Asia-Pacific smartphone users are projected to download almost five billion mobile applications by the end of 2011, marking a 189 per cent increase from 1.6 billion apps downloaded in 2010 according to mobile research firm Ovum. The study also predicts revenues from paid-for mobile phone apps in the region will top US$871 million this year, an increase from the US$302 million figure recorded last year.
The Financial Times rolled out an FT.com branding campaign targeting people not too familiar with the paper, focusing on Hong Kong and Singapore. The campaign’s aim is to further promote FT.com to a broader range of business readers including middle management staff and below, together with business school graduates.
Intel appointed Collin Tan as Singapore country manager, tasked with growing the firm’s business in the country including the rapidly growing enterprise and government space. Tan joined Intel in 2003 as a regional account manager and has held roles including business manager and manager for the field applications engineers team based in Taiwan.
Draftfcb Shanghai’s head of digital Dick Chan was promoted to executive creative director, relocating to Beijing to assume the role alongside general manager Michael Chang. The move reflects a current trend to integrate digital and traditional divisions on a creative level with Saatchi & Saatchi China previously doing so.
Panasonic Asia-Pacific launched an eco campaign entitled ‘You’re under arrest’ to raise awareness of environmental issues through its Facebook page. The game involves users selecting a minimum of 12 friends to place on trial and then go through a series of questions and pick the ‘guilty friend’ to stand accused on Facebook.
iProspect Singapore appointed Luke Janich as its regional director and will be responsible for the iProspect Singapore operation, as well as leading the Southeast Asia region and local clients. He joins from OMD where he worked with HP in developing and managing search and PPC strategies across 14 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Digitas managing director Larry Tang has resigned from his post one year after taking up the position. Tang previously joined MRM Hong Kong as deputy managing director in September 2009, leaving after nine months on the job.
GroupM China promoted James Wu as managing director of digital operations and innovation of GroupM Interaction. In his role, Wu will focus on social media and creative production, mobile marketing, tactical planning and new business development.
Outgoing ZenithOptimedia China managing director Derek Kwok is joining audience network and targeted advertising company Yoyi Media as COO at the end of September. The agency focuses on internet tracking and optimisation, working with e-commerce clients on their ROI in terms of branding and performance marketing through targeted advertising.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) beta-launched the Education Post, an online course finder catering to postgraduate students. Hong Kong-based agency Fluid was responsible for working on the user interface for the new website, incorporating as much user-generated commentary as possible by leveraging on the Classified Post’s membership system.
Online ad agency &c. signed a retainer contract with China Southern Airlines via its Guangzhou office. With the appointment, the agency will be responsible for revitalising CSA’s international brand image ahead of the airline’s launch of new international routes and the impending arrival of five new Airbus A380 planes.
Ciba Vision Freshlook has kicked off a regional campaign to recruit a new brand ambassador. The ‘FreshLook brand ambassador search’ will run across Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand and aims to engage audiences and create awareness for the brand’s range of colour contact lenses.