Digital happenings this week from Google, Tribal DDB, Zenith and more

ZenithOptimedia welcomes back Cathy Kuang as general manager for Zed Digital Beijing. Kuang (pictured) started her career at Zenith in 1996 and has since worked at Mindshare, Maxus and China’s top digital agency Hylink. She takes responsibility for growing the digital team and winning new clients.

Google’s YouTube has made inroads into Southeast Asia with the launch of a localised site in the Philippines. Content partners include major broadcasters GMA, ABS-CBN and two government channels. The localised channel is said to have far more provision for ads. YouTube’s second country-specific launch in Southeast Asia followed a week later in Singapore. Carrying advertisers SingTel and Malaysia Airlines, the new site also marks the company’s 35th localised service globally.

The shortlist for Campaign’s Digital Media Awards has been drawn from 814 entries received from 10 markets and 71 agencies across the region. Tribal DDB leads the charge with 10 nominations across all categories and its ‘The escape’ campaign for Intel.

Digital marketing consultancy Blugrapes is forgoing the customary 15 per cent agency service fee to offer Facebook advertising to clients at cost price. The move is rooted in the company’s belief that social media marketing is not just about advertising but rather about long term consumer engagement.

According to Comscore’s latest report on internet usage in Malaysia, social networking accounts for one third of time spent online, ranking as the top online activity in the market. Online video viewing continues to increase, climbing 8 per cent in the last year.

Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Skype to create a new business division within the company. The US$8.5 billion transaction was announced on 10 May and will see Skype eventually integrated across an array of Microsoft products. Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Skype Division with Microsoft, reporting to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.  

Former PepsiCo China marketing director Ka Wa Chi has been named Eastern China MD at ZenithOptimedia while Alan Yau and Kien Lin joins Vivaki Exchange in two newly created MD roles. The hires follows Andras Vigh’s appointment as country chair for the network’s Vivaki Greater China operation.

BBH India has moved to strengthen its digital offering with the appointment of Abhishake Das and Udisha Kumar as creative brand partners. Both join from Tribal DDB where Das headed the creative department and Kumar worked as his art partner. Das and Kumar have 10 and five years experience in the advertising industry respectively.

As part of its largest above-the-line campaign to date, Google Chrome has rolled out a series of TVCs in Indonesia celebrating people who have changed the world around them through brilliant use of the web. In this instance two films feature a movement claiming back the environment and a life saving initiative that connects blood donors to patients.

Following recent service disruptions, Research in Motion (RIM) has announced it will offer a selection of free premium apps to global customers. The offer is an ‘expression of appreciation’ for customer’s patience and includes apps with a total value in excess of US$100 available from 31 December.

Andy Bell has joined Rapp Tribal New Zealand as general manager, effective immediately. He comes on board from his former position as general manager at Aim Proximity. In his new role he will be working with Telecom New Zealand among other clients.

Mykim Chikli has relocated from ZenithOptimedia France, where she was MD of its 400-strong operation, to China as the network's chief innovation officer in the Mainland. In her new role, Chikli will work with international clients including L'Oreal in driving and developing new capacities in digital and content development. She has 12 years experience in marketing and media across Europe and America.