Digital moves this week from Groupon, Facebook, Microsoft and more

Facebook admitted that it hired PR firm Burson Marsteller to spread negative articles about Google in US media. Burson-Marsteller contacted US newspaper reporters and opinion-piece writers with a view to securing coverage on Google's alleged use of personal information from Facebook and other social networks.

Groupon launched an application making its deals available through the iPhone and iPod Touch in Hong Kong. Features on the new app include browsing daily deals in local neighbourhoods and signing up for a new account or accessing an existing account to find and organise all previous purchases.

Isobar Hong Kong appointed David Jessop to the role of digital business director. Previously digital lead and head of XM with JWT Hong Kong, he will focus on the agency's marketing communications and social media business and take charge of both local and regional clients.

iProspect unveiled a revitalised brand and market positioning after a process that spanned nine months. The renewed brand expands the agency's positioning as a consultative and strategic leader in order to deliver fully integrated digital marketing programmes.

A study by R3 reveals that Chinese marketers are demanding more accountability online than ever before, despite plans to increase their digital investments this year. Surveying 200 firms, 82 per cent of marketers  intend to increase their digital spend in 2011 but 88 per cent admitted they are unsure or have no confidence they are getting what they pay for.

Microsoft Advertising has filled its specialist sales director role for the greater Asia-Pacific region with the appointment of Ken Chang. Based in Singapore, he has been with the company for five years and takes over from Jonathan Hardy who was promoted to sales development director of Microsoft Advertising. 

Innity and Admax become the first adserving networks in Southeast Asia to adopt AdXpose technology that safeguards an ad's context. It examines and analyses all pages in real-time to ensure advertiser's ads are run only on appropriate content and environments. 

The South China Morning Post has undergone a major branding revamp in both design and product content. With the tagline 'Make every day matter', the campaign is running in online media, a micro-site at www.matters.scmp.com and a Facebook page

Langham Hotel is celebrating its 146th year through a social media campaign promoting its century-old afternoon tea heritage. Its marketing team is utilising a Facebook campaign and word of mouth through social media such as Kaixin.com in China and PR activities.

Chairman and CEO of BBDO Asia Chris Thomas was given the additional role of chairman of Proximity Worldwide. He takes over from Andrew Robertson, president and CEO of BBDO Worldwide who filled in the position.

Mediabrands appointed Nick Tulloch as regional digital manager and Mike Zeng as digital head at UM China. Tulloch will be responsible for delivering digital services to regional clients, while Zeng will work closely with UM's local team and report to Simon Woodward, CEO of UM China. 

Apple has catapulted to the top spot as the world's most valuable brand in annual survey by Millward Brown. Its brand value rose 84 per cent in 2011 to US$153 billion due to sales of iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2, as well as desktop and laptop computers.

Digital agency Reading Room opened its doors in Singapore as part of its expansion into Asia. With offices also in the UK and Australia, it also has plans to open offices in Shanghai, Mumbai and Japan over the next 12 months.