News of his departure follows shortly after the agency revealed that its CEO, Jaswinder Kaur, was to leave Starcom after 15 years with the company (Media Online, 2 March)). Newton, who was business director, Starcom Singapore, will assume the role of VP, digital media at Qais Consulting, and will be a partner in the firm.
"Traditional media agencies have been woefully slow to adopt digital and have shown no genuine commitment to embrace the medium, which has frustrated me. I have been thinking about a move for sometime, and I'm pleased to be part of a company which is focused on the future."
He joins a board of directors, including former Ogilvy and China.com staffer Keith Timimi, who heads the business. Qais Consulting offers digital media planning, buying, consulting as well as creative. Its clients include Yahoo, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, American Express and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
