Ex-Publicis Beijing chief joins Tencent

<P>Former Publicis Beijing managing partner Lau Seng Yee has taken on a newly-created marketing and branding role at Hong Kong-listed Tencent Holdings.</P> <P>The internet and telecommunications provider of instant messaging services created the executive vice-president for online marketing services and corporate branding role to strengthen its online advertising business and branding of its web properties in anticipation of huge growth in the online space, said Lau. </P> <P>"The company wants to be better prepared than the competition in professionalising our online marketing services platform," he noted.</P> <P>Tencent has three instant messaging products to target users looking for entertainment and community features,  as well as business users. </P> <P>Lau, who quit Publicis in June after 13 months in the role, said a priority would be to refresh Tencent's branding.<BR>"The company has a pretty low profile in the market. We have almost 90 per cent brand awareness, but we still need to work on brand associations," Lau said, pointing to the more than 80 per cent market share of its products versus the competition, including MSN.<BR></P>