Move and win roundup: Week of March 23, 2026

WPP has appointed Kyoko Matsushita as CEO, WPP Creative APAC. She was elevated from her role as CEO of WPP Japan, which she has held since 2022. Previously, she spent eight years at Essence, where she served as APAC CEO since 2014 and was promoted to global CEO in 2019 until 2022. During her time with the agency, she managed media spend across 71 markets, with clients including Google, NBCUniversal, Flipkart, Target and L'Oréal. She was also vice president of mobile game studio at GREE International in London from 2011 to 2013, overseeing in-house and joint venture studios, marketing and content partnerships across EMEA and North America. She notably co-developed the Assassin's Creed mobile social games with Ubisoft. Her earlier stints span senior marketing roles at Electronic Arts in the UK and Switzerland from 2007 to 2010, covering multi-platform game launches including Spore, Dead Space and The Simpsons. Prior to these roles, she spent four years at Sony in the UK and the Netherlands as senior manager for EMEA mobile products, working across Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Music and Sony Pictures. She began her career with Leo Burnett in 1995, where she was based across Chicago, Frankfurt, and Tokyo until 2001. She announced the role on LinkedIn.

Kirsten Hasler, head of marketing & insights for IKEA ANZ, is departing after 14 years, likening her tenure to an adventurous IKEA store journey filled with brand-building, business growth, leadership lessons, and lifelong global friendships. Her final day is in September, after which she’ll explore new CMO opportunities to apply her expertise.

Tara Kapur, Campaign's 40U40 2025 winner, has moved into a global role at Duolingo (location pending confirmation). She previously served as India market lead and marketing head for Duolingo English Test, with prior roles at Netflix in series and films marketing, VICE Media in business development and partnerships, and as a founding member of Kulfi Collective and Vitamin Stree. Kapur will continue to be based in India for the new role. 

Spark Foundry has appointed Christian Solomon, former Mindshare Melbourne leader, as its new Melbourne managing director, replacing Peter Butler who departed in February after a decade to become managing partner at independent agency Media33. Solomon joined Mindshare Melbourne in 2018 as NAB managing partner, following six years at Mediacom China, where he rose to chief digital officer; the move was announced on LinkedIn.

Marriott International has promoted Ramesh Daryanani to vice president, global sales, loyalty operations and partnerships, Asia Pacific (excluding China), and sales & distribution, South Asia, building on his prior roles as vice president, global sales, loyalty operations & partnerships - Asia Pacific (ex-China) and vice president, global sales, Asia Pacific. Daryanani brings over 18 years of experience with Marriott to the expanded position.

Justin Moon has been promoted to SVP & chief growth officer at PopMart, following roles there as SVP & co-chief operating officer and president (International Business) spanning over seven years. Previously, he served as a team leader at CJ CheilJedang.

Dentsu Creative Public Relations (DCPR) has appointed Sue Tierney as business director, Agribusiness and Government to bolster its Queensland operations. With over 20 years in Queensland Government and agency roles, Tierney will lead national agribusiness and government PR efforts with a sharp focus on QLD growth, joining a six-person Brisbane team amid recent client wins in insurance, F&B, sport, tourism, and agribusiness, plus Queensland Government creative panels. 

SaaS market research platform, ideally, has appointed Danica Paki as head of commercial APAC to drive regional growth, platform adoption, enterprise brand and agency partnerships amid rising demand for accessible insights. With 15+ years in commercial strategy, technology, and business growth, Paki was most recently an independent consultant, previously New Zealand CEO at ArchiPro, and held senior roles at Little Giant/Isobar NZ (acquired by Dentsu), YoungShand, and Tribal Aotearoa.

Siddharta Patnaik, APAC head of non-biddable at WPP Singapore, has resigned after 19+ years. Patnaik started at Mindshare Bangalore in 2007 and progressed through Mindshare, GroupM, and WPP Media across regions. He announced the departure on LinkedIn this March, expressing gratitude for impactful leaders, peers, teams, challenges, and collaborations, while embracing a new chapter with curiosity.

StackAdapt has appointed Marc Langenfeld as sales director. After 15 years in agencies, notably four standout years at VaynerMedia APAC under Gary Vaynerchuk, John Terrana and Tim Lindley, driving integrated creative-media work focused on relevance and underpriced attention, Langenfeld is switching sides to StackAdapt in sales. He brings deep regional expertise to the platform, believing it meets real agency and brand tech needs. 

Carat Perth announced three key promotions in its client leadership team. Emily Whyte rises to client director WA Government after leading the Department of Health pitch win; Morgan Hopkins becomes senior client manager for her WA Police success; and Ashlee Rattray steps up to client manager for driving Cash Converters, Lotterywest, and West Coast Eagles campaigns. 

OFX has appointed former PayPal Australia CMO Liz Lord as its new chief marketing officer, tasking her with leading global brand, customer acquisition and go-to-market strategy as the company evolves from an international payments specialist into a broader financial operations platform for businesses. She joins at a time of product expansion across global business accounts, corporate cards, spend management, AP automation and accounting integrations, with a brief to highlight OFX’s blend of digital capability and human expertise to finance teams.

FTI Consulting has appointed Kainoa Blaisdell as managing director within its strategic communications segment, focused on financial communications and special situations in Southeast Asia. He joins from Sandpiper, where he was APAC financial practice lead. He previously served as managing director of FTI Consulting's strategic communications practice before his departure. His career stints include a vice president role at Teneo, head of Asia Pacific content at Preqin, and financial journalist at Mergermarket.

Monks has appointed Bharti Agrawal as chief financial officer, APAC, marketing services. Based in Singapore, she reports to Jordi Covas, global CFO, marketing services. Agrawal joins from Dentsu International, where she was Southeast Asia CFO, overseeing financial reporting, forecasting, growth, and transformation across six markets. In her new role, she will oversee financial strategy, operations, and governance across the Asia-Pacific region. The agency announced the move on LinkedIn.