Campaign Asia

IPG CEO Roth 'concerned' about China, hints at repositioning

Nationalism and protectionism are a worry, he told Campaign, hinting at a repositioning of investment in the world's second-largest economy.

PREVIEW - Paul Bascobert on Bloomberg Businessweek's road to profitability

NEW YORK - In this month's Campaign Asia-Pacific, Paul Bascobert, president of Bloomberg Businessweek, explains how he plans to return the publication to profitablity, and where it sits within a network where the terminal is king.

PREVIEW: 2011 Agency Report Card

ASIA-PACIFIC - The 2011 Agency Report Card shows that while the region is growing from strength to strength, the battle for new business and talent is heating up.

BBH's co-founder and global CD Sir John Hegarty on clients and the creative process

THE ATIFA SILK INTERVIEW - After over four decades in the business, BBH's co-founder and global creative director wants clients to stop bullying agencies and to start respecting the creative process.

Nick Brien announces new leadership structure at McCann Worldgroup

ASIA-PACIFIC - McCann Worldgoup global CEO Nick Brien is set to announce a major restructure of the IPG business, as part of which regional director Michael McLaren will relinquish his Asia-Pacific responsibilities after less than a year in the job to focus on the Japan market.

Sir Martin Sorrell's roadmap for Asian domination is key to WPP's future

A conversation with Sir Martin Sorrell is always insightful, even if it tends to verge on the professorial. The WPP boss usually has a prepared message - whether it's data, digital, China, content or the economy - he wants to get across to the media with something of a missionary zeal.

Matthew Godfrey to lead Young & Rubicam Asia, as Ambar Brahmachary vacates regional role

ASIA-PACIFIC - Young & Rubicam has named Matthew Godfrey to lead its network in Asia following the abrupt departure of Ambar Brahmachary, who leaves the agency after three years in the role.

Social media blunder: Nestle censorship fuels firestorm on Twitter and Facebook

It is perhaps the most powerful, albeit peculiar, case yet to illustrate the influence of social media: angry consumers hijacked NestlÃ©'s Facebook page and posted attack messages that forced the brand to make an extraordinary about-turn.

Geely must capitalise on Volvo's heritage to create China's first global auto brand

For China's marketing industry, which has long touted the need for homegrown brands to 'go global', the Geely-Volvo story is one that must appear irresistible.

The value of top female talent in smashing the glass ceiling

Why is it that women in advertising continue to be under-represented at the top? While the overall mix between men and women working in Asian agencies seems to be largely equal, very few women actually climb up to senior roles - an issue that's magnified on a regional level.

Perspective... When will the mainland's sports industry begin to play in the big league?

Chinese sport wasn't designed to celebrate the individual.

Perspective... It's time to celebrate the greatest influencers and multi-taskers in the region

One of the creative industry's most awaited and debated lists is out in this issue of Media - the Creative Rankings 2009.

Perspective... How far should agencies go in helping clients be good corporate citizens?

The advertising industry is used to being in the firing line, whether it's for obesity, smoking or shock-tactic advertising.

Perspective... 2009 was tough, but we haven't lost any of the industry's enthusiasm

So here we are at the end of 2009.

Agencies shine in 2009 despite a turbulent year

It was comforting to see an industry that emerged at the end of 2009 in fair health - despite the many knocks the year had delivered.

Perspective... Focusing on price forces agencies to compromise on valuing their creative

An issue of Media doesn't seem complete these days without news of another global account up for review.

Perspective... Do the ads celebrated at Spikes embody the future of Asian advertising?

It's been a rough year for the creative industry; keeping advertising fresh and innovative has been a struggle as clients consistently reduce or shift budgets, and agencies battle to keep costs under control and find ways to improve the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

Perspective... Hard times call for open dialogue with agencies

There are some potentially painful conversations taking place between advertisers and their agencies.

Perspective... Did Omnicom rush into its Citic Guoan joint venture in battle for China share?

For agencies, setting up Chinese joint venture is so fraught with problems that most of the debate surrounding the process isn't about how to structure the business, but whether it should ever be anything other than a last resort.

Perspective... Even for a dollar, buying BusinessWeek looks to be a risky proposition

There's one statistic that has received a lot of media attention in the last week: the FT's assertion that BusinessWeek might only sell for US$1. How is it possible that this iconic title, now on the block, is on the receiving end of such an unflattering valuation?

Perspective... Japan's election hopefuls shakily embrace the art of online campaigning

Japanese electioneering has just tiptoed into the digital age.

Apple's iPad may not be enough to save the print industry

The veil was finally lifted on one of the most anticipated gadgets in recent years, as last month Apple showed off its new iPad - a tablet-shaped computer which the brand hopes will win it domination of the e-reader market.

Perspective... This recession has been painful, but it has also brought positive change

We've just spent two weeks reviewing and scoring the Agency of the Year submissions - a gruelling task that ended with a final round of discussion involving senior regional marketers in Singapore.

Perspective... Consumers are going green despite the slump. But why aren't brands?

There have been more client reviews recently focusing on cost-cutting and marketing budget reductions.

Perspective... Cannes 2009 shows the industry needs to brace itself for seismic change

Subdued. It's the word that most appropriately describes this year's meeting of the world's advertising leaders in Cannes.

Google CEO responds to China setback

CANNES - The Google chief executive, Eric Schmidt (pictured), has said the company had resolved its differences with the Chinese Government and agreed to take down contentious content from its search engine in China.

Ad market 'reset': Ballmer

CANNES - The global advertising market has been permanently reset at a lower level and revenues will not bounce back to pre-recession highs, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer (pictured) warned the media industry at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Perspective... Will the blockbuster route mend brand Australia?

Can a film reverse the fortunes of an industry that is facing its biggest crisis?

Omnicom loosens Citic Guoan tie

BEIJING - Omnicom Group's DDB is understood to be buying back equity from its Chinese joint venture partner, Citic Guoan, just three years after it inked the deal.

Graves takes on global role at Ogilvy PR

GLOBAL - Christopher Graves (pictured), Ogilvy Public Relations' president and regional CEO for Asia-Pacific, is to lead the network's global operations, based in the US.

Perspective... Sex, lies and videotapes: a star's controversy

Celebrity scandals don't get much better than this.

Perspective... Was Enfatico integration model just a pipe dream?

It's hard to tell whats captivated the industry more - the fact that the Enfatico experiment failed or that WPP swallowed its pride and admitted it.

Maxus names new regional chief

ASIA-PACIFIC - GroupM has ended its year-long search for a chief executive to lead media agency Maxus with the appointment of former Motorola marketer Neil Stewart (pictured).

Twitter looks to brands for revenue

CANNES - Biz Stone (pictured), Twitter's co-founder, wants brands - which are increasingly using Twitter to communicate with customers and prospects in real time - to start paying for the unique service that the site provides.

Birkin resigns, Omnicom restructures

TOKYO - Michael Birkin (pictured) has resigned his post as vice-chairman of Omnicom Group after four years in Asia, leaving the holding company to restructure its regional operations under the leadership of Tim Love as CEO of Asia-Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa (APIMA).

Will too many Facebook friends be the downfall of social media?

Just as brands up their spending on social media marketing, potentially worrying news reaches the industry: consumers are trusting their friends a lot less than they used to.

Tiger Woods saga offers lessons to brands; sets Twitter on fire

Few mea culpas have been as highly anticipated as Tiger Woods', whose apology last Friday literally brought the online world to a temporary stop.

Perspective... Coke's compensation model will meet resistance

Coca-Cola is reinventing the way it works with its agency partners.

Perspective... Will Formula One pull through its financial crisis?

Formula One is in crisis. The sport has lost nearly US$100 million in sponsorship - and that figure doesn't even include the departure of nine brands that partnered with the moribund Honda team.

Perspective... Future of press freedom in the hands of RTHK chief

The battle to safeguard the integrity and independence that have made Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) integral to press freedom in Hong Kong has taken a new turn, as the appointment of a new chief removes at least one of the important questions hanging over the organisation - leadership in these uncertain times.

Ruth Stubbs to replace Jeff Cressall at Mediabrands

ASIA-PACIFIC - GroupM CEO of Interaction, Ruth Stubbs (pictured), has resigned her post at the WPP agency to take up the president's job at IPG's Mediabrands.

Perspective... Is your agency's culture built on effectiveness?

The tough economy has put clients and their agencies under pressure to deliver: they have to be more accountable, more transparent and work faster than ever before..

Perspective... Is adidas paying the price for its Olympic spend?

Some important decisions will be finalised at adidas' headquarters in Germany this week, which could potentially impact the sportswear maker's marketing teams and their agencies.

Leo Burnett names new chief

ASIA-PACIFIC - After 23 years in the region, Michelle Kristula-Green (pictured) is leaving her post as Asia-Pacific president of Leo Burnett, transferring control of the network's operations to Jarek Ziebinski, who is currently chairman of Leo Burnett Central and Eastern Europe.

Perspective... Have you created a winning campaign this year?

Atifa Hargrave-Silk