announcement2

jamesAlpha7, a Singapore-based leader in cloud computing solutions and advisory services for business, has appointed James Wong as Managing Director for Asia.

James is an industry veteran with 27 years of experience in information technology who has a record of managing fast growing businesses. Based in Singapore, he will drive client acquisitions across the region.

Prior to joining Alpha7, James was Managing Director and Head of Channels for Asia-Pacific at NYSE listed network and security solutions company A10 Networks, where he helped grow revenues from US$800,000 to US$10,000,000, as well as oversee regional activities around its IPO. He previously held senior IT leadership roles at Siebel, prior to its acquisition by Oracle, and at Bex.com, an eCommerce business. He was among the first employees of NYSE-listed Salesforce.com when it set up its first regional office in Singapore.

Alpha7’s 2016 planned market expansions include Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Hence, the company announced other senior hires.

KelvinKelvin Woo joins Alpha7 as General Manager, Channels and Business Development. He brings extensive experience, spanning over two decades in sales leadership and channel development, particularly within the IT industry. His professional exposure spans enterprise, government, banking & financial, telecommunications, healthcare and service provider businesses across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Kelvin was most recently Country Sales Manager at A10 Networks for Singapore, as well as emerging markets such as India, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka. He was among its pioneering members in Asia-Pacific, playing a crucial role in building its sales traction leading into its IPO in 2014.

aileen
Ailene Lee joins as General Manager, General Business Division.
In this role, she is responsible for driving sales – with a focus on cost effectiveness, quality delivery and strategic efficiencies. With 22 years of sales experience in sales and marketing, Ailene is well equipped to drive Alpha7’s growth in the digital age. She was most recently the Vice President of Sales at SingPost, where she was among the core team that drove its digital transformation from postal service to an eCommerce and logistical services provider. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Vice President of Airtime Sales at MediaCorp.


 


 

leader headshot 480x480 agus sudradjatAgus Sudradjat, Chairman & CEO Grey Group Indonesia, will bid farewell to Grey, effective February 1st, in order to pursue a new entrepreneurial opportunity.

Sudradjat’s business acumen has strongly established Grey Group Indonesia’s presence in the market. Under his leadership, the Jakarta team was recognized multiple times at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, One Show Awards and Citra Pariwara Advertising Festival (CPAF) amongst many others. The agency was honoured as one of the top five digital agencies in Indonesia, one of the top three creative agencies of the year, and one of the top 10 agencies of the year at the CPAF. The team was also awarded Silver for Indonesia Digital Agency of the Year at the 2014 Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year awards. In addition, Sudradjat’s tenure at Grey saw him bringing in major local and multinational clients.

In the meantime, Monika Rudijono, Chief Operating Officer of Grey Group Indonesia, will be leading the team as Interim President. Grey Group recently acquired leading independent agencies nudeJEH in Thailand, and Vinyl-I Co in South Korea.


 

Getty Images, the world’s leader in visual communications, and Agence France-Presse (AFP), a leading global news agency, announced the renewal and continuation of their longstanding content partnership.

Since 2003, the global media companies have worked in partnership, leveraging their complementary strengths to ensure premium, comprehensive and up-to-the-minute coverage of News, Sports, and Entertainment imagery and video reaches news rooms and readers around the world.

Getty Images provides customers in nearly 200 countries with a depth, breadth and quality of coverage that is unmatched. From red carpet events to football stadiums to conflict zones and beyond, each year the company represents more than 130,000 news, sport and entertainment events around the globe. AFP provides in 150 countries fast, verified and comprehensive coverage in text, photo, video, videographics and infographics of international news events – ranging from politics, the arts and the economy to the environment, sport and lifestyle. With its exceptional network of local correspondents and its experienced teams, AFP reports on world affairs in real time in six languages, applying rigorous standards, for major national and international media organisation.

“The renewal of our contract with Getty Images strengthens a relationship of trust that is regularly enriched,” said AFP’s Chairman Emmanuel Hoog. “Creating synergies with renowned partners enables us to stimulate the distribution and development of our content in a large number of countries.”

 


 


Ogilvy & Mather has announced the appointment of Adam O’Conor as Asia Pacific President of Global Brand Management (GBM), effective immediately. He will also retain his position as Chief Executive Officer for the network’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong.

O’Conor is no stranger to the O&M network, starting his career in London as a graduate trainee. For the last 20 years, he’s held positions spanning Europe and Australia. The latter being an appointment in 2001 that took him to Sydney as Regional Business Director for IBM, followed by a move to Hong Kong in 2007 to take leadership of the Coca-Cola account across the region. He was appointed to his current position as Chief Executive Officer of O&M Hong Kong in 2010 - looking after 7 local business units with more than 350 staff.

O&M’s Global Brand Management team includes a who’s who of global brands in Asia Pacific and accounts for a significant volume of revenues for the network across its 37 offices in the region. Brands include American Express, IBM, Coca-Cola, UPS and YUM!, to name a few.

 


 

Amit AroraViacom International Media Networks (VIMN) announced the appointment of Amit Arora as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Asia, with immediate effect.

Arora will be based in Singapore and serve on the Asia leadership team, reporting to Mark Whitehead, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Asia. He will also be working closely with the global strategy team in New York. In this newly created role, Arora will drive the cross-business growth strategy and business development opportunities in Asia to help shape the organisation’s decision-making.

Most recently, Arora was with BBC Worldwide in Singapore as Head of Business Development and Strategy, Asia. He joins VIMN Asia with 15 years of experience in the media, telecom, cable and technology industries including business development, analytics and strategic advisory roles in well-known media businesses such as ABC Television/The Walt Disney Company, Turner Broadcasting, and Time Warner Cable in the U.S.

Arora has an MBA in Finance with focus on Entertainment, Media and Technology from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

 


 

John-SeifertMiles Young, Worldwide Chairman and CEO, Ogilvy & Mather announced that John Seifert has been appointed Worldwide CEO, effective immediately. Mr. Young will continue as Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather, until September 1, 2016, at which point Mr. Seifert will become Worldwide Chairman and CEO and Mr. Young will retain a non-executive role.

As previously announced, Mr. Young will be taking a position of Warden at his alma mater, New College, at Oxford University. In his non-executive role, Mr. Young will continue to work with Ogilvy & Mather and parent company WPP on key global clients.

Mr. Seifert, 58, has spent 37 years at Ogilvy & Mather, most recently as Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather North America, a position he will retain. Mr. Seifert’s leadership in North America over the past 7 years has resulted in a reinvigoration of the region, substantial revenue growth, digital excellence and impactful talent recruitment. This new appointment ensures continuity of leadership for Ogilvy & Mather.

Before assuming leadership of Ogilvy & Mather North America, Mr. Seifert was responsible for a portfolio of 25 global clients totaling nearly $1 billion in revenue. He has worked throughout the agency’s worldwide network in client leadership and general management positions in Los Angeles, Chicago, Bangkok, and Singapore. John Seifert will partner with Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy & Mather, who will also become Co-Chairman of the Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Board. He will remain based in New York.

In addition, Mr. Young also announced an expansion of responsibilities for two of O&M’s regional directors. Paul Heath, Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Asia-Pacific, and Paul O’Donnell, Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) will support Mr. Seifert, Mr. Tham and their executive team as Worldwide Executive Directors for global business development and agency transformation respectively.

 


 

Ministry of Communication and Information (MCI) will re-structure IDA and MDA

The media and infocomm sectors have rapidly converged, blurring the line between the infocomm and media sectors. The impact of this convergence has been felt by both industry and members of the public at large, which persuaded the Ministry of Communication and Information (MCI) to restructure the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA) by forming the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Government Technology Organisation (GTO).

IDA and MDA will be administratively re-organized on 1 Apr 2016, before legislative amendments are made in the second half of 2016 to establish IMDA and GTO.

Mr Steve Leonard will continue to serve as EDC of IDA through May 2016. From 1 Apr 2016, IDA and MDA will be administratively re-organized. After the legislative amendments are passed in the second half of 2016, Ms Jacqueline Poh (currently MD of IDA) will officially head the new GTO while Mr Gabriel Lim (currently CEO of MDA) will head the new IMDA.

 


 

Jerry SmithOgilvy & Mather (O&M) has announced the launch of OgilvyRED, a new consulting arm that brings together senior strategic specialists to consult on marketing transformation for brands in Asia Pacific.

Jerry Smith has been appointed Chairman of OgilvyRED Asia Pacific, a dual role he will maintain alongside his position as President & CEO for OgilvyOne Worldwide in the region.

lucyOgilvyRED will be led by Lucy McCabe, who has been appointed President for Asia Pacific.

The new consulting arm launches in the region across more than 10 countries, and with six specialist practices, each led by an expert in their field. They include Brand Strategy, Customer Strategy, eCommerce, Influencer Strategy, Data & Marketing Analytics, and Marketing Technology.

 


 

Marketing technology company RadiumOne has kicked off 2016 announcing two new hires for its Southeast Asia team, appointing Lachlan Kean and Nisa Seah as Business Development Managers.

Charlie Baillie, RadiumOne Regional Director for Southeast Asia, said the new hires bring a wealth of mobile and digital media experience, coupled with extensive knowledge of the SEA region.

Having entered the Southeast Asia market less than six months ago, RadiumOne has quickly grown its presence in the region, now working closely with leading media agency groups and servicing over 20 blue chip brands.

Lachlan-KeanLachlan Kean, Business Development Manager joins RadiumOne from premium mobile media and solutions company Big Mobile, Singapore, where he was most recently Regional Sales Manager overseeing their sales, creative and technology teams. Lachlan was also responsible for Big Mobile’s media agency partnerships and new business development across the SEA region. Prior to Big Mobile he spent two years at Shopper Conversion Specialist agency, Barrows. Lachlan has been in Singapore since early 2012. Before moving to Asia, Lachlan’s industry experience also saw him gain valuable media buying and planning experience during his time at Mediacom in Sydney.

Nisa Seah, Business Development Manager joins RadiumOne from digital sports content and media group, Perform, where she headed up advertising sales for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Nisa’s impressive career experience includes brand side marketing, advertising sales and media operations capabilities. Prior to Perform, she led business development and key accounts for digital marketing platform Komli Media, she also spent time as Product Marketing Manager for SingTel and ran digital brand advertising sales programs for InMobi.

Both Lachlan and Nisa will be responsible for building partnerships with media agencies, rights holders and brands, ensuring advertisers realise maximum value from the RadiumOne platform.

 


 

Paras-SharmaViacom International Media Networks (VIMN) announced the promotion of Paras Sharma to Senior Vice President of MTV & Comedy Central Brands and Digital Media, Asia, with immediate effect. Based in Singapore, Sharma will continue to report to Mark Whitehead, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Asia.

In his new role, Sharma will maintain his existing portfolio and take on the additional responsibility to explore the launch of new adult brands in Asia.

In his two-year tenure with VIMN, Sharma has led a few accomplishments including double-digit ratings growth across Asia for both the MTV and Comedy Central brands, and worked closely with Advertising Sales to deliver local programming via two successful music events – MTV Music Evolution and MTV World Stage Malaysia.

 


 

Asia Pacific Effie Awards has named the first 2 Heads of Jury for the 2016 Awards.

Michelle-GuthrieMichelle Guthrie is the Managing Director, Agencies APAC of Google, responsible for driving the company’s strategy and relationships with marketing and advertising agencies across Asia. Prior to joining Google in Singapore in 2011, Michelle was the Managing Director and Senior Advisor of Providence Equity Partners, the world’s leading private equity firm focused on media, entertainment, communications and technology, from 2007 to 2009. She has held several key executive positions, culminating as CEO from 2003 to 2007 since she began her career in Asia at STAR, a media and entertainment company based in Hong Kong, wholly owned by News Corporation. Earlier in her career, Michelle was a lawyer. She was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and the Veuve Clicquot Hong Kong Businesswoman of the Year in 2005.

Anthony-WongAnthony Wong is the Worldwide Effectiveness Director at Ogilvy & Mather Group and Global Client Leader, Team Huawei at WPP plc. Since Anthony joined Ogilvy in 2006, he has helped his teams and clients achieve best-selling brand and product launches across categories and borders, and win marketing effectiveness awards. In addition to his corporate roles, Anthony is an active leader in developing the marketing effectiveness agenda in Asia. Since 2006, he has served as Regional Judge, Finals Judge, Awards Presenter, Master of Ceremony, Expert Advisor, Jury Vice Chairman and Chairman at the China EFFIE and APAC Effie Awards. Anthony holds a Master in Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Harvard University.

The remaining Heads of Jury and full jury will be announced progressively. Stay tuned for more updates via www.apaceffie.com.

 


 

Adobe announced being recognized by Gartner, Inc. as a leader in the 2016 “Magic Quadrant for Digital Marketing Hubs” research report.

For the second consecutive year, Adobe placed furthest on the completeness of vision axis. Criteria for a vendor’s completeness of vision include market understanding, marketing strategy, sales strategy, offering (product) strategy, business model, vertical/industry strategy, innovation and geographic strategy.

Adobe Marketing Cloud empowers companies to use big data to effectively reach and engage customers and prospects with highly personalized marketing content across devices and digital touch points. Eight tightly integrated solutions offer marketers a complete set of marketing technologies that focus on analytics, web and app experience management, testing and targeting, advertising, audience management, video, social engagement and campaign orchestration.

The tie-in with Adobe Creative Cloud makes it easy to quickly activate creative assets across all marketing channels and customer touch points. Cloud supports 41 trillion transactions, 4.1 trillion rich media requests and more than 60 billion emails per year.

 


 

Grey Group announced today it has acquired a majority stake in Vinyl-I Co, a leading creative digital agency based in Seoul, South Korea.

paulEstablished in 2000, Vinyl-I Co has evolved from a web/UX design agency to a full service digital advertising agency which incorporates new media technology to enhance the user experience, especially in the area of interactive design. The technology recognizes consumer behavior using interactive panels which in turn provides a customized response based on the consumer’s preferences.

Vinyl-I Co is managed by Paul (Hong Rai) Cho, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Creative Director, and Gil (Jung) Kim, Chief Operating Officer. Both will continue to lead the operations of Vinyl-I Co in their existing roles.

Cho founded Vinyl-I Co 15 years ago after a short stint at Samsung Design Lab. Working in the digital media art space where art meets technology, Cho often incorporates technology into his creative work. With his innovative ideas and solid business strategies, Cho has grown Vinyl-I Co into one of the most reputable and cutting-edge agencies in South Korea.

Kim is a veteran digital marketer with 19 years of experience. He started his career at Samsung Electronics before moving on to Siemens, where he worked for 12 years. In both companies, in his role as key account director, he successfully launched numerous new product campaigns. Kim joined Vinyl-I Co in 2011 where he has led a number of integrated marketing campaigns for international and local accounts including Intel, Nike, Microsoft, Samsung, Naver, Hyundai Motors and SM Entertainment.

 


 

geoGeometry Global Malaysia has revealed key appointments in core divisions across the agency. Geometry Global is an award-winning, multi-practice marketing agency that belongs to WPP, that influences people's buying behavior with transformative creative solutions informed by rich data and sharp insights. Using cutting edge insight tools to map and analyze people's Purchase Decision Journeys, the agency develops programs that drive conversion and measurably impact client business.

Effective immediately, Jayesh Vyas has taken the role of Chief Finance Officer, Sean Lim has been promoted to General Manager for Brand Activation, while counterpart Leong Siew Yee will head up the Shopper Marketing division as General Manager.

In addition, the agency has appointed Abhinav Sharma as the new Strategic Planning Director and Geometry’s PR division and redefines its business services with the appointment of Taavi Kuisma as Business Director, Media Content. Lastly, the activation team will be lead by new Business Unit Head, Phang Rick Kee with the mandate to bring the agency’s activation services to the next level.

 


 

Ellen-McMillanDr. Ellen McMillan assumes the position as General Manager China of HARTING (Zhuhai) Sales Ltd.

She is joining HARTING China with over 15 years of experience in the electronics industry in a variety of positions such as Business Development, Marketing, R&D and Operations within China.  She is highly respected across the company for her business development talent, product strategies, technical expertise, intelligence and integrity.

From end 2013 to Dec 2015, Mrs. McMillan served as Managing Director of HARTING AG in Biel, Switzerland where she jointly managed the business with Ms. Susanne Giehl.

Mrs. McMillan joined HARTING in Aug 2013 as Director Business Development MID and was responsible for MID Sales and Business development in the Asian region.

Prior to HARTING, she served as Vice President and General Manager, Antenna Business Unit at Molex for the period of Jul 2011 to Jul 2012.

Dr. Ellen McMillan graduated in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Surface Technology and received PhD degree.