Move and win roundup: M&C Saatchi, Y&R, J. Walter Thompson, more

PEOPLE MOVES

M&C Saatchi Singapore appointed Ramesh Kumar as chief strategy officer, a newly-created role aimed at fulfilling growth ambitions by delivering real business impact for its clients. Kumar’s mandate is to build a culture of effectiveness that leads to great work that works. He joins from Leo Burnett, where he was the strategy lead on Samsung across Asia Pacific.

Y&R NZ promoted Jono Key, currently head of planning, to managing director, effective in the new year. Key will step in to replace current MD Steve Kane, who is joining independent agency True as MD. At True, current MD and co-founder, Matt Dickinson, will assume the role of CEO. 

South China Morning Post appointed Gary Liu as CEO, replacing Robin Hu, effective in the new year. Liu joins the newspaper from his position as CEO at Digg, he has also worked at Google, Spotify and AOL . Hu will continue to be a member of the SCMP Board of Directors.

Joy Tsang switches role to be a part-time consultant from marketing and communications head at Community Business, a not-for-profit organisation in Hong Kong that drives social change and supports human rights. Tsang, who is succeeded by Daniela Chang, will now focus mainly on revamping the website of the organisation.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) China appointed Helen Yang (杨爱梅) as vice president to head the agency’s consumer and retail practice. Most recently, Yang was with Tsinghua Tusholdings Industrial Fund where she held position of partner. Based in Shanghai, Yang will report to QC Liang, president and CEO of H+K China.

Adrian Teh moves on to iPinYou as APAC general manager overseeing sales and operations. He was managing the programmatic buying team for Omnicom Media Group Hong Kong previously for almost a year. He also implemented internal and external training to drive up programmatic spend in the market

Edelman reshaped its Shanghai leadership team as its office MD Sonny Shen (沈瑜) takes the role of part-time senior executive advisor effective in the new year. Jeffrey Yu (余沛文), CEO of Edelman China, has been appointed interim MD of Edelman Shanghai. Meanwhile, Alex Lam (林贯扬), former head of digital performance at Publicis China, has been hired as GM of Edelman Digital Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Apple China has hired former Wall Street Journal editor Wei Gu (顾蔚) as its new PR director based out of Shanghai. She spent the last four years as the Journal’s wealth and luxury editor in China, and left her position in August to be a freelance writer.

Saatchi & Saatchi promoted Yuki Qi (戚余慧), the agency’s current Greater China chief talent officer, to vice president of operations for Greater China. As part of the expanded role, Qi will lead operational innovation and strategic development of the agency, as well as the integration of internal and external resources. She will continue to report to Publicis Communications and Saatchi & Saatchi Greater China CEO Michael Lee.

Clement Tsang has relocated to Sydney to be head of consulting at Cadreon Australia. Previously, he was managing director of global brand management and performance marketing clients at Neo@Ogilvy China, servicing client accounts including IBM and Qualcomm.

Dennis Lam (林浩深) left JWT Hong Kong for FCB South China after 10 years. At FCB, Lam will be the managing director of its South China operations, reporting to Edward Bell, FCB Greater China CEO. In his previous role at JWT, he was involved with HSBC, Nikon and other blue chip clients.

Lilian Lee (俞靈欣) is named head of digital innovation for Reuter Communications. Her role include spearheading the new content-to-commerce, digital insight and analytics services, as well as working with the teams in the firm’s Shanghai and Hong Kong offices. She was previously with HSBC as regional senior digital and content manager for the bank's commercial and corporate marketing department.

Chris Fong (方國榮) joined DDB Hong Kong as group creative director. He most recently held the same position at McCann Hong Kong, and has also worked at BBDO and Grey. He reports to Carol Lam, CCO and MD at DDB Group Hong Kong.

FTI Consulting made three new hires in its Hong Kong strategic communications team. Ann Hung joins as senior director, Tom Hufton has relocated from the agency’s London office and joins as senior consultant, while Desmond Chu comes in as a consultant. 

WINS

Iqianjin Internet Finance re-appointed J. Walter Thompson Beijing for brand and creative duties after a competitive pitch. The agency will develop a brand film for TV as well as print and online work to promote the concept of P2P financing. 

Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) appointed J. Walter Thompson to develop an integrated campaign for its 2017 undergraduate admissions following a competitive pitch. JWT will create a campaign that spans out-of-home and print advertising and will launch in the first quarter of 2017.

Ogilcy Public Relations will be content partner at the Global Summit on Measurement in Bangkok next year. The conference on PR effectiveness aims to help educate PR and communication professionals. 

Media Prima appointed Leo Burnett Group as the creative agency for myFreeview, the first free digital TV broadcasting service in Malaysia. The agency will run the strategic communications and delivery of creative communications for this project.