Following its official split from DDB Worldwide Indonesia after nine years, Daya Maha Berkarya (DMB) has formed a partnership with Advis, Brainstorm and M2M Interface under the NAVA+ Group of brands. In addition to other specialist services, the partnership will also focus on digital as it embraces changes in this area to focus on brand experience.
Omnicom Group has acquired a majority stake in India's leading integrated marketing communications group, Mudra Group. According to Omnicom CEO and president John Wren, the deal will increase the group's foothold in India and facilitate growth in Asia's third largest economy. Mudra Max is the group's integrated engagement and experiential agency and one of its four agency networks.
GroupM Interaction's Digital+ conference took place on 28 October with the main theme being convergence and synergy across online and offline platforms in China. Among others, GroupM Interaction global CEO and CEO of GroupM North America Rob Norman spoke of the importance of bridging the gap between the digital and physical world. "New things appear everyday," he said, "but the old things - print, radio - are not going away."
UM Melbourne has announced three senior digital hires following the appointment of MD Wendy Gower. The new recruits include director of digital Anna Kismet, group digital communications manager Monika Kuta and senior digital account manager Brielie-Jean Hudson. The trio joins recent newcomers Kristine Ballensky, Zoe Scaman and Lukas Temple.
Integrated creative agency Blak Labs has appointed Justin Lim as creative partner, effective immediately. The award-winning Ogilvy veteran reunites with his former colleague and Blak Labs co-founder Koh Hwee Peng. The agency opened for business in November last year.
Leveraging on its 350 million supporter base, football club Manchester United is creating its own branded global social network and media outlet launching progressively over the next two years. Carrying multimedia content plus advertising and sponsorship opportunities for brands, the digital platform will provide a network for fans worldwide. SapientNitro has been appointed as its digital agency.
Publicis Groupe has acquired Chinese digital agency Wangfan for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is part of Publicis' plan to double its size in China and its overall strateggy to boost income from emerging economies and the digital sector. Wangfan specialises in interactive campaigns, web branding and design and counts Puma and Shanghai General Motors among its clients.
BBC.com is gearing up to launch localised sites for Asia, India and Australia/ New Zealand. The homepages will be tailored to each territory through the use of Geo-IP recognition and carry local news, sport and travel sections in addition to localised weather and features from local correspondents. The new sites will be supported by a new Asia-Pacific team based out of Singapore.
Yahoo has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Interclick for its data targeted solutions, optimisation and premium inventory supply in a transaction worth an estimated US$270 million. The internet portal aims to use the investment to improve its performance across both its guaranteed and non-guaranteed display business.
iProperty Group has launched a new dedicated commercial and industrial property portal CommercialAsia.com, providing customers with information on current trends and research, a directory of property agents and owners, and a dedicated trade forum to reach out to property experts. The new site will initially cover Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Iris Singapore has appointed digital creatives Lucas Burrows ans Melvin Lim, joining from Bunch Singapore and OgilvyOne, respectively. Burrows and Lim join the agency alongside four other new staff members, including Khairul Mondzi, Selwyn Low, Errol Tan and Stevan Jodistiro. All hires are effective this month and report to CD Subha Naidu.
