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Campaign compiles a new 'Move and win roundup' as each week progresses. This edition will cover June 23 through June 27, 2025. Catch up on past people moves and business wins. |
Chinese streaming giant iQiyi has appointed Dinesh Ratnam as its new senior managing director for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The move marks a return for Ratnam, who previously helped establish iQIYI’s presence in Malaysia and Singapore five years ago. He was previously the managing director of Warner Music Group for Malaysia and Singapore.
Cheuk Chiang has been promoted to Group CEO at global independent agency network Bastion as current CEO and co-founder Jack Watts shifts to an executive director role. Chiang had been named ANZ CEO last year.
Global social media agency Battenhall has promoted Rhian Robinson to managing director, UK, EMEA & Asia-Pacific (APAC), expanding her existing leadership remit beyond the UK and EMEA. Battenhall’s expansion in APAC, and the elevated role of Robinson, will involve the creation of a new regional hub in Singapore and the creation of jobs in social media consulting, creative and client management.
Emily Poon, president of Ogilvy PR Asia Pacific, is leaving the agency after 17 years and will be succeeded by the current CEO of Ogilvy PR for ANZ and Ogilvy Health Australia, Richard Brett. Brett will retain all three titles in an expanded role based in Sydney, beginning August 1st, he announced. In a LinkedIn post, Poon says she will take time to recharge and does not have a follow-up role planned just yet.
Melbourne-based programmatic advertising and publishing agency Interplay Media is expanding in New Zealand, appointing Scott Hughes to lead the business. Hughes has held senior leadership roles at Scroll Media, NZME, and Loyalty NZ.
Legoland Malaysia Resort has appointed Mutant as its public relations agency for Malaysia and Singapore, following a competitive pitch process involving over 30 agencies. The year-long retainer, with the option to extend, will see Mutant leading media and influencer engagement for Legoland’s 2025 campaigns involving ideation, media relations, and regional publicity across both markets.
Ruder Finn Asia has been appointed as the public relations agency for the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) working on media relations and communications regarding IPOS-related news and intellectual property trends and developments in Singapore and the region.
Oro Malaysia, the Malaysian arm of Tokyo-based marketing communication services provider Oro Co.,
has named Eri Obana as its new managing director, alongside Yosuke Miki as director. Obana brings over 17 years of digital marketing experience, including the expansion of Japanese digital marketing agency Opt into the Malaysian market in 2013 which eventually became part of Oro's Malaysian branch. Miki joined Oro in January 2024 as regional managing director, overseeing business
development across ORO’s offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China with past tenures at Hakuhodo, Accenture, and The Walt Disney Company.
Australian independent agency Enigma has appointed Dom Hickey as chief strategy officer where she will lead the agency’s clandestine-sounding 'Central Intelligence' department. Most recently CSO at Howatson+Company, Hickey has led strategy for brands like Domain, Westpac, Coles and J&J over a career spanning more than two decades.
Programmatic media service, Cognitive AI has opened its new office in Singapore, appointing Rohan Lightfoot to lead its operations across the Asia-Pacific region as CEO. Lightfoot was previously Mindshare's chief growth officer for APAC and the former global client partner and APAC MD at Isobar.
Special Group has appointed Tash Johnson to the newly created role of national head of production to oversee the agency’s integrated production capabilities across Sydney and Melbourne - spanning film, photography, digital and tech, social content, activations and also lead Special’s in-house production studio, Special Made. Tash joins Special from CHEP Network, where she spent four years as national head of integrated production. Her background also includes more than seven years in senior producer roles at DDB Sydney, and earlier career roles with M&C Saatchi, The Monkeys and Host Sydney.
ME Republic, the entertainment and content production affiliate of McCann Kuala Lumpur, announced is the strategic production partner on the Malaysian film Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, which surpassed RM76 million at the box office, one of the highest-grossing Malay-language films.
Australian independent agency Apparent has won the Kinatico media business following a competitive pitch. Kinatico is a leading SaaS technology company specialising in people management workforce compliance solutions.
Zoo Group Singapore has appointed Havas talent Marcus Quek as art director. At Havas, Quek was working with regional and global campaigns for clients including Domino’s, Shell Motorsport and Warner Bros. His previous tenure at DDB saw him develop integrated campaigns for brands such as Audi, Burger King and Singapore’s National Environment Agency, with work recognised at both local and regional award shows. His appointment follows a series of recent hires from TBWA, Dentsu and DDB, as well as senior leadership additions from Ogilvy. The agency has recently secured new accounts including US-based brands Pro Lash and InDrive, and local clients Mindef and DSTA.
Media agency Initiative has expanded its Melbourne leadership team with two senior hires. Kathryn Griffiths joins as group business director, while Mark Dawson has been promoted to the same role. Griffiths brings over a decade of experience from Bunnings, where she led initiatives across brand, digital transformation, loyalty, and B2B growth strategy. In her new role, Griffiths will lead Initiative’s ISF portfolio, including Cbus, Hostplus, and Industry Super Australia, as well as Crown Resorts and Repco. Dawson steps up from senior account director, having been with Initiative for over six years. A former investment specialist, he now leads the Officeworks and DuluxGroup accounts. Both appointments are effective immediately and report to Megan Davey, head of Melbourne at Initiative.
Integrated marketing and comms agency Via Group has made five senior appointments as it marks two years in operation and accelerates its next phase of growth across Asia Pacific. The hires span strategy, marketing, PR and digital, bolstering Via’s three business arms: Strategic Communications and Advisory, PR and Thought Leadership, and Marketing and Commercialisation.
- Karyn Smith joins as COO to lead operations and delivery.
- Jacqueline Barham takes on the role of marketing director.
- Lydia Maranta comes onboard as client partner, bringing global brand and reputation expertise.
- Digital Specialist Oliver Goldsmith and account manager Hinal Parekh round out the new bench.
The appointments follow a period of rapid growth, with the two-year old agency doubling its client base year-on-year.
Archetype has named Simon Lesch as head of AI & Transformation, a newly created role designed to fast-track the agency’s adoption of artificial intelligence across its operations and client work. Lesch will lead the agency’s shift to an AI-forward service model, aimed at streamlining workflows, accelerating campaign delivery, and enhancing creative and strategic output. He has already spearheaded initiatives, including the rollout of custom large language models, internal AI training, and client-facing GPT tools that are delivering measurable efficiencies.
