of ad sales
Twitter has appointed Delilah Chan as the head of advertising sales for Singapore and Malaysia, Twitter. Read more here.
OMG Thailand makes new hires
Omnicom Media Group Thailand has appointed Suphanee Dechaburananon as senior consultant. Read more here.
LinkedIn introduces new analytics tool LinkedIn has introduced its Content Marketing Score, a data-driven analytics tool that quantifies and benchmarks a brands’ content marketing effort on LinkedIn. Read more here.
Millward Brown appoints new CCO In his new role, Narayanan will report to Nichola Rastrick, managing director of SEA, and joins the SEA management team. Read more here.
Singaporeans' preference for local news
According to SingTel's news app Newsloop, consumption of national news ranks the highest. Read more here. Clear Channel launches new capabilities
Out-of-home ad provider Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO) is rolling out an interactive mobile advertising platform globally called Connect. Read more here. OMD wins Australian brands
OMD has announced their appointment as the media agency for two Australian brand clients: RACV, a $14m account and the $16m Pacific Brands account. Both were awarded to OMD following a competitive pitch. Read more here.
How BIG Hotel boosted its unique visitors
How boutique hotel BIG Hotel pushed its unique visitors with a new site and creative digital campaign.Read more here.
BBH and EDB host joint scholarship
Creative agency BBH Asia Pacific and the Economic Development Board of Singapore have launched the application.Read more here.
WFA names new leadership The World Federation of Advertisers has appointed 12 new leaders to its executive committee and other senior positions. The executive committee is the senior decision-making body in the organisation and is charged with devising and steering WFA strategy. Read more here.
Omnicom appoints trading hires Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific has expanded its accountability team and appointed Sofia Savvidou as the head of trading and accountability APAC. Read more here.
Mountain Dew partners with X-Men
Mountain Dew has announced an official international partnership with 20th Century Fox’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Read more here.
Fortis appoints Section
Singapore-based independent digital agency Section is working with India-based Fortis Surgical Hospital to launch an integrated campaign. Read more here.
Carat extends into Brisbane Carat has extended its Australian presence with its recent launch in the Queensland market. Read more here.
"Flower ka Power" in India Tata and Lowe are creating awareness amongst women about their powers and responsibilities as citizens of India. Here's how. Read more here.
Clear Shampoo aims to wow
Unilever Clear shampoo’s Ice Cool Menthol range has launched a new ad with the help of Lowe Singapore. The TVC will run across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Read more here.
Guardian News & Media partners with PHD
Guardian News & Media (GNM) has extended its partnership with media and communications agency PHD to cover Guardian Australia’s digital properties. Read more here.
Groupon launches e-commerce affiliate
Groupon has launched Groupon Partner Network (GPN), a proprietary local e-commerce affiliate marketing platform designed to help online publishers monetise their online presence through the promotion of Groupon deals. Read more here.
OMD extends contract with Tourism Australia OMD has extended its contract with Tourism Australia. Having landed the global account back in 2012, the contract with OMD Sydney includes coverage across 16 markets, incorporating offline, online, SEO, SEM and social. Read more here.
Microsoft Malaysia appoints CMO
Microsoft announced the appointment of Rukmani Subramaniam as its new chief marketing & operations officer for Malaysia. Read more here.
Clozette opens doors for marketing partnerships in PH Singapore’s Clozette.co is now open for marketing partnerships in the Philippines in response to overwhelming traffic it has been getting from the island nation. Read more here.
Tickled Media hires APAC comms lead
Tickled Media has hired Neetu Mirchandani as the vice president of strategic alliances and communications for Asia Pacific. Read more here.
Weber Shandwick appoints Bangkok lead
Weber Shandwick has announced the appointment of Stuart Kelly to lead the firm’s operations in Bangkok, effective immediately. Read more here.
Go Communications sets up in Laos
Go Communications has formed a partnership with Sengdara Communications in Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. Read more here.
M&C Saatchi appoints Optus lead
M&C Saatchi has hired Chiquita King (pictured) to group head of the Optus team. King joined M&C Saatchi from Leo Burnett where, as group business director, she led the Canon, Colonial First State and eBay accounts. Read more here.
FIC announces new hire
FOX International Channels Asia has announced that Jacqui Feeney will join FIC as managing director, Australia and New Zealand, from 1 May, 2014. Read more here.
Mediabrands makes regional appointment
Mediabrands has promoted UM Spain’s strategy, insights and analytics partner, Pablo Gomez (pictured), to the role of regional communications planning director, IPG Mediabrands, APAC. Read more here.
Project: WorldWide appoints Tan
Project: WorldWide has appointed industry veteran Michael Tan as managing director shopper marketing, Asia Pacific. Read more here.
FutureBrand appoints Oz leadership
FutureBrand has demonstrated its continued strategic investment in the Australian market with the additions of Richard Curtis as chief executive officer and Graham Purnell as executive director, creative. Read more here.
oOh! Media launches content platform
Australia’s first integrated online and digital out-of-home content platform oOH! Media has launched a content platform across more than 50 universities throughout the country. Read more here.
Whybin\TBWA appoints regional CEO
Paul Bradbury has been appointed as the regional chief executive officer of the Whybin\TBWA Group Australia and New Zealand, overseeing Whybin\TBWA, Digital Arts Network (DAN), The Integer Group, Eleven PR and Fleishman Hillard. Read more here.
“The Voice” grabs new sponsor
Clear Scalp & Hair has partnered with NBC’s “The Voice” for season six of the Emmy award winning singing competition show as the official hair care sponsor of the show. Read more here.
MP & Silva partners Badminton Asia Confederation
MP& Silva announced its three year partnership with the Badminton Asia Confederation for the exclusive worldwide media rights for its calendar of events, including the region’s premium international tournament in the Badminton Asia Championships. Read more here.
Agency launches enterprise social network Branding consultancy Consulus has launched an enterprise social network, offering companies the ability quickly share ideas and updates, and retrieve them with ease later on. To date, CastleUp is used in Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei. Read more here.
Viber ties with Nokia Viber announced an exclusive partnership with Nokia, providing Nokia X device users with a version of Viber that is at parity with Viber’s latest version for Android. Read more here.
Andrew Au to head Imagination Singapore as MD
Andrew Au, former managing director at Fluid Hong Kong, has taken on a new role as Singapore MD for Independent creative agency Imagination. Read more here.
Yamaha appoints Dentsu
Dentsu Vietnam was appointed by Yamaha Motor Vietnam as its corporate advertising and creative agency following a competitive pitch in December 2013. Read more here.
TubeMogul appoints SEA lead Video ad platform TubeMogul has promoted Phu Truong to managing director, Southeast Asia, and expanded its executive team to help brands and advertising agencies accelerate the adoption of automated buying. Read more here.
STProperty holds seminar
STProperty will be holding a two-day seminar on 1 and 2 March 2014 at Suntec City Convention Centre, Hall 406 to discuss Singapore’s commercial, industrial and residential market trends and also the impact of the US Federal Reserve QE tapering on the purchasing decisions of property investors. Read more here.
Havas WW India CEO resigns Sushant Panda has resigned from his position as CEO & managing partner at Havas Worldwide India and is currently serving his notice period through to 31 March to assist in a smooth transition. Read more here.
Amobee offers more mobile insights Amobee has updated its Amobee Platform with the addition of Amobee LTV which enables advertisers, publishers and app developers to gain insights into mobile app customer bases. Read more here.
Burson-Marsteller promotes for key China and Asia roles
Daisy King has been named president of Burson-Marsteller China, taking over the role from Matthew Stafford, who steps down as Greater China CEO for a senior role with Australian prime minister Tony Abbott. Read more here.
IAS pushes for local talent The Institute of Advertising, Singapore (IAS) held its first career fair last night to lure fresh talent into the Singapore ad scene. Read more here.
UM Singapore makes new hire
UM Singapore has appointed Russell Lai to the senior business director position. Lai was last regional planning director for LVMH. Read more here.
Carat makes senior hire for GM
Sean O’Brien, CEO of Carat Asia Pacific, announced the appointment of Gilad Coppersmith to International Client President for GM International Operations (GMIO) heading up the team from Singapore across APAC, Middle East and Africa. Read more here.
Citigate Dewe Rogerson appoints Singapore leadership
Citigate Dewe Rogerson, i.MAGE, a subsidiary of London-listed Huntsworth plc, announced the appointment of Chia Hui Kheng as managing director. The incumbent, Elaine Lim, will assume the newly-created position of chairman. Read more here.
Mediatech launches new LED screen on Orchard
MediaTech has launched a 12 by 10 meter High-Resolution LED Display screen at the junction of Orchard and Cairnhill Road outside the new Robinsons mall. Read more here.
SMRT Investments appoints new leaders
Jeslyn Tan, previously general manager of SMRT Media, steps up from her former role and will be senior general manager, commercial business to oversee SMRT Media and the digital business, along with the appointments of MD Dawn Low and GM of marketing, Doreen Ong. Read more here.
Beiersdorf appoints OMD
OMD has been awarded the media duties for the global skin care conglomerate Beiersdorf AG in Indonesia. Read more here.
Intercontinental Sydney appoints Ogilvy PR (pictured)
InterContinental Sydney has appointed Ogilvy Public Relations as its retained agency of record, effective immediately. Read more here.
Carlsberg retains GolinHarris
Carlsberg Singapore has retained GolinHarris to lead its corporate and internal communications and brand marketing efforts in 2014. Read more here.
M&C Saatchi bags global coffee brand DE Master Blenders 1753 has appointed M&C Saatchi as its global creative agency off the back of M&C Saatchi Sydney’s relationship with Moccona. Read more here.
Former BBH execs create brand-agency platform
Software company Pie, founded by Thijs Jacobs, former BBH Asia Pacific head of creative technology, and Pieter Walraven, former product director from BBH has launched its first office in Singapore. Read more here.
HP looks for agency partners
HP’s graphics solutions printing arm is looking to hold an agency pitch for a brand engagement program. Read more here.
Adobe beefs up digital team Adobe has appointed Mark Henley to the newly created position of director of transformation and digital strategy, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Jennifer Ruth to the position of APAC general manager for digital agency Adobe Digital. Read more here.
TNS makes new appointment Global research consultancy TNS appointed Hemant Dham as executive director, Operations, India. Read more here.
MCI ropes in SapientNitro’s Douglas
The Ministry of Communications and Information has roped in SapientNitro Singapore and Hong Kong’s Kim Douglas as a member of Infocomm Media Masterplan Working Committees. Read more here.
Performics promotes Shankar to GM
Performics, a Publicis Groupe’s performance marketing solutions arm, has promoted Hari Shankar as general manager. Read more here.
MediaMath opens Singapore office MediaMath, a digital media buying platform, will open its a regional office in Singapore to aid further expansion into the APAC market. Read more here.
Oanda's 88-day campaign Oanda Asia Pacific has launched a marketing campaign to welcome the Year of the Horse. Read more here.
MP & Silva bolsters APAC arm
International sports media company MP & Silva has appointed Rene Valencia to the newly-created role of vice president, business development and sponsorship. Read more here.
Universal Networks International promotes Mackenzie Universal Networks International (UNI), the channels’ division of NBCUniversal International Television has appointed Scott Mackenzie as vice president, Channels, Asia, UNI. Read more here.
Komli Media launches Remarketing Demand Side Platform
Digital media technology platform Komli Media has launched a Remarketing Demand Side Platform.The RDSP aims to convert site visitors into loyal customers with full transparency and management of media costs, customer data, campaign strategies and performance analytics. Read more here.
Saatchi & Saatchi Indonesia appoints CEO Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Shannon Cullum as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Indonesia and chief growth officer for Saatchi & Saatchi Asia Pacific. Read more here.
Project WorldWide buys into Dig&Fish
Global agency network Project: WorldWide has made a minority investment in Australian agency, Dig&Fish. A spokesperson, however, declined to comment on the details on the investment. Read more here.
Omnicom Media Group Thailand gets new lead Omnicom Media Group has appointed Sunee Paripunna as the CEO of Omnicom Media Group, Thailand.In her new role, Paripunna is charged with the leadership of all Omnicom Media Group assets in Thailand, working alongside Paul Spencer, MD of OMD and Jerapol Yavapan, MD of PHD Thailand. Read more here.
Cebu Pacific names new loyalty GM Local budget carrier Cebu Pacific has recently hired Nik Laming as its new general manager for loyalty. Read more here.
Analytics firm sets up shop in SG
Bangalore-based marketing analytics company RainMan Consulting has ventured into Singapore. The company began operations on 14 January this year. Read more here.
InSing gets a new look
Lifestyle portal InSing has revamped its movie and shopping channels, InSing Movies and Styl+. The changes serve up a heightened interactive experience for users. Read more here.
Vserv.mobi introduces new ad format
Vserv.mobi has introduced a SmartRewards ad format. With the SmartRewards ad format, advertisers can engage and cultivate brand loyalty among users by rewarding them for desired actions. Read more here.
LynxEye sets up locally
Brand consultancy firm LynxEye has opened an office in Singapore, making this its APAC hub. This is the second office globally for the Swedish company. Read more here.
Antony Yiu leaves iProspect for MEC
Former iProspect Hong Kong managing director Antony Yiu has left the position and taken up the role as head of search and performance for MEC APAC. Read more here.
SDL launches new cloud offering
A recent CMO Council study, said only 12% of CMOs have a real-time, well-integrated view of customer interactions across their enterprises. At the same time, a recent Harris Interactive Customer Experience Impact Report study reported that 60% of customers will pay more for a better customer experience. Read more here.
BBDO Singapore beefs up
BBDO Singapore has hired Lucy Hurst as planning director. Hurst will work with BBDO head of planning, Andy Wilson, and BBDO Singapore ECD, Ronald Ng to drive strategic leadership on a combination of multinational and local accounts. Read more here.
American Express has new country lead
American Express has appointed Cheng Heng Chew (pictured) as the new country manager and head of the consumer card portfolio. Cheng succeeds Yoshimi Nakajima, who returned to Tokyo to lead Acquisition, Product Line and Card Member Engagement for American Express’ consumer card business in Japan. Read more here.
Schmuzter bags new wins and sets up in Singapore Social media marketing agency, Schmuzter has set up shop in Singapore as it looks to further expand its reach into Asia. Founded in New York and Manila in 2011, Schmuzter offers end-to-end solutions in online and social media marketing. Read more here.
Mindshare Thailand sees change in leadership Mindshare Thailand has promoted Pathamawan Sathaporn (pictured) as managing director. Sathaporn, current head of business planning in Mindshare Thailand, will replace Nilufar Fowler who has been appointed to lead Mindshare’s Unilever account on a global level. She starts in April. Read more here.
Alcohol and tobacco top duty free purchases
Alcohol & Tobacco, cosmetics and confectionery emerged as the top categories in duty-free purchases in a recent study done by Agility Research & Strategy. Read more here.
HootSuite acquires uberVU
HootSuite has acquired uberVU, a social analytics solution. HootSuite and uberVU can now combine their tools to help organisations to understand the value of their social relationships and drive more meaning from the conversations happening on social media. Read more here.
University launches anti-drink driving campaign
Private university in Malaysia HELP University has launched an anti drink-driving awareness campaign. It is strategically targeted at students as it was found that college students are responsible for 28% of all alcohol-related accidents in developed countries. Read more here.
MSLGROUP makes several new promotions
Publicis Groupe’s strategic communications and engagement consultancy MSLGROUP has appointed several new regional practice group leaders and regional deputy practice group leaders across Asia to further strengthen the firm’s expertise and leadership. Read more here.
Mount Faber Leisure Group gets PR help
Mount Faber Leisure Group (MFLG) has appointed Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG) to aid with its rebranding and repositioning of the brand. Read more here.
Ogilvy Australia finds Baxter’s replacement
David Fox will be taking on the role of CEO of Ogilvy Australia. This comes following Andrew Baxter taking on the new role of CEO at Publicis Worldwide’s Australia office. Read more here.
1-Altitude hires PR agency
Dining and entertainment venue 1-Altitude has appointed Heat Branding as its PR agency. Heat Branding will offer marketing and branding services to 1- Altitude and strengthen the brand’s position in the Singapore market. Read more here.
The Premier League kicks off with Perform
The Premier League and digital sports content company Perform have paired up for another three years. Perform will have exclusive responsibility for global advertising sales on the Premier League’s official website. Read more here.
JWT sets up talent scouting unit in Jakarta
JWT Disco, a talent scouting initiative set up by JWT Jakarta, is now on the hunt to discover the country’s future advertising star. It has opened the floor to aspiring creatives, planners and suits in the country’s first-ever student brief competition. Read more here.
Lux gets personal with women To ensure female consumers using Lux Skin Treats feel feminine, Lux has developed a digital ‘House of Lux’ along with their global digital agency SapientNitro and content partner Yahoo. Read more here.
Buemi back at Cohn & Wolfe to lead Asia ops Doug Buemi has rejoined Cohn & Wolfe as vice chairman and regional director for Asia Pacific, based in Bangkok. Read more here.
Leadership changes at Huntsworth Group
Public relations group Huntsworth has hired The Hoffman Agency’s Asia Pacific managing director Chris Tang as its new regional chief executive officer, Chris Tang. Tang starts in the role in February. Read more here.
Adobe further integrates marketing offerings
Adobe has decided to integrate Adobe campaign (formerly Neolane) and Adobe experience manager. Read more here.
Possible beefs up analytics team WPP agency Possible has appointed Berlinda Lim as head of analytics, Asia Pacific. Read more here.
iProspect gets SEO lead Global digital performance agency iProspect has appointed Stu Owens as SEO head for iProspect Singapore. Read more here.
Infront Sports & Media picks Dog Digital
Infront Sports & Media has appointed Dog Digital to provide digital and technical consultancy services following a pitch. Read more here.
Bates CHI&Partners makes regional leadership appointments The agency has promoted Singapore business director Patrick Leclercq to regional client services director, and appointed Justine Tabone as regional operations director. Both report to Bates CHI&Partners CEO David Mayo. Read more here.
Vserv.mobi rides the wave of mobile ad growth Mobile ad exchange Vserv.mobi, Vserv.mobi has been mandated to work on various Unilever campaigns in markets across Southeast Asia and India. Read more here.
Tiger Beer gets creative
Tiger Beer is ushering in the Year of the Horse and has commissioned illustrator, Victo Ngai to produce two artworks for the festive season. Featuring the iconic Tiger Beer pint bottle and can, each artwork includes different ethnicities and fashion styles, as well as eight hidden horses. Read more here.
SingTel offers Facebook only deal
SingTel has launched a prepaid mobile plan just for avid Facebook users. The plan allows customers to post comments, videos and photos on the social network site from a one-day prepaid plan of S$0.50, or seven-day for S$3, or a S$6 monthly plan. Read more here.
Viterbo Interior Design appoints PR agency
Portugese interior design firm, Viterbo Interior Design has plans to expand into Asia. It has appointed Access Communications as the communications agency to drive the launch of Viterbo Interior Design’s expansion in Asia. Read more here.
IAB appoints new executive director
The Interactive Advertising Bureau for the Southeast Asia Singapore Chapter has appointed Miranda Dimopoulos as executive director. Going forward in 2014, IAB will focus on promoting investment in interactive advertising and on nurturing talent within the industry. Read more here.
Brand New Media targets the Australian market
Brand New Media has launched a new IPTV channel, healthyMEtv in Australia. Content will also be available through media company Seven West Media’s Plus 7. healthyMEtv will offer over 150 programs covering the best of fitness, nutrition and healthy living. Read more here.
GroupM launches TV business unit
GroupM has launched a new TV business unit that hopes to offer clients superior targeting and engagement capabilities in a technology driven, data fused, addressable media environment. Read more here.
OMD expands its strategy team
OMD has appointed Bronwyn Cooper in the role of strategy group head to work alongside recently appointed Nick Kavanagh. Cooper will be based in Sydney and will report to Gavin Gibson, national head of strategy, effective immediately. Read more here.
Esquire Singapore gets new managing editor Mongoose Publishing has appointed Janie Cai as Esquire Singapore’s managing editor. The role was previously held by Mark Tay. Cai steps up from her former role as fashion director on the publication, a role she has filled since its successful launch in September 2012. Read more here.
Reed exits Mig33 for own start up Mig33′s CMO Chris Reed has left social media marketing agency to start his own LinkedIn marketing consultancy, Black Marketing. Reed was at Mig33 for nine months. Read more here.
XM Gravity grows its management team XM Gravity, the Indonesian arm of digital agency XM, has expanded its management team with several new hires. Dimas Novriandi has joined XM Gravity as general manager. Read more here.
The Walt Disney Company picks country manager
The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia (TWDC – SEA) has appointed Gan Lay Koon as country director, Retail and Licensing for the Singapore and Malaysia markets. She will be reporting to Mark Coleman, GM, Retail and Licensing, TWDC – SEA. Read more here.
Microsoft Asia Pacific next to launch a news room Riding on the wave of brand journalism, Microsoft Asia Pacific is the next brand to launch a news room. The Asia Pacific News Center is similar to the global Microsoft News Center, a one-stop-shop for all things Microsoft in Asia Pacific, including news, press resources and opinion pieces. Read more here.
Kenshoo hires new MD
Kenshoo , a global digital marketing technology firm, has appointed Michel van Woudenberg (pictured) as managing director, Asia Pacific Japan (APJ). Read more here.
TNS names regional marcomms lead Global research consultancy TNS has appointed of Zoe Lawrence to the new post of regional director, marketing and communication for Asia Pacific. In this role, Lawrence will be responsible for delivering marketing strategy across the region. Read more here.
WPP bolsters events and conferences offering WPP has taken a 30% stake in global advisory firm Richard Attias & Associates (RAA), making its move into strategic consulting. Under the leadership of founder chairman Richard Attias, RAA has worked with governments and corporations to articulate their global objectives. Read more here.
MediaCom Worldwide promotes Vik Kathuria Vik Kathuria, currently managing partner, EVP, digital investments and trading for MediaCom US has been promoted to the newly created role of global head of digital investment at MediaCom Worldwide. Read more here.
Yahoo promotes Gavarasana Vaasu S Gavarasana, former APAC head of digital marketing solutions group of Yahoo has been promoted. He now takes the role of head of business marketing in APAC. Gavarasana will be responsible for B2B marketing including thought leadership marketing and industry outreach programs aimed at strengthening Yahoo’s position within the marketing and advertising community. Read more here.
What’s on your bucket list? Leo Burnett Vietnam has helped to created a digital platform for youth engagement platform YoMost to strengthen the role of the brand in the life of Vietnamese youths by urging them to create their ‘YoList. This is a bucket list of things created by youths on what they want to experience. Read more here.
Scoot and Nok Airlines partner up Nok Airlines and Scoot have established a new low-cost airline to be based in Bangkok. The new airline will be named NokScoot and will be based at Don Mueang International Airport. It will operate medium and long-haul international routes. Read more here.
M1 inks a deal with Deezer Local telco M1 has signed an exclusive partnership with global music streaming service Deezer. The partnership enables M1’s postpaid mobile customers to enjoy unlimited access to more than 30 million songs from international and Asian artists. This service will be available tomorrow onwards. Read more here.
Castrol powers on with its first digital campaign
Castrol Power 1 has launched its first-ever pure-play digital marketing campaign “How Do You Feel When You Ride?”. Primarily running on Facebook and YouTube, the two-minute campaign video features a biker powering along the open road. It will run throughout 2014 with a planned content calender, various activations, competitions and events. Read more here.
Mizone CocoPina launches rain themed campaign
In conjunction with the debut of its new Mizone CocoPina variant, a mix of Coconut and Pineapple flavours, Mizone has launched Indonesia’s first ever branded bookmarklet game: Tembak-Tembakan CocoPina. Read more here.
Kit Kat celebrates your most dedicated friends
Kit Kat along with JWT Singapore have created a Christmas Facebook app for that lets Singaporeans identify their most dedicated social media friends and create a customised Christmas e-cards for them. Read more here.
Ogilvy & Mather strengthens Unilever
Ogilvy & Mather has appointed Andre Laurentino as global executive creative director for Unilever. Laurentino (pictured left) is currently executive creative director at TBWA London and global creative director for McDonald’s. He will join Ogilvy in February 2014 and report to Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide chief creative officer. Read more here.
ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi retires Executive creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore and Malaysia, Bruce Matchett has decided to retire from his position. Matchett joined Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore in 2010, and has also been creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand. An announcement of a new ECD for Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore and Malaysia will be made in the New Year, said Saatchis. Read more here. The Grand Ho Tram Strip picks JWT The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam’s first international luxury casino resort, has appointed JWT Vietnam as its agency of record. JWT will create print, TV and digital campaigns for The Grand Ho Tram Strip which will run in core target markets worldwide. Read more here.
Y&R Indonesia beefs up its team Y&R Group Indonesia has appointed Eny Widayati as general manager and Kris Constantoulas as head of strategy. Read more here.
Unilever, Mindshare and TubeMogul partner up Mindshare has partnered up with digital advertising software provider TubeMogul for its BrandPoint software. This was to help Mindshare’s client Unilever reach out to young men in a video ad campaign promoting its new men’s shampoo range. Read more here.
Asian Food Channel builds up localised Vietnamese content Scripps Networks Interactive has launched the Asian Food Channel into Vietnam. The expanision into Vietnam marks the thirteenth country where the Asian Food Channel is being broadcast. Read more here.
E! Entertainment launches new mobile app Universal Networks International will increase its digital presence in Asia with a new look E! Entertainment Television mobile app to be released this month.The app’s facelift will aid distribution plans for the E! online mobile app to expand to users in Australia, New Zealand, Asia Pacific and Africa. Read more here.
Precision Match and Effective Measure pair up Digital marketing data provider PrecisionMatch and Effective Measure have partnered in India for audience data and media planning tools. The deal aims to offer effectiveness metrics in campaign measurement, brand health and advertising effectiveness.Read more here.
Facebook for Business launches in 11 languages A new versions of the Facebook for Business website have been launched in Korea, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Brazil. Facebook for Business will be the core hub of information for all marketers and is part of Facebook’s efforts to simplify the way it communicates with advertisers and businesses. Read more here.
BBDO Indonesia finds new MD General manager of BBDO Singapore Intan Mokhnar will be taking on the role of managing director of BBDO Indonesia in early 2014. Mokhnar joined BBDO in 2006 as an account director, before becoming general manager five years later. Read more here.
Cognito finds APAC MD Cognito has appointed Tim Williamson as its new managing director for the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore.Cognito has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore serving clients across the financial services sector.Read more here.
Raoul heads to Middle East
Home grown fashion label Raoul has inked another franchise deal, this time in the Middle East market with the Chalhoub Group. The franchise agreement will see nine standalone Raoul stores open by 2017, the first two in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain next year. Read more here.
Disney Channel and StarHub launch apps
The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia together with StarHub, Singapore’s leading pay TV operator will launch a new mobile video streaming service from 7 December onwards. It will launch three new innovative entertainment apps - Watch Disney Channel, Watch Disney Xd, and Watch Disney Junior. Read more here.
Omnifluence makes acquisition
Social business consultancy Omnifluence has acquired local boutique marketing firm TokTog. It has also hired TSLA’s creative partner Marcus Huang to lead the team. Huang co-founded TSLA and served as creative partner at the agency from 2006 to 2011. He has worked with both the companies, Omnifluence and TokTog in the last six months as an independent creative. Read more here.
PR agency strengthens CSR capability
Independent public relations consultancies AKA Asia, has appointed Lauren Wyper (pictured), an experienced CSR communications practitioner to provide counsel for businesses that want to focus on building their brand through sustainability. Read more here.
Palo Alto Networks Selects Rice Communications
Palo Alto Networks, the network security firm has appointed Rice Communications, Singapore-based marketing communications consultancy as its PR agency in Asia Pacific. Rice Communications was selected after a competitive pitch involving other multi-national agencies. For the next twelve months, Rice Communications will support Palo Alto Networks in Singapore, Korea, India, Greater China, Australia and New Zealand. Read more here.
Kimberly-Clark to help start ups
Kimberly-Clark, through the Kimberly-Clark Digital Innovation Lab has partnered up with Mindshare and several venture capital firms to create an innovation competition.
This will ultimately culminate in a live pitch held at CES 2014, which is a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow that takes place every January in Las Vegas. The winner of the pitch will have a chance to make its start-up ideas a brand and business reality. Read more here.
Community Chest runs charity campaign
Under the new Care & Share Movement, a fund-raising and volunteerism movement announced last month, the government will be matching donations to the social service sector. The objectives are to mobilise more resources to help the disadvantaged and to promote the spirit of giving among Singaporeans, in the run up to Singapore’s 50th birthday in 2015. Read more here.
Black Friday hijacked by WTO
World Toilet Organisation, with the help of Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore, has launched a crowd funding initiative to improve sanitation for school children in South Africa. The campaign launch coincides with the start of the shopping season, known as Black Friday, and asks people to “Give a Shit” on “Brown Friday”. Read more here.
OMD appoints new Telstra lead
OMD has appointed Vanessa Nicol as head of Telstra, replacing Tom Sutton who is returning to the UK for a new opportunity. Nicol joins OMD from a senior business director role on the Optus client at M&C Saatchi Australia. Read more here.
CNBC makes senior promotions CNBC has announced several appointments to its international team across different functions including advertising sales, business development and distribution. The appointments are effective immediately. Read more here.
SingTel targets the SMEs SingTel, in a bid to promote its online community “myBusiness” amongst SMEs, has launched a campaign where the SME community can advertise their services and products for free on the electronic billboard at Raffles Place until 15 December 2013. Read more here.
HootSuite offers analytics for Sina Weibo Social Media Broadcasts, the developer of Klarity, has created an app integration for social relationship platform HootSuite. HootSuite users will now have analytics on Chinese microblogging network Sina Weibo. Read more here.
Ministry of Manpower’s WSH looks for agency
Ministry of Manpower – occupational safety & health division, WSH, is looking to appoint an integrated media and advertising agency. The agency will be tasked to provide communications counsel, planning, design and production services for the promotion of Workplace Safety and Health 2014. Read more here.
celio* Singapore says women don’t get it
Set to reach 200,000 Singaporean men, men’s wear brand Celio has partnered with digital creative agency noisycrayons to launch the celio*flip campaign, using instant gratification techniques to engage audiences. Read more here.
BBH APAC’s head of content exits
BBH Asia Pacific’s business director and head of content, Richard Powell has left the agency to take on the role of managing partner at marketing agency Karmarama. Powell was with BBH for eight years in both the Singapore and London office. In BBH London, he took on the role of content director. Prior to that, he was at TBWA London for six years. Read more here.
iROO picks PR Communications Taiwanese fashion label iROO has appointed PR Communications, to boost its media awareness in Singapore. PR Communications will be tasked to handle all media relations programmes for iROO, including the opening of new boutiques in Singapore. Read more here.
Capillary Technologies strengthens strategy team Capillary Technologies announced six key appointments to its APAC executive leadership team in APAC. Ashish Kasi will serve as vice president of engineering, bringing his 14 years engineering experience; Aurelia Leopold will take on the role as client director for key accounts tasked with managing and building relationships for Capillary customers across APAC; Banshan Syiem is named the regional director for Singapore and Malaysia with primary focus on market stabilisation and account growth; Kush Naidu is focus on Australia and New Zealand as general manager. Read more here.
WFA pushes for Singapore growth
The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has appointed Stéphanie Bouvard as director, Asia-Pacific to recruit new corporate members into the WFA membership in Asia Pacific and to support existing corporate members in the region. Read more here.
Here’s how much attention food gets on social media
Food is one of the highest rated topics on social media. A study done by To The New’s research arm, ThoughtBuzz, whose services range from automated dashboard, customized reports and analysis showed that a search for “#Food” resulted in around 68 million photos. Read more here.
Havas appoints Naked co-founder
Mike Wilson, previously chairman of Naked Communications Australia, has been appointed to lead Havas Media's new, fully owned media agency in Sydney. Wilson will report into Vishnu Mohan, CEO Asia Pacific Havas Media Group. Read more here.
Aegis launches new Australian agency Aegis Media has launched a full service media and digital creative services business, Huckleberry. Huckleberry brings together the clients and staff of Aegis Media and digital creative agency Rodeo, under a new agency brand. Read more here.
Cigna TTK Health Insurance picks TBWA
Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company has appointed TBWA as its creative agency of record. “We were impressed with TBWA’s strategic thought and insightful creative work during the pitch,” said Gaurav Rajput, chief marketing officer at Cigna TTK Health Insurance. Read more here.
Local digital agency acquires Chinese firm
Digital engagement agency @ccomplice has acquired China-based Watt Digital. The acquisition will be for 100% of Watt Digital, managing director of @ccomplice Tobias Wilson (pictured) told Marketing. Read more here.
Chevrolet uses beatboxing to highlight engines
Commonweath Bangkok, McCann Worldgroup’s agency for General Motors in Thailand, has produced a developed a new film for Chevrolet’s Spin titled “Beatbox”. This is part of the “Spin Some Fun” integrated campaign running in Indonesia. Read more here.
GfK appoints new MD
Market research firm GfK appointed Craig Griffin (pictured) as managing director for the consumer choices sector of the company’s Thailand office with immediate effect. Griffin brings with him sixteen years of experience in the market research industry. In his new role, Griffin is responsible for the day-to-day running of the GfK Thailand office and leading the local team. Read more here.
Wildlife Reserves brings the zoo to the city
Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), parent company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo, recently launched its multi-platform marketing campaign titled the ‘Ultimate Wildlife Experience’. The campaign puts on centre stage the parks’ rainforest setting and animals to reach out to locals and tourists at high traffic areas and tourist hotspots. Read more here.
Innisfree picks Blugrapes
Korean cosmetics company Amorepacific Corporation has appointed Blugrapes as the official social media agency of Innisfree. The agency will be supporting the expansion plans of Innisfree, starting with the Singapore market. Read more here.
Dentsu Möbius partners Lotame
Dentsu Möbius has partnered with Lotame to help manage its data. Lotame is a data management platform (DMP) that helps publishers, marketers and agencies maximise the way they activate audience data. Read more here.
Nando’s campaign pushes locals to express themselves
A recent survey by Nando’s conducted among 500 people living in Singapore show that fewer than half of the respondents feel they are able to express themselves freely. The main reason for this lack of forthrightness is that people feel “nothing will change anyway”.
To encourage members of the public to air their views, or simply say things they have always wished to, Nando’s will be running its campaign “Just Say Lah” from 15 November 2013 to 31 January 2014. Read more here.
Samsung, Shell, MSIG promote safe driving
Studies found that a stunning 83% of the Singapore drivers surveyed admitted to using their mobile phones without a hands-free kit, while at the wheel in the last 12 months. They were most likely to be using GPS or map applications, checking their mobile phone screens, and texting.
This was in spite of an overwhelming majority of 95% of respondents being aware that it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving without a hands-free kit, while the car is in motion. Read more here.
McDonald’s runs Instagram campaign
Did you catch the larger-than-life Ronald McDonald red shoes placed around town? These shoes weigh about a 100kg and stand at 1.8 metres long and 1 metre tall.
Sofitel So Singapore appoints Mango PR
French boutique hotel brand Sofitel So Singapore has appointed Mango PR as its PR agency of record. Sofitel So is a fringe label of Sofitel Hotels. The agency will oversee all of the hotel brand’s PR activities.
Effective Measure supports startup launch programme Effective Measure has backed Silicon Valley-based company, Founder Institute’s expansion into Thailand. The move will see Effective Measure form a regional alliance with Founder Institute, which was originally forged in Singapore and Malaysia in July.
Naked’s co-founder resigns Jon Wilkins, co-founder and chairman of Naked Communications, has announced his resignation from the company and will leave Naked at the end of the year.Wilkins founded Naked Communications with John Harlow and Will Collin in London in 2000, and moved to Australia to join Naked’s Sydney office in 2009. Read more here.
Leo Burnett launches P&G campaign Leo Burnett has launched an online campaign for P&G’s new Tide Plus Liquid detergent in Vietnam. The campaign was launched for P&G to reach out to the Vietnamese market, through non-traditional mediums of advertising for laundry category. Read more here.
clickTRUE partners Google for Google Analytics Online consulting group clickTRUE has inked a strategic agreement with Google as Google Analytics’ authorised premium reseller in Asia-Pacific. Read more here.
Havas Group Singapore gets new office
Havas Group’s Singapore based agencies will be moving into a new office location together in November 2013. Read more here.
Ministry of Health appoints agency
Addiction Advertising has won the business for Ministry of Health’s (MOH) campaign for CHAS (Community Healthcare Assist Scheme). The campaign is by MOH under the care of Agency for Integrated Care to announce the government’s latest changes to its healthcare schemes. Read more here.
Simon-Kucher & Partners beefs senior management
Global strategy and marketing consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners has appointed six new international partners, effective 1 January 2014. This raises the total number of partners at the consultancy to 66. Read more here.
Cenizaro launches campaign
Singapore-based brand agency Qube has launched a new brand positioning for The Residence by Cenizaro, an international hospitality company with an independent portfolio of luxury hotels in exotic destinations internationally. It is titled “Moments Enriched.” Read more here.
Right Hook Communications secures five account wins
Integrated agency Right Hook Communications has secured five new clients, including Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre(pictured), Gattopardo Restaurant, Morsi & Sorsi under the Gattopardo Group, S P Jain School of Global Management and The Mustard Incident. Read more here.
Ogilvy RedWorks Japan appoints MD
Ogilvy & Mather Japan has appointed Fred Kendall as managing director of RedWorks Japan K.K. His appointment was effective 1 November. Read more here.
FIC’s S.H.I.E.L.D series a hit with locals FOX International Channels’ (FIC) latest acquisition from Disney Media Distribution, the US hit series “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, premiered in Asia on 4 November on FOX. The launch of the hit show was equally well-received in Singapore, particularly popular among younger viewers. Read more here.
Turner boosts Southeast Asia leadership team
Turner International Asia Pacific has enhanced its sales leadership in Southeast Asia Pacific, announcing two senior appointments for the Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam markets. Read more here.
Y&R launches campaign for Pruksa Y&R has launched a new cross-platform campaign for Thailand’s real-estate brand Pruksa. Titled “Mind beyond Invention,” the campaign was launched countrywide across all platforms including TVC, OOH, mobile and online. Read more here.
Havas’ Siren bags three wins
Havas Worldwide Siren, has clinched the communications brief for three new clients from diverse industries: cloud-based software solutions provider Capillary Technologies, niche perfumery Fragrance Du Bois and the Christmas campaign for Singapore-based retail mall, 313@somerset. Read more here.
Singha Beer teams up with Fox for football
Singha Beer has signed on as title sponsor for a brand new football TV show. Titled Singha Football Crazy, the show premiered on 8 October on FOX Sports and STAR Sports. Read more here.
Zalora launches flash sale campaign
E-Commerce site Zalora will launch a month long shopping campaign next Monday to persuade people to shop online. Read more here.
NTUC Learning Hub’s first brand campaign
NTUC Learning Hub has launched its first brand campaign with the aim at raising brand awareness of the brand’s other services. Read more here.
Touch PR & Events wins five accounts
Boutique agency Touch PR & Events has recently acquired five accounts across the beauty and entertainment categories. Read more here.
Entertainment advertisers drive mobile growth
Millennial Media’s latest SMART Report has put the spotlight on the entertainment vertical. The vertical was found to be the fourth largest in APAC in terms of advertiser spend in second quarter of 2013 and saw growth of over 224% year-over-year. Read more here.
Line’s first TVC launches McCann Worldgroup Thailand has launched Thailand’s first TV commercial for Line. Thailand is one of the most important markets for Line, making up over 10% of global users. Line has 280 million users in 230 countries. Read more here.
Facial wash brand creates 3D campaign
Herbal product brand The Himalaya Drug Company is showing its Neem range of products on Clear Channel Singapore’s out-of-home bus shelter media. Read more here.
CHI & Partners leads new holding group
Several small independent marketing agencies are joining forces to form a holding company called The & Partnership. Read more here.
Y&R gets new business in Thailand
CRC Sports, a member of one of Thailand’s biggest retail conglomerates Central Retail Corporation, has hired Y&R Vietnam to lead the digital duties for its first Supersports store in Vietnam. Y&R Vietnam will launch and manage the Supersports website and digital marketing. Read more here.
CNBC makes senior ad sales hire
CNBC has appointed Glenda Long to its Asia Pacific team as senior account director of advertising sales with immediate effect. Based in Singapore, Long (pictured) will report to Kerry Tarrant, regional director of advertising sales for Southeast Asia and South Asia, CNBC Asia Pacific. Read more here.
Zombie attacks for “The Walking Dead” promo Fox International Channels has picked up the fifth season of popular television series “The Walking Dead” for its territories across Asia Pacific, and has been actively promoting the show in several Asian markets with “zombie attacks” in several markets. Read more here.
Agility launches research tool for affluent consumers Research firm Agility Research & Strategy has launched a “do-it-yourself” online research platform. This platform, called Affluential, will survey affluent and luxury consumers, providing marketers’ access to affluent consumers around the world. Read more here.
Resorts World Sentosa appoints Arcade Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has appointed local independent agency, Arcade to work on its joint marketing initiatives with MasterCard across Southeast Asia. Read more here.
Cheil Worldwide strengthens team Cheil Worldwide has appointed Chul Lim as the new regional digital marketing director in a bid to strengthen its digital marketing offering in the Southeast Asia region. Read more here.
Ex-Mediacom social lead goes to local PR firm
SG Story has set up its digital and social media practice and the practice will be led by Edvarcl Heng. Heng will begin in the role on 1 November. Read more here.
Stitch creates new TVC for LG Vina Cosmetics
Stitch, a division of Lowe Vietnam has created a TVC for the launch of a two-way cake powder under LG Vina Cosmetics’ brand Lacvert Essance. The commercial launched nationwide this month. Read more here.
BPN celebrates first anniversary BPN, IPG Mediabrands’ third full-service media agency will be celebrating its first anniversary with over US$1 billion in billings and a global footprint of over 400 employees across 36 offices in 22 countries. Read more here.
Seagate Technology beefs up Storage solutions company Seagate Technology has promoted Albert Rocky Pimentel to president, global markets and customers. He was most recently executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer. Read more here.
MTV EXIT enlists a deal with Dentsu MTV has appointed Dentsu Singapore for MTV Exit, a brand under the global MTV network. MTV Exit is a worldwide campaign that aims to contribute to a reduction in human trafficking and exploitation. Read more here.
The Ate Group gets seven new clients Singapore-based integrated communications agency The Ate Group has garnered seven PR clients within the last three months, five of which are from the lifestyle space and two from the F&B industry. Read more here.
ZenithOptimedia marks 25th year anniversary ZenithOptimedia is marking its 25th birthday with a major global futures study to look at how the world could change over the next 25 years. The study will look at how the world’s economies will develop, how societies will change, how advances in technology will improve daily lives and how people might enjoy entertainment in the years to come. Read more here.
Exponential Interactive makes senior changes Global provider of advertising intelligence and digital media solutions Exponential Interactive has promoted John McKoy as chief revenue officer. Formerly the managing director of Asia Pacific, McKoy will manage all of Exponential’s revenue producing, external facing teams in the US and globally. McKoy will be based in Exponential’s Melbourne office. Read more here.
Pinnacle goes to SPH Magazines SPH Magazines has been appointed as the publishing agent for Pinnacle, the luxury magazine for Rolls-Royce motor car owners. Pinnacle, a tri-annual magazine, is a luxury publication exclusive to Rolls-Royce motor car owners and prospective owners who are discerning consumers. Read more here.
Starcom launches Zero Dot
Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has launched a brand consulting, experience design, strategy and content unit. Called Zero Dot, the new entity will be Jonathan Hoffman, SMG President, experience design. Some of its clients include Procter & Gamble brand Cheer, which recently named Zero Dot as one of its creative partners. Read more here.
FutureBrand acquires retail design agency
FutureBrand has acquired consumer experience design agency UXUS, to build its retail offering, which includes work for Bentley and Barclays Premier. FutureBrand declined to comment on the cost of acquisition. Read more here.
Perform eyes Asia markets
Digital sports media company Perform will be extending its presence in Asia starting with the Malaysia and Indonesia markets in 2014. Perform now has a fully-fledged sales and advertising operations team in Asia, led by Elliot Renton, commercial director , Southeast Asia. Read more here.
TripAdvisor pushes for more users Travel site TripAdvisor has announced the launch of its Ultimate Travel Photo Wall, an eight-week campaign showcasing a collection of inspiring TripAdvisor traveller photos that highlight the trip experiences of contributors across the globe. Read more here.
Saatchis launches content hub in Thailand
Saatchi & Saatchi Thailand has launched Live Creativity, a social and content creation hub designed to amplify the reach of advertisers through social networks. Live Creativity will collaborate with internal ideas and production departments to create campaigns that harness consumers’ evolving behaviour on social media platforms. Read more here.
Publicis Singapore appoints strategy lead Arindam Chatterjee, has been transferred from his Publicis Indonesia strategic planning role to take up responsibility as chief strategy officer at Publicis Singapore.He will be reporting to Dean Bramham, regional CEO at Publicis SEA. Chatterjee’s role will span overall strategic stewardship across brand, digital and shopper units of the agency. His role will also include various regional tasks across P&G, L’Oreal, Sanofi and Nestle. Read more here.
CA Technologies appoints media agency Cloud computing giant CA Technologies has reappointed The Media Shop as its agency of record for their continuing regional campaign across 11 countries in Asia Pacific Japan (APJ). The campaign has expanded this year to include Japan and Indonesia in a bid to strengthen CA’s presence with key decision makers in APJ’s vibrant technology sectors. Read more here.
Institute of Mental Health appoints agency
Addiction Advertising has won the business for Singapore’s inaugural National Addictions Awareness Day campaign. The campaign is by National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) under the Institute of Mental Health to provide treatment for people with addictions. Read more here.
PropertyGuru appoints creative agency Online residential and commercial property site PropertyGuru has launched a new branding campaign titled “Get The Guru View.” Created by Brilliant Agency, the campaign reflects the company’s commitment to helping buyers, sellers, renters and investors make better property decisions. Read more here.
Wunderman appoints planning and strategy lead Wunderman has appointed Will Halliday as strategic planning director in Singapore, with immediate effect. In his new role, Halliday will be leading the planning and strategy department of Wunderman in Singapore, spearheading digital and data driven communications for local and regional accounts such as Microsoft and P&G. Read more here.
SapientNitro hires Saatchis’ Melanie Cook SapientNitro has hired Melanie Cook, previously from Saatchi & Saatchi, as head of strategy to oversee Singapore and Hong Kong strategic teams. Cook, based in Singapore will report directly to managing director Kim Douglas, and will oversee the development and growth of the strategy team in APAC. Read more here.
Publicis Groupe acquires communications agency
Publicis Groupe has acquired Beehive Communications, an Indian independent integrated communications agency specialising in marketing and communications services for clients across South Asia. The acquisition marks Publicis Groupe’s seventh acquisition in the country since mid-2012, and the third by Publicis Worldwide. Read more here.
Phish Communications bags Art Stage Singapore account Communications company Phish Communications has bagged the Art Stage Singapore account. In addition, the agency also retained the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival as a client for the fourth year running, managing its publicity and media relations account. The festival is a major event organised by art group The Necessary Stage. Read more here.
Wego’s global head of online marketing exits Following a successful investment of SG$500,000, Singapore-based travel site BeMyGuest has hired Blanca Menchaca (pictured), former global head of online marketing at travel metasearch site Wego.com. Read more here.
Singha Beer gets an exclusive show on History A+E Networks Asia has partnered with a Thai-based company Boon Rawd Brewery for an original History production showcasing the story of Singha Beer. Read more here.
iFly Singapore gets PR support iFly Singapore, one of the largest indoor skydiving wind tunnels, has appointed Cohn & Wolfe as its new public relations agency following a pitch. Read more here.
Gushcloud and Newcast pair up Gushcloud, the influencer marketing company, has launched Gush Media, an online marketplace for influencers in partnership with Newcast, the specialist branded content and experience division of ZenithOptimedia Singapore. Read more here.
HBO Asia strikes against online pirates HBO Asia is hoping to narrow the gap has for content piracy, announcing a plan to air content in Asia one week after its US debut. Read more here.
Innity strengthens management team Online media and advertising technology provider, Innity has announced two new appointments in a bid to strengthen its management team. Read more here.
Sony Pictures launches new channel in Vietnam Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks will launch a new channel called GEM, which will feature popular general entertainment content from across Asia. The all-new Asian channel is set to launch in January 2014. Read more here.
Profero makes regional creative hire Independent digital agency Profero has appointed Greta Corke as creative UX director, looking to increase its strategic and customer experience design capacity. Read more here.
Oanda’s outdoor campaign for new app Financial services provider Oanda Asia Pacific is launching a three-prong outdoor marketing campaign to raise its brand awareness and woo Singapore forex and CFD (contract for difference) traders to download the fxTrade Mobile app. Read more here.
Havas’ Socialyse makes global hire Séverin Naudet has been appointed global head of Havas Media’s Socialyse to steer the company’s development and growth. Read more here.
After 28 years with the firm, Mary Beth West, executive vice president and chief category and marketing officer, will leave the firm. The company does not intend to replace West’s role.
Meanwhile, Mark Clouse EVP and president North America has been moved to the newly created role of chief growth officer. Clouse will be accountable for all of the key areas of the company's growth strategy, and will oversee the teams responsible for corporate strategy, global categories, global marketing, global sales, and research, development and quality, said the company in a statement.
At the same time, Mondelez International announced a move to a region category-led operating model worldwide starting in January next year.
“This model has been successful in Europe and North America, and will now be implemented in Latin America, Asia Pacific and EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa) to drive growth, streamline decision-making and accelerate speed to market,” said the company in a statement.
"The creation of the chief growth officer role ensures that growth remains at the forefront of our company strategy," said chairman & CEO Irene Rosenfeld. “Mark is the ideal leader for this new position, with proven success across global categories as well as in regional and country operating roles in both emerging and developed markets," she added.
The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal has been plagued with inaccessibility, with very little public transport links for ordinary Hongkongers and a location that is remote to shopping malls and MTR stations.
The terminal is operated by Worldwide Cruise Terminals, a consortium jointly owned by Worldwide Flight Services, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Shun Tak Holdings.
Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals, said with more development in the Kai Tak district, accessibility will improve.
"The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is the first development in a large area, and as more land in the Kai Tak district is developed, such as an MTR station, six luxury hotels, stadium and pediatric hospital, transportation will improve," he said.
Most of the terminal's revenues come from cruise operations, with retail and event venue leasing as alternative revenue streams.
"Over time, as cruise operations increase in frequency, event venue leasing will decrease," Bent said.
87% of the 5,600 square-meter retail space has been leased and Bent says this will remain more or less consistent.
He added, "Our cruise business is primarily B2B, but we will consider some targeted tactical promotions to support the retail side as well. Our tenants are also conducting their own promotional activities, such as marketing the 80-table Chinese restaurant as a wedding venue."
The brand image he hopes to promote is as a beautiful and enjoyable place for park visitors, event and wedding participants and for people embarking on a cruise. He says most cruise terminals close when a ship is not at berth but this is not the case at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, which is unusual.
But the greatest source of growth is still expected to come from cruise operations, according to Bent.
"As international cruise lines increasingly order new ships and deploy more of their fleets to Asia, and as local Asian cruise lines acquire ships and enter operation, this part of the business will ramp up substantially over the coming years," he said.
Allied APAC, a consolidated subsidiary of Allied Architects which offers social media marketing support for businesses, has developed a crowdsourcing service ReFUEL4 which specialises in Facebook advertising creation.
Allied APAC has signed a partner agreement with a Facebook preferred marketing developer program certified company called Nanigans and will start the service to the countries of the world.
ReFUEL4 is crowdsourcing service works to build creative ideas when it comes to Facebook advertising and helps companies who want to advertise on Facebook. This service allows company and creators to order/submit advertising creative work such as banner image and videos on the internet to optimise the Facebook advertising operation. The mechanism of ReFUEL4 is that when companies input Facebook Advertising size, budget, advertising plan, and color taste of the "offer", the creators around the world will create the advertising banner and videos in listed condition to submit.
Without hiring the creators, companies can visualise and check the effectiveness like "which ad creative is producing what kind of effect" on the management screen. Also the service operates on a pay-per fee structure that the cost is generated according to the actual CTR in an attempt to reduce the time and cost required to optimize such creative. In addition, by registering to ReFUEL4, the creators will be free from the time and be able to get creative business around the world on the internet. This will lead to the creation of new business opportunities.
By being recognised as an official API Partners of Facebook advertising, Allied Asia Pacific is allowed to access the advertising data that Facebook Inc. holds, and this advertising API is used for developing ReFUEL4.
“Creative is of utmost importance to Facebook advertising success, and Allied’s solution offers an innovative and efficient tool for advertisers to frequently refresh and optimize their creative at scale,” Cyrille Even (pictured), Nanigans managing director, Asia said. “Nanigans and Allied share a commitment to developing powerful tools and technologies for advertisers; we look forward to continuing to work together as we extend our ad automation software more broadly in Asia.”
This National Day StarHub has decided to shine the spotlight on 12 local businesses by creating 12 TVCs and airing them across 49 StarHub TV channels between 2 August and 31 August for free.
This is a first for both StarHub and the 12 local businesses. StarHub has also produced the commercials on a pro bono basis. These businesses include a prata shop “Casuarina Curry” and indoor football pitch “The Cage”. In a statement to Marketing, StarHub said the brands were chosen because they are at the core of what Singaporeans are passionate about.
"Home-grown businesses are special because only they can deliver a local flavour that truly connects with Singaporeans," Jeannie Ong, chief marketing officer, StarHub said. Ong added that as a home grown brand, StarHub is both "honoured and humbled" to champion its fellow local businesses—and the hardworking Singaporeans behind them.
“We hope that our making and screening their first ever commercial will encourage them to keep going and, more importantly, nurture positive awareness of our local brands.”
Here’s a list of brands StarHub will be working with along with a little description from StarHub:
Ah Balling Peanut Soup Peanut, black sesame, red bean, yam, green tea… Singaporeans are chock-full of feelings for these fillings. Little wonder Ah Balling remains one of Singapore’s favourite desserts, after 40 years. So give a friendly wave to its owner Mr. Aw, who never fails to put lots of filling – and feeling – into the yummy glutinous rice balls. Golden Mile Food Centre #01-75.
BooksActually BooksActually is quite garang, actually. It’s an independent bookstore that supports local work – both fiction and literature. The owners also hand-stitch notebooks and produce stationery under Birds & Co. Whether you’re looking up a local title, or just soaking up the rustic vibe, there’s actually no better place to be. No. 9 Yong Siak Street.
Lee Yit Huat Trading Chill crab, curry fish head, cereal prawns – there’s simply no denying Singapore’s love of seafood. And when the craving comes, it’s time to head to Lee Yit Huat Trading, which boasts one of the biggest and best selections of fresh seafood in Singapore. Buffalo Road, Tekka Centre #01-53 to #01-58.
Sunday Market
Step into Sunday Market, and your natural instinct is to lepak. That’s because Sunday Market isn’t just a café. It’s a lifestyle that coaxes you to chillax, and savour the sumptuous dishes and soothing music. After all, everyone just wants to enjoy honest, good food. And make every day feel like Sunday. 22 Lim Tua Tow Road.
Casuarina Curry
In food-crazy Singapore, Casuarina Curry has stood out as one of the best prata shops. From aromatic egg pratas to exotic dessert pratas, there’s something here for every palate. With a tagline like “Singapore’s answer to the croissant!” – a title conferred by The Straits Times – you know you can’t give this eatery a miss. 136 & 138 Casuarina Road.
Chia’s Vegetable Supply
For store owner Victor Chia, selling vegetables isn’t just a livelihood. It’s a family business, 40 years in the making. From a humble store selling sweet potato and yam, Chia now stocks dozens of vegetable varieties. Chia gives his business everything he’s got. And that’s what keeps his vegetables so fresh, every day. 665 Buffalo Road, Tekka Centre #01-88.
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
Established in 1998, Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak has become one of the die-die-must-try places in Singapore. And despite the often long and winding queues, customers still keep coming back. The secret to their success? Good food, good service, plus plenty of hard work; so their Nasi Lemak will always be worth waiting for. #01-02 Adam Road Food Centre, 2 Adam Rd.
Hj Osnam Malay Barber
Just one look, and you’ll know that Adris Osnam isn’t your ordinary Malay barber. Adorned with guitars, a keyboard and pictures of the coolest hairstyles, his shop is a reflection of his past as a professional musician, and his vision – to help the Singaporean man maintain handsome; no matter what the latest trend. 239 Yishun Ring Road, #01-1152.
The Cage
The Cage was built in 2006 for the everyday footballer. The Kampung Superstar. Boasting 6 indoor 5-a-side pitches, and laid with world-class artificial turf, it’s a place where everyone can unleash their inner Ronaldo. Or simply be themselves. And though the football here isn’t world-class, the trash talking always is. The Cage Sports Park @ Turf City.
AK Workshop
Repairs, modifications, body work – you name it, they provide it. This is the place to go to pimp your ride. Because no matter whether you bring in a Jaguar or a Lao Pok Chia (Hokkien for old faulty car), they promise: good, honest and reliable service at a reasonable price. 10 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2A #04-10 AMK Autopoint.
Glory Catering
Renowned for its Nasi Padang and Nonya Popiah, Glory Catering has been serving Peranakan cuisine and hospitality for almost 50 years. Nestled amongst illustrious company, in the historic Katong food area, it is also well-known for its snacks and spreads like Tao Sha Piah and Nonya Kaya. 139 East Coast Road.
Depression
In t-shirt and jeans loving Singapore, Depression stands out as a truly bold and progressive fashion line. An eclectic mix of styles inspired by anything from rock stars to geek culture; it seeks neither to follow nor set trends, but to provide a way for individuals to be individuals. DEPRESSION BOUTIQUE: Cineleisure Orchard #03-05A. SECTS SHOP: Orchard Gateway #04-14.
Singapore and Malaysia are leading in Southeast Asia in terms of online and retail sales, with 50% of the population making e-commerce transactions.
Nearly 55% of people are also making cross-border e-commerce transactions. Despite the global crisis, according to start-up couponing agency Flipit's 2015 prediction, Singapore will pull in SG$4.4 billion in revenue.
This is highly due to increased internet access via mobile; lower prices; greater selection and rising rental price and labor crunch.
Video platform Dailymotion and digital ad sales network Pixel Media have inked a deal where Pixel Media will represent the direct campaigns on Dailymotion.com. The contract will cover the Singapore and Malaysia market and products such as in-stream video advertising and display ad products on desktop and mobile.
The appointment is effective immediately and brands that have already signed on to be pioneer advertisers include Kanebo Cosmetics, World of Tanks and several others.
According to comScore Media Metrix, Dailymotion reaches over 400,000 unique visitors per month in Singapore and close to one million unique visitors in Malaysia. It targets an affluent audience consuming original video content curated from various content providers globally and locally. Dailymotion provides free access to live content such as cultural events, sport competitions around the world or breaking news as it happens, and allows its users to watch free or on-demand movies, series or creative and exclusive programs from an international catalogue of tens of millions of videos.
Damien Pigasse, chief executive revenue officer of Dailymotion said: “The appointment marks our entry into some of the fastest growing and exciting parts of Asia and allows us to tap on local experts to better serve our advertising clients and explore new opportunities with us. As it is we already have a group of loyal viewers and followers in Asia that spend more and more time on our sites.”
“With an increasing demand for video content and consumers abandoning traditional TV in favour of online video, Dailymotion offers a unique advertising platform for advertisers in content, audience and creativity across multi-screens to engage users,” Aaron Chin (pictured), general manager - SEA of Pixel Media added.
According to ZenithOptimedia, online video advertising is expected to be the second fastest growing digital ad product expected to be growing at a rate of 30% annually. Concurrently an IAB study showed that over 67% of advertisers plan to shift TV ad dollars to online video this year.
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