SOUTHEAST ASIA: Bates Cambodia plugs gaps with top appointments

PHNOM PENH: Brenden Arnold has been named managing director of Bates Cambodia, while Isabel Aranez-Santillan, previously MD of the now-defunct Bates Myanmar operation, takes over as general manager of 141 Cambodia.

Arnold was previously the agency's Vietnam client services director and China business director. He replaces Pascal Duriez, now CEO of 141 Philippines, while Aranez-Santillan replaces Chris Luck, who has been named GM of 141 Vietnam.

Rob Graham, CEO of Bates Indochina, said that the appointments reflected the fact that Cambodians were becoming increasingly marketing savvy. "They are exposed to more international influence than ever before, due to the burgeoning tourism industry (and) the proliferation of local media - now six TV stations in Phnom Penh alone, as well as cable and satellite TV with all the advertising they bring."