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marylynnEssence, a global digital agency, announced the appointment of MaryLynn O'Neil as Regional Resource Management and Recruitment Director, APAC, to further develop their growing pool of top digital talent in the region.

MaryLynn O'Neil, Regional Resource Management & Recruitment Director, APAC, Essence In this role, O'Neil will lead talent recruitment for Essence's Singapore, India, Australia and Japan offices and will report to Jennifer Remling, Chief Talent Officer. Part of GroupM, Essence is majority owned by WPP, the world's leading communications services group.

O'Neil is a global media professional and a seasoned recruiter with a career spanning over 15 years across EMEA, APAC and North America. Before joining Essence, she served as Regional Director of Recruitment for R/GA, where she was instrumental in bringing Resource Management to APAC.


SereneBloomberg Media announced that Serene Chew has been named Head of Media Marketing and Live Events for Bloomberg covering the Asia-Pacific region.

In her expanded role, Serene will be responsible for consumer marketing and Live events in addition to her current role at Bloomberg Media covering trade marketing, client solutions and activation in Asia. For the Bloomberg Live events business, she will oversee strategy, development, design and execution for its events and conference business across the region. Serene has almost 20 years of experience in media marketing and advertising sales development.

Leveraging the company’s 2,400 journalists, unparalleled news resources around the world, data superiority and media platforms that span digital, TV, radio and print magazines, Bloomberg Live events are the centerpiece of Bloomberg’s media strategy. Its mission is to offer high-quality, news-making experiences for influential audiences, along with compelling opportunities for advertisers.


AlenaThe global business intelligence firm ORC International announced the appointment of Alena Rossini to Managing Director, Singapore.

Under Alena's leadership, the Engine Group will expand its footprint in Singapore and South East Asia and accelerate the company's growth in the Asia Pacific region. Her appointment underscores ORC International’s focus on helping clients navigate the region's unique business challenges and changing market landscape.

Alena joins the organization from the Kantar Group, where she managed Strategy and Innovation across Asia Pacific . She brings more than 15 years of experience developing insight-led growth strategies for brands and has a passion for transforming businesses. In previous roles, she used her strong entrepreneurial spirit and client-centric mindset to launch new business units and transform existing business at The Leading Edge, Kantar and Gfk.


appnexusThe independent advertising technology company AppNexus announced the appointment of Kaylie Smith as Managing Director, JAPAC, and Head of Australian Market.

Based in Sydney, Smith will oversee AppNexus’ strategic partnerships and commercial strategy in Asia Pacific, Japan and Australia.

She brings a proven track record in building and expanding innovative advertising technology companies and broad experience across JAPAC. Her appointment signals the company’s continued commitment to expanding its commercial footprint across the region.

Prior to her appointment, Smith was Head of Seller Cloud at Rubicon Project, leading the company’s publisher division. She directed publisher strategy, product and account management, and global business development for Rubicon Project’s core business, based both in the U.S. and JAPAC. Prior to joining Rubicon Project, Smith was a longtime executive at DoubleClick, where she served as Managing Director, JAPAC. Following Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick, she transitioned into the role of Google’s Head of Platforms, JAPAC.

In her new role, Smith will oversee AppNexus’ offices in Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. Sonal Patel will continue to direct the company’s operations in Singapore and report directly to her.


Icy LiHavas China announced the appointment of Icy Li Yuhong as the new Managing Director of Shanghai operations.

In her new role, Icy Li will lead Havas Shanghai operations and will be responsible for managing existing and new client relationships along with driving growth through the adoption of integrated thinking within the agency. Reporting to Donald Chan, CEO of Havas Creative Group, China, she will also helm talent initiatives with a special focus on mentoring young talent.

Most recently the Head of Strategy Integration and Chief Strategy Officer, Digital for Publicis Groupe Shanghai, Icy Li has previously held senior strategic planning roles with Wieden & Kennedy and JWT. At Publicis Groupe, she is credited with leading the digital transformation of the agency by integrating the planning capabilities of different disciplines including advertising, digital, shopper marketing and e-commerce.

Havas Creative Group China has registered a strong performance since the beginning of 2017 winning a series of new businesses including Bank of Communication Credit Card, Continental and General Tire, Monster Energy Drink, Dubai Tourism and AMD.


extLenovo has appointed Torod Neptune as Vice President of Global Communications, starting 27 March 2017.

Torod is currently Vice President of Corporate Communications for Verizon Communications and succeeds Jeff Shafer who moved to lead communications at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro at the end of 2016.

He joins Lenovo from Verizon where he has overseen communications for each of the company’s major business units, including managing a global team across the US, APAC, EMEA, and Latin America. Most recently he was responsible for defining and managing Verizon’s communications strategies worldwide, including corporate messaging; social media; digital strategy; public affairs; media and industry analyst relations; executive communications; community relations and multicultural and employee communications.

Before joining Verizon, Torod was SVP & Global Public Affairs Practice Leader for Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) where he oversaw the company's Washington, D.C., Seattle, Beijing, and Brussels offices. Whilst there, he was responsible for the company’s global crisis and issues management practices; directed brand and reputation management, as well as public affairs and issues advocacy work for many of the world’s leading technology innovators.

Torod will succeed Jeff Shafer, who moved to lead communications at the University of North Carolina at the end of 2016, and will report to Lenovo’s Chief Marketing Officer, David Roman.


Peter HughesAustralian customer intelligence platform Local Measure announced the appointment of Peter Hughes to the new role of VP Strategic Alliances.

The appointment signals Local Measure’s next stage of growth, as the company looks to develop and capitalize on its partnership and channel strategy. Peter will be tasked with managing all channel partners, developing the reseller relationships and building strategic alliances. He fills a new position in the technology company, one that represents the level of maturity the company has reached as it looks to grow its strategic partnerships.

Local Measure has proprietary technology that allows brands and businesses to deliver exceptional service to their customers, engage with them in real-time to resolve service issues, and acquire the rights to use user-generated content.

Peter joins Local Measure following 16 years at Cisco, where he most recently held the role of Global Director of Sales for SaaS collaboration product Cisco Spark. He led the APJ Collaboration team and prior to that the ANZ Collaboration team.

Local Measure’s platform partners include Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.


Bob WalczakXaxis announced Bob Walczak as Executive Vice President, Global Products.

Walczak previously served as global CEO of Light Reaction, a performance advertising business that is part of Xaxis. In this role, he grew and refined Light Reaction’s proprietary pay-for-performance product and technology offerings and successfully launched them into 31 markets across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

As EVP, Global Products, Walczak will lead a new team, including product management, global partnerships and supply, focused on developing outcome-based media solutions that leverage Xaxis’ unique data, technology and supply assets to deliver measurable results to brands.

The new Global Products unit will work across Xaxis and all its specialist brands, Triad Retail Media, Light Reaction and plista, tapping a broad range of expertise to bring the next generation of programmatic advertising products to market.

Walczak will also coordinate Xaxis’ Global Products team efforts with GroupM’s [m]PLATFORM to derive specific competitive advantage from [m]PLATFORM’s scale and resources.

He is a marketing industry pioneer having served as founder and CEO of ad tech start-up Ringleader Digital, one of the first companies to develop a comprehensive mobile ad serving technology platform.

Prior to Light Reaction, he was general manager for IPONWEB’s BidSwitch, where he grew the platform’s revenues 500 percent and doubled its client base in a year. Earlier, Walczak was General Manager and Vice President at PubMatic, where he developed the company’s mobile and emerging media business from inception to more than 25% of the company’s overall revenue.


Don ElgieThe Marketing Group appoints Don Elgie to the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Mike McElhatton as new Chief Financial Officer, with immediate effect.

Mr Elgie replaces Jeremy Harbour, who steps down from his role as Executive Chairman, and Mr McElhatton replaces Charles Bartholomew who will continue to support the company on the Board of Directors.

Don Elgie has a wealth of experience in public companies and over 30 years’ experience in the marketing industry. He was the CEO of Creston Plc, an international digital marketing and communications group from 2001 to 2014, during which he completed a number of successful international acquisitions.

mikeMike McElhatton has more than 25 years’ experience in the marketing sector and has a successful track record executing acquisitions for public and private companies. He has previously held senior roles at WPP, Splendid Unlimited, Publicis Media and Havas Media UK.

In tandem with the appointments of Don Elgie and Mike McElhatton, current Directors Callum Laing, Toby Street, Hannah Middleton and Yang Yen Thaw have also resigned from roles on the Board to pave the way for other industry veterans who bring more operational and industry experience to the Group. The Group takes the view that the interests of shareholders are best served by a well-represented and diversified Board with a healthy proportion of independent directors.