Campaign Asia

Profile: Visa marketing head Dee Dutta welcomes a hands-on role

Less than one year into the job and Dee Dutta, Visa's head of marketing for Asia-Pacific, says he is already feeling the benefits of switching from a global to a regional role.

Profile: Marketing head Lito German on BMW's Asia operations

Lito German, the new marketing director at BMW Group Asia, is German by name if not by nationality, and is eager to prove his other credentials.

Profile: CNBC's Satpal Brainch on expanding in Asia

President and managing director at CNBC Asia-Pacific Satpal Brainch is one of Asia’s youngest media bosses.

Profile: CNBC's Satpal Brainch on expanding in Asia

President and managing director at CNBC Asia-Pacific Satpal Brainch is one of Asia’s youngest media bosses.

Profile: CNBC's Satpal Brainch on expanding in Asia

President and managing director at CNBC Asia-Pacific Satpal Brainch is one of Asia’s youngest media bosses.

Leo Burnett Jakarta hires Sutton

JAKARTA - Thomas Sutton (pictured), the group account director of Citibank at Publicis Singapore, has left the agency to join Leo Burnett Kreasindo in Jakarta as country advisor.

VIDEO: Tom Bernardin, global CEO of Leo Burnett, on new business in Asia-Pacific

GLOBAL - Tom Bernardin, the global CEO and chairman of the Leo Burnett group, has said that despite not winning a big piece of global business, Leo Burnett has done better than the competition in 2009. He attributed the agency's financial results to consistent new business wins within the network.

Profile: Poh Lin Tay Mengi is helping Dell emerge in new APAC markets

In an increasingly digital world, Dell's marketing director for Asia-Pacific, Poh Lin Tay Mengi, sees room for success in traditional retail.

VIDEO: MMA on why there are more mobile phones than toothbrushes in the world

SINGAPORE - A statistic quoted at the recently concluded Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Forum in Singapore stated there are more mobile phones than there are toothbrushes globally and more mobile phone than toilets in India. Media spoke to four experts at the event for their opinion on the matter.

Adfest 2010 cancelled due to political situation in Thailand

BANGKOK - The Adfest festival in Pattaya has been cancelled due to ongoing political instability in the capital of Bangkok.

Making sense of the diversity in media habits between China's tiers

Although much has been written on the challenges of understanding and engaging China's multi-tiered consumers from a brand and product perspective, what has attracted less attention is the importance of adapting media strategies to the variety of economic and geographic markets in the country.

Apathy reigns in Asia over Nestle's saga and social media mess

Thanks to Facebook and other social media channels, Nestle has in recent weeks had to deal with an enormous public relations mess, the source of which lay deep in the Indonesian rainforest. But as international condemnation grows, why has the region stayed silent?

GO Comm wins new accounts in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia based GO Communications has started 2010 with a flurry of new clients including Greenlam, Mark's Place, Mattel, OSIM, Oxford University Press, Slimming Sanctuary and Symantec.

Singapore Government instructs SingTel and StarHub to share content

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Government has announced that pay-TV providers such as SingTel and StarHub will be able to carry exclusive content purchased by another player in a move that is aimed at making such content accessible and cheaper for consumers.

Has Singapore Tourism Board got its new branding right?

Singapore Tourism's Board's (STB) new destination brand "Your Singapore" launched to a mixed response from the industry at a tourism event with much fanfare last month.

Twelve agencies in the running for road safety outreach campaign

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Police Force has received submissions from twelve agencies for its road safety outreach creative account that was put up for pitch in March this year.

G2 appointed as activation agency for Shell project in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - G2 KL has been appointed as the lead activation agency to promote one of Shell's key fuel products, strengthening the agency's portfolio with Shell.

Publicis Modem's regional MD Arlene Ang to leave

REGIONAL - Arlene Ang (pictured), the managing director of Publicis Modem for Asia, is set to leave the agency after a four and a half years.

Singapore Pay TV: Tension mounts between SingTel and StarHub

Singapore's broadcast industry is set for a major shake-up following the Government's announcement that pay-TV providers will now be able to carry exclusive content purchased by another player.

Singapore Government responds to new pay-TV regulations

SINGAPORE - Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore's acting minister of information, communication and arts, made the first official Government comment on the changes in the pay-TV sector in Singapore at the MIPTV trade show yesterday.

SingTel Mio TV drops Al Jazeera English

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean minister confirmed that the Arabic news channel, Al Jazeera, was dropped by SingTel's Mio TV due to low interest among viewers.

Dentsu Media to launch Media Palette in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - As part of its strategy to expand media operations in Asia, Dentsu is all set to launch new media arm Media Palette in Hong Kong with Ken Matsumura (pictured), the current network operations manager at media business development division of Dentsu, slated to take over as its president and CEO.

Kumon hands creative business to Dentsu Malaysia after a three-way pitch

KUALA LUMPUR - Kumon Education is believed to have handed its creative business to Dentsu Malaysia after a three-way pitch that involved Ogilvy & Mather and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox call media pitch in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Warner Brothers, the American producer of film and television entertainment owned by Time Warner, and NewsCorp owned Twentieth Century Fox are understood have called a combined media pitch in Singapore.

Twitter spreads its wings in India

With an estimated two million users, Twitter in India now has the third highest number of active users after the US and Germany.

Malaysian stock exchange Bursa Malaysia shortlists three agencies

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's stock exchange, Bursa Malaysia, which launched a tender for its national creative business in February is believed to have shortlisted three agencies including M&C Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather and McCann Erickson.

AirAsia rolls out pitch outside Malaysia

REGIONAL - Budget airlines AirAsia is set to review six out of its nine key markets one after the other, following its Malaysian pitch in January.

Indonesia: Brands seek a slice of the lucrative rural market

Rural consumers in Indonesia offer sizeable rewards to brands in the market, but converting them requires a deft touch. Besides FMCG companies like Unilever and Kraft, very few multinational brands have found a footing in Indonesia's rural areas.

Enfatico to reposition as activation and delivery agency

SINGAPORE - Enfatico, the agency set up by WPP group to service Dell, is in the process of repositioning itself as an activation and delivery agency. Managing director, Harish Vasudevan, explains the move in an exclusive interview with Media.

Asatsu-DK wins NEA's Keep Singapore Clean media strategy business

SINGAPORE - Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, has appointed Asatsu-DK to handle the media strategy for its 'Keep Singapore Clean' campaign after a tender process.

Telkom splits advertising account between Grey/Grey Media and BBDO/OMD in Indonesia

JAKARTA - Telkom, one of Indonesia's biggest telecoms, has split its advertising account between Grey/Grey Media and BBDO/OMD after shortlisting four agency pairs including Hakuhodo/Carat and incumbents Bates/Mindshare.

Industry analysts say SingTel could benefit from new government code

SINGAPORE - Experts in Singapore say that SingTel could gain more out of the Media Market Conduct Code that makes it mandatory for pay-TV operators to share content.

Zenith Optimedia releases 2010 ad growth figures for Asia-Pacific

ASIA PACIFIC - After having upgraded its forecast for global ad growth this year from 0.9 to 2.2 per cent, Zenith Optimedia has released ad growth figures for Asia-Pacific.

TBWA Singapore promotes Lou Dela Pena to general manager role

SINGAPORE - TBWA Singapore has promoted Lou Dela Pena (pictured) to the role of general manager.

Brother calls regional digital pitch

REGIONAL - Brother, the Japanese electronics brand that produces products for the print and imaging, labelling and sewing markets, has invited six agencies to pitch for its regional digital business.

TBWA Group Asia-Pacific appoints Charles Clapshaw to regional digital role

HONG KONG - Tequila Digital Australia's managing director Charles Clapshaw has stepped up to the newly created role of president of Tequila Digital in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ogilvy appoints Andre Nair as group managing director of its Malaysia operations

KUALA LUMPUR - Ogilvy & Mather has appointed Andre Nair as group managing director in Malaysia. The appointment will take effect from 1 May.

Carrefour moves US$5 million media business to Mediacom without a pitch

SINGAPORE - French supermarket chain Carrefour is believed to have moved its media business to Mediacom from local group Ad Planet without a pitch.

Mapletree searches for media agency in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Mapletree, a leading real estate company in Singapore, is believed to be on the look out for a media agency. It is understood that the real estate company has initiated conversations with a series of media agencies.

Arun Kumar tipped to join Mediabrands

ASIA-PACIFIC - Arun Kumar (pictured), the digital director of Aegis Media, is tipped to join Mediabrands as head of digital for Asia-Pacific.

Paul Corrigan set to leave GroupM Malaysia; Girish Menon to take over

KUALA LUMPUR - Paul Corrigan (pictured), the CEO of GroupM Malaysia, is set to leave the agency group after a two-year stint with Girish Menon, the former head of GroupM and Mindshare Vietnam, taking over the role starting from 1 May.

Burger King shortlists three agencies including Publicis, Euro RSCG and Saatchis

SINGAPORE - Burger King is believed to have shortlisted three agencies including Publicis, Euro RSCG and Saatchi & Saatchi for its creative business in Singapore.

Pay-TV operators in Singapore respond to CASBAA's comments

Singapore - Pay-TV operators in Singapore have responded to Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia's (CASBAA) viewpoint on how the new regulations launched by the Media Development Authority (MDA) are likely to impact Singapore's status as a regional media hub.

Campaigns & Grey Philippines win SM World Expo and Electrolux accounts

SINGAPORE - G2/Bacon, Campaigns & Grey Philippines' brand activation arm, has been awarded SM Investments Corporation's 2010 Shanghai World Expo account.

Singapore's future as a media hub at risk: CASBAA

Hong Kong - Singapore's future as a regional media hub is under threat as a result of new government rules for the pay-TV industry, said the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), which represents the interests of 130 content producers, pay-TV platform operators and equipment-and-service suppliers across 16 Asian markets.

MediaCorp launches Singapore's first on-the-move billboard

SINGAPORE - MediaCorp has unveiled the latest addition to its out-of-home platform. Aptly named On-The-Move Billboard, it is the first angled mobile billboard in Singapore to hit the roads.

Bharad Ramesh joins SMG in dual-capacity regional role

SINGAPORE - Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has announced the appointment of Bharad Ramesh to the position of regional executive director, strategic operations and trading for Asia.

Hulsbosch Strategy & Design creates a visual identity for Caltex's Star Mart

SYDNEY - Australian brand design firm, Hulsbosch Strategy & Design, has won a major contract to create a new visual identity for Caltex's Star Mart convenience stores, now being rolled out across Australia.

Fulford PR acquired by international marketing group Qobliq

SINGAPORE - Singaporean public relations agency Fulford PR has been acquired by international marketing services group Qobliq.

M&C Saatchi wins Bursa Malaysia's creative account

KUALA LUMPUR - Bursa Malaysia, previously known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE), has handed its creative business to M&C Saatchi after shortlisting McCann Erickson and Ogilvy & Mather.

Steve Llewellyn joins Rocket X as executive creative director

SINGAPORE - Steve Llewellyn (pictured) has been appointed by Rocket X as executive creative director and part owner, with CEO Marc Nicholson.

Vizeum India appointed as media consultants to Credila Financial Services

MUMBAI - Aegis Media Group's, Vizeum India has picked up the media business of Credila Financial Services, an HDFC Limited Venture.

SingTel, StarHub win broadcast rights to FIFA Cup 2010

SINGAPORE - In separate announcements made on Friday, Singapore's pay-TV operators SingTel and StarHub announced they have secured the broadcast rights of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa.

Consumer confidence highest in emerging Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE - A survey by Nielsen Company has shown that consumer confidence is at its strongest in emerging Asia Pacific and Latin America, while most Europeans remain edgy on the pace of their economic recovery.

BBDO launches Proximity in India, Ranjeev Vij appointed as VP and head

MUMBAI - BBDO India, the youngest agency of BBDO Worldwide and the Omnicom group, has announced the launch of Proximity to meet the integrated and interactive marketing needs of its rapidly expanding client base in India.

Johnson & Johnson pitches global creative

GLOBAL - Johnson & Johnson has called a global creative pitch for its baby products account estimated to be worth US$20 million. The development puts long-time incumbent Lowe on high alert.

VIDEO: Tom Bernardin, global CEO of Leo Burnett, on new business in Asia-Pacific

GLOBAL - Tom Bernardin, the global CEO and chairman of the Leo Burnett group, has said that despite not winning a big piece of global business, Leo Burnett has done better than the competition in 2009. He attributed the agency's financial results to consistent new business wins within the network.

Dentsu Singapore retains NLB's Speak Mandarin media account

SINGAPORE - Dentsu Singapore has successfully retained the Speak Mandarin Campaign media business after a three-way pitch in April.

TCP-TBWA scoop creative business for two Gudang Garam brands

JAKARTA - Gudang Garam, one of Indonesia's largest cigarette producers has handed the creative business of its Merah and Djaja brands to TCP-TBWA following a five-way pitch process.

PROFILE: Google's Julian Persaud hunts for Asean adspend

New Google managing director for Southeast Asia Julian Persaud believes the potential for the search engine's regional business growth is huge.

VIDEO: MMA on why there are more mobile phones than toothbrushes in the world

SINGAPORE - A statistic quoted at the recently concluded Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Forum in Singapore stated there are more mobile phones than there are toothbrushes globally and more mobile phone than toilets in India. Media spoke to four experts at the event for their opinion on the matter.

Victor Joseph joins McCann Healthcare as managing director in the Philippines

MANILA - McCann Worldgroup Philippines has appointed Victor Joseph "VJ" Yamat as managing director of its healthcare communications discipline McCann Healthcare.

AirAsia hands business to Mindshare

KUALA LUMPUR - AirAsia has handed its media business to Mindshare after a four-way pitch that involved Zenith, MPG and incumbent Carat.

Rocket-X Media nets IPOS creative account

SINGAPORE - Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has re-appointed Rocket-X Media after a competitive pitch.

CNBC Asia Pacific promotes Jacqueline Lam to VP of marketing and distribution

SINGAPORE - CNBC Asia Pacific has announced the promotion of Jacqueline Lam (pictured) to vice president of marketing and distribution effective immediately.

CNBC Asia-Pacific appoints Junji Sumitani as VP of ad sales

SINGAPORE - CNBC Asia-Pacific has announced the appointment of Junji Sumitani (pictured) as vice-president of advertising sales.

BBDO/Proximity wins Guinness activation pitch

SINGAPORE - BBDO/Proximity Singapore has been appointed by Asia-Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) to conceptualise, develop and execute an island-wide activation program for Guinness beating out the competition in a three way pitch process that started back in January.

Singapore Sports Council hands branding business for SSI to Futurebrand

SINGAPORE - Singapore Sports Council (SSC), a government body tasked with developing sports in Singapore, has handed its branding brief for the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) to Futurebrand following a tender process that involved multiple agencies.

Profile... Meadows brings Aviva to Singapore's masses

The CEO of insurance giant Aviva is using a mass-market strategy to set the brand apart from its rivals.

Universal McCann Malaysia appoints Neeraj Gulati as head of social marketing

KUALA LUMPUR - UM Malaysia hired Neeraj Gulati (pictured) as the leader of its social marketing services.

Grey appoints Hari Krishnan to head Grey Mumbai

MUMBAI - Hari Krishnan (pictured), the former vice-president at Star TV, has been appointed as VP and branch head of Grey Mumbai.

Equinox wins United Pharma media business in Vietnam

SINGAPORE - Equinox, a division of ZenithOptimedia Vietnam, has been awarded the media account for pharmaceutical company United Pharma (UPI) after a three-way pitch that involved FSC and Havas in Vietnam.

Tiger Beer launches regional creative review

KUALA LUMPUR - Asia-Pacific Breweries (APB) has called a regional pitch for one of its key beer brands, Tiger Beer, putting four-year old incumbent Saatchi & Saatchi on high alert.

Rapp Malaysia wins Johnson & Johnson digital duties

KUALA LUMPUR - Johnson & Johnson has awarded its baby care digital account to Rapp Malaysia following a three-way pitch.

Indofood calls a creative pitch for noodle brands Indomie and Pop Mie

JAKARTA - Indofood, Indonesia's largest food company, is believed to have called a pitch for its two flagship noodle brands Indomie and Pop Mie.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic launches advertising tender

SINGAPORE - Ngee Ann Polytechnic, an institute of higher learning in Singapore, has launched an advertising tender.

Rosie Hong joins On-Target Marketing as managing partner

KUALA LUMPUR - Rosie Hong (pictured left), the former group executive director of Foetus International, has joined On-Target Marketing solutions as managing partner.

Telkomsel surprises Indonesian industry by calling a creative pitch

JAKARTA - Telkomsel, Indonesia's largest mobile operator, has surprised many in the Indonesian industry by calling a creative pitch less than a year after it appointed Leo Burnett as its creative AOR.

ZenithOptimedia scoops Moneygram International in the Philippines

MANILA - ZenithOptimedia Philippines has picked up the media business for international money transfers company Moneygram International, following a three way pitch that involved Maxus and Universal McCann.

Michelle Ong appointed as McCann Indonesia's MD, Somyot Chairat departs

JAKARTA - McCann Worldgroup has appointed Michelle Ong (pictured) as MD for McCann Indonesia, following the departure of Indonesia managing director Somyot Chairat.

Lowe Vietnam appoints Bikramjeet Ghosh as ECD

HO CHI MINH CITY - Lowe Vietnam has appointed Bikramjeet Ghosh (pictured) as executive creative director.

M&C Saatchi launches id, a brand design specialist company in India

MUMBAI - M&C Saatchi India recently the launch of id, a brand design specialist company, spearheaded by Hemant Sapre as brand design director. He will be partnered by Suranjan Das who will head the business side and the operations.

DBS searches for agency to handle projects

SINGAPORE - DBS, the largest commercial banking group in Singapore and Southeast Asia, is believed to be on the look out for a creative agency to handle several projects.

Six vye for cement brand Holcim's media business in Indonesia

JAKARTA - Leading global cement and aggregates brand Holcim is believed to have invited six agencies to pitch for its media business. The agencies reported to have been invited include Initiative, a GroupM agency, CS Media along with another local media agency and incumbent Zenith Optimedia.

Aegis Media's regional director of digital operations Arun Kumar to leave

Asiya Bakht