Campaign Asia

Iconmobile Asia MD Kartik Ram departs after one week

HONG KONG - Kartik Ram, former managing director for Iconmobile Asia, has left due to personal reasons, just one week after his appointment was announced.

Tiger Beer launches cheeky 'Unofficial History' campaign for SG50

SINGAPORE - Tiger Beer has launched a quirky campaign with a vintage-feel complete with mockumentaries chronicling the nation's 'unofficial history'.

Stock images: Do you know where your pics are right now?

As demand for branded visuals goes through the roof, agencies and brands have to keep closer track or risk playing with fire.

Facebook expands third-party verification with Nielsen and ComScore

Ahead of its full-year earnings call, Facebook has expanded its third-party verification partnerships to try and avert future metrics blunders.

Scattered brand and business strategy hurting Suning

BRAND HEALTH CHECK: Retailer Suning, which built its brand on its chain of home-appliance stores, is struggling to build an online offering to match its powerful e-commerce competitors.

Naga DDB Malaysia refutes Tribal shutdown rumours

New CEO for NagaDDB insists that no personnel "have been asked to leave".

40 Under 40 2016: Deadline extended to September 5

Due to popular demand, we're extending our submission deadline for this editorial list until Monday, September 5.

Building the ideal conditions for creativity to thrive in Asia

COVER STORY: From long work hours to a lack of diversity, are Asian agencies inherently ‘uncreative’ places to work? What are the best agencies doing to fix this?

This lingerie brand replaced its agency with AI and will never go back

Cosabella grew its customer base and tripled its ROI after it 'hired' an AI platform named 'Albert'.

Digital ads 40% more effective when they hit consumers in the right mood

Yahoo claims the study is one of the most comprehensive ever into the role of emotions in receptivity to advertising.

Iris acquires pricing specialists Pricing Solutions to add to consultancy offering

Move extends network's management-consultancy capabilities into pricing strategy.

Facebook launches third Snapchat clone

Facebook Messenger Day allows users to post videos and photos to the chat platform that will vanish after 24 hours.

WPP enjoys record year; net profit leaps 20.6 percent

Even after the sharp depreciation of the pound sterling is taken into account, the group’s profits after tax are up 7.2 percent.

How to avoid being "the next Toyota"

As yet another scandal involving media agency transparency rocks the industry, clients are looking for ways to ensure that they can trust the agencies they work with.

Lévy on 2017, Razorfish, succession and his last call

During a full-year 2016 earnings call dripping with nostalgia, outgoing Publicis Groupe chairman and chief executive Maurice Lévy predicted a slow first half, followed by a strong second half of 2017.

WPP launches new health and wellness sub-holding company

The company is creating hubs in Europe, Asia Pacific (including Australia, and New Zealand), Africa and the Middle East.

Facebook ad revenue rockets 57% to $26 billion

Net income hits $10.2 billion.

Pernod Ricard Winemakers pick AnalogFolk Australia for global account

The incumbent creative agency on Jacob's Creek was Havas Worldwide and Cummins & Partners.

How VW overtook Toyota in sales despite emissions scandal

While the emissions scandal essentially set VW sales back a year in 2015, its swift brand restructure and strength in China helped it overtake Toyota in 2016.

Google took down 1.7bn 'bad ads' in 2016

Thanks to an expanded set of policies and improved technology, Google took down 1.7bn bad ads last year. More than double the number it took down in 2015, according to its <em>Bad Ads Report</em>.

Hyundai picks R/GA London for global launch of N performance cars

The worldwide launch of Hyundai's sub-brand N's new range of cars will be handled by R/GA London

Advertisers can now target YouTube ads with data from Google Accounts

Changes aim to address targeting across devices.

Outlook 2017: Experts and leaders predict

What will follow the year of Trump, Brexit, diversity scandals, transparency, overcharging, VR and AI?

Rishi Jaitly quits Twitter in a series of tweets

The social platform's VP of media for Asia-Pacific announced his resignation Tuesday.

Parminder Singh, second Twitter Asia senior exec to leave in a week

Parminder Singh, Twitter’s managing director for India, Southeast Asia and MENA has also announced his resignation on Twitter

Paradox drives innovative approaches

CHINA INNOVATION 2015: The lack of third-party data in China combined with lax personal data-use laws has resulted in unique and innovative workarounds.

Williams Lea Tag hires former Ogilvy Japan chairman for Japan, North Asia roles

Akihiko Kubo joins Williams Lea Tag as representative director for Japan and MD North Asia for consumer, retail and life sciences.

Q&A: Why R/GA gave up on the traditional agency model

How does R/GA create the right conditions for creativity? Singapore MD Iestyn Keyes explains.

The inside story: Havas Media Malaysia lands Lenovo SEA

In this exclusive interview Campaign Asia-Pacific speaks to APAC CEO Vishnu Mohan and Malaysia CEO Andreas Vogiatzakis about the strategy behind the newly launched agency and its big regional win.

Havas Group unites creative and media divisions under one P&L

In APAC, reorganisation affects Mike Amour, Vishnu Mohan and Levent Guenes.

Is Snap worth its valuation given its advertising proposition?

Despite strong ad revenue, Snapchat is seeing widening losses and slower user growth.

Nokia 3310 and the people who love it

The resurrection of the iconic Nokia 3310 is a homecoming celebration of sorts for the brand, marking its return to Finland-based HMD Global from Microsoft. But who are the people that remain loyal to the retro brand and why?

Mobile video increases pressure to make your point quickly

Advertisers have less than a minute to make their point via video, after which viewership drops off dramatically, finds AOL.

Dentsu and ADK: Slim 2016 profits, caution for 2017

Dentsu avoids direct reference to last year's crises, while both companies sound cautious notes regarding 2017 performance.

Self-assured women make waves in Asia

The shift in women’s self-image has never been more apparent, according to an ongoing global study by J. Walter Thompson, and marketers need to connect with this change.

Instagram launches ads in Stories globally

The global launch starts today and will be available to all advertisers in the coming weeks.

Media is broken and 'needs a total reset'

There's plenty of blame for both advertisers and agencies in a new study from ID Comms.

Havas revenue slows to 3.3% in 2016

Havas Group was unable to match its double-digit growth of recent years after posting a 3.3 percent lift in global revenue for 2016, with APAC revenue down by 1.8 percent.

Burger King parent buys Popeyes for $1.8 billion

Chain has locations in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Publicis Media rolls out NextTechNow globally

Publicis Media has expanded its end-to-end service, NextTechNow, which pairs clients with tech startups to Shanghai, Singapore, Warsaw and Dubai.

Facebook challenges Snapchat with WhatsApp status update

A new feature takes a shot at Snapchat just ahead of its IPO.

Google submits YouTube to Media Ratings Council audit

Google has committed to having YouTube's metrics audited by the Media Rating Council.

L'Oréal may sell The Body Shop, and it's partly Hong Kong's fault

In annual report, company cites weak sales in Hong Kong as one reason for poor performance.

Blindfolded celebs beat a rice wrap pinata on FB for KFC Malaysia

Launch of a Mexican-themed rice wrap has led to a campaign comprising an equally unusual combination of ideas.

China to overtake US box office next year: PwC Outlook 2016

Even as digital advertising and content rises, live events are going nowhere, finds PwC's Global Entertainment and Media report 2016 – 2020.

Cannes 2016: Digital Craft and Product Design winners

Asia wins three Bronze Lions for Digital Craft and three Product Design Lions

Cannes 2016: Only Bronze and Silver Creative Effectiveness Lions for Asia

Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix goes to Adam & Eve DDB London for its John Lewis Christmas campaign 'Monty's Christmas'.

The numbers on print, online, mobile and TV: PwC Outlook

Figures and analysis for circulation and advertising across digital, mobile, TV and print in Asia-Pacific from the PwC Global Media & Entertaiment Outlook 2016-2020

Cannes 2016: Dentsu wins Design Grand Prix for Panasonic 'Life is Electric'

Japan dominates Design category with 17 Lions and a Grand Prix out of 111 awarded

Cannes 2016: Winners of the PR Lions

Asia brings home one Gold, three Silver and eight Bronze Lions for PR

Hari Shankar leaves Paypal for Havas Media Group's Ecselis

SINGAPORE - Hari Shankar has left his role heading search and display as regional senior manager with Paypal Asia-Pacific, for a dual post with Havas Media Group as regional MD for Ecselis and head of paid digital strategy.

Karl Cluck adds APAC chief client role to Mindshare duties

ASIA-PACIFIC - Karl Cluck, CEO of Mindshare Japan, Korea and Taiwan, has stepped up to the post of chief client officer for Mindshare Asia-Pacific.

McCann's Richard Newman joins Cheil in new role

SINGAPORE - Former McCann Worldgroup regional CMO Richard Newman has joined Cheil Worldwide as Asia-Pacific regional chief growth officer.

Droga5's David Nobay starts new Australian agency with Publicis Worldwide

SYDNEY - Publicis Worldwide is teaming up with David Nobay, formerly of the now closed Droga5 Sydney, to launch its creative boutique digital agency Marcel in Australia.

2013 in review: Separated at birth?

It's an annual tradition of ours: The 'Separated at birth?' column in the year-end issue. So without further ado, here's our selections for this year: some eerie, some admittedly a bit of a stretch. The December/January issue, stuffed with more fun year-end content (and even some serious year-end content), will be out right around New Year's.

2013 in review: Top 5 cringe-worthy PR lines

We at Campaign Asia-Pacific love PR folks. Really, we do! But we do wade through a lot of press releases, and some of them, well...have a look.

VML Singapore wins digital AOR for Pringles Asia-Pacific

ASIA-PACIFIC - Kellogg's has appointed VML Singapore as digital agency of record for its crisps brand Pringles following a multi-agency pitch initiated in February.

Malaysian senior creatives do the agency shuffle

KUALA LUMPUR - Senior Malaysian creatives Tan Chee Keong (known as CK), ECD for BBDO Malaysia, and Vijay Anand, group ECD for TBWA KL, are moving on to new roles within the market.

5 headache-inducing problems for financial marketers

Senior financial marketers are fully aware of what makes great content for their target audiences, but the hurdles they have to overcome include multi-market regulations, resources and stakeholder buy-in.

Omnicom Media Group Malaysia appoints head of content

MALAYSIA - On the heels of a series of specialist hires, Omnicom Media Group Malaysia has appointed Haris Ismail as Head of Fuse – its branded content, sponsorship and ideation unit that services clients within the network and its brands, OMD and PHD. Fuse specializes in strategy and building brand assets in owned and earned platforms and integrating these with paid media. In his new role, Haris will be responsible for embedding the value-proposition of Fuse within OMD and PHD as well as strengthening the product through local initiatives.

Campaign Innovate: What do the final four have to say?

ASIA-PACIFIC - The top four startups have submitted their pitch videos to Campaign Innovate's panel of judges. Which do you think should be named the contest winner?

Peter Mitchell leaves Mondelez

SINGAPORE - Peter Mitchell has left his role as global media innovations director at Mondelez International.

David Smith joins Bloomberg Media Group as director of media sales for North Asia

David Smith has joined Bloomberg Media Group as Director of Sales for North Asia. Based in Hong Kong, David will lead Bloomberg Media's sales strategy and initiatives across the group's portfolio including the recently launched Asia edition of Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg Pursuits, Bloomberg Markets, Bloomberg Live, Bloomberg Radio and Bloomberg mobile.

Campaign Innovate: The final four

ASIA-PACIFIC - Campaign Innovate's judges have selected the top four startups that have made it through to the online video-pitch round.

Bloomberg’s plan for digital dominance in Asia

HONG KONG – Bloomberg has just launched the Asia edition of the revamped Bloomberg.com, and rather less officially, added digital station Bloomberg Radio Asia, a flagship global TV programme, Bloomberg Go, and plans to launch Bloomberg HD early next year.

JWT's Valerie Cheng moves to Facebook, Victor Ng steps up

SINGAPORE - Valerie Cheng, CCO of J. Walter Thompson Singapore will be moving on to a new role at Facebook, as head of Creative Shop for Southeast Asia, in mid-February.

Surviving the 'horror movie' of media ownership: Q&A with Bloomberg’s Justin B Smith

The media industry’s ‘change agent’ Justin B Smith, CEO of Bloomberg Media sat down with Campaign Asia-Pacific’s head of content Gary Scattergood at the Media360Summit to discuss the chances publishers have of evolving to survive.

How Uber went from party trick to global phenomenon

MEDIA360 SUMMIT - Uber started out as a cool party trick invented by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp and has never stopped reinventing itself, said Sam Gellman, head of operations for Uber Asia at the Media360Summit.

Ogilvy promotes Anthony Wong to global effectiveness role

HONG KONG - Ogilvy & Mather has promoted Hong Kong-based Anthony Wong to the post of worldwide effectiveness director, the role formerly held by Tim Broadbent.

Agency bosses: Too many questions around Publicis restructuring

GLOBAL - Publicis Groupe's restructuring announcement yesterday shows much needed change, but the lack of details has led agency leaders and consultants to question whether the announcement could be just "smoke and mirrors".

Telenor's DiGi moves to Mindshare, regional pitch results pending

MALAYSIA - Sources have confirmed that Mindshare Malaysia has won the media account for Telenor-owned DiGi Malaysia following a multi-market pitch.

TBWA India appoints new CEO from McCann

MUMBAI - TBWA Group India has hired Govind Pandey from McCann Worldgroup India to helm its operations across Mumbai and Delhi as CEO.

Snapcart wins Campaign Innovate

SINGAPORE - Campaign Innovate, sponsored by Omnicom Media Group, is proud to announce that the winning startup for its inaugural contest is real-time shopper marketing platform, Snapcart.

Beijing Mercedes Benz Sales moves US$200 million media to Fuel China

BEIJING - Beijing Mercedes Benz Sales (BMBS) has handed its US$200 million media account to Fuel, a new agency brand created to handle BMBS and reporting into ZenithOptimedia, according to sources.

Build advocacy, not fear when marketing to women

In trying to connect with Asian women’s hopes, dreams and concerns, many brands still miss the mark by a wide margin.

Most companies are not built customer-first, and they're in trouble

KUALA LUMPUR - Brands that have gotten fat from the rampant capitalism of the past century have put everything but customers first, and their time is over, Will Sansom, director of content and strategy with Contagious, said at the WFA's Project Reconnect event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Updated: IPG Mediabrands names Malaysia CEO, Kumar resigns

KUALA LUMPUR - IPG Mediabrands has named Bala Pomaleh as CEO in Malaysia following the resignation of its president of world markets and CEO of its Malaysia office, Prashant Kumar.

How marketers can avoid killing advertising: WFA conference

KUALA LUMPUR - The message at the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) conference in Kuala Lumpur today could not be more clear: Marketers need to embrace and lead change if advertising is to survive.

Shangri-La appoints DigitasLBI to lead global team of agencies

HONG KONG - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has appointed a "fully integrated agency team" to be led by DigitasLBI as its agency of record.

'Jihad' declared against Cadbury: What should the brand do?

MALAYSIA – In a move surreal in its extremity, more than 20 Malay-Muslim groups in Malaysia have declared a "Jihad" against Cadbury following the discovery of porcine DNA in its chocolate bars. Experts on branding and Islam discuss the impact and how the brand should move forward.

Is Nikon violating animal rights with this ad?

HONG KONG - When Ran Elfassy, director of Sigei Media and an animal conservationist, saw this giant Nikon billboard in a Hong Kong MTR station, he felt so offended by its use of exotic dead animals that he wrote to Campaign Asia-Pacific to express his disgust.

How and why MediaMath is changing how it talks about itself

HONG KONG - Ad tech has been getting a bad rap lately and, as part of the industry, MediaMath has realised that it has to not only change the language it uses to speak about itself, but also alter the industry’s reputation as a whole.

Coca-Cola Thailand shifts media account to Starcom Mediavest Group

THAILAND - Coca-Cola Thailand has appointed Starcom Mediavest Group as its new media agency of record after about a decade with Mediabrands' Initiative.

UK programmatic agency quietly launches in three Asian markets

HONG KONG – After maintaining a low-profile existence for six years, UK-based programmatic solutions provider Addition+ is launching an ambitious expansion plan in Asia after opening offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Did Petronas really just lecture the Malaysian-Chinese on gratitude?

KUALA LUMPUR - This year's Chinese New Year ad from Petronas Malaysia, 'Rubber boy', eschews the trappings of festivity in favour of a sharp message against ingratitude.

Myanmar’s top singer chooses Sunkist C500 as first brand she fronts

YANGON - The nation's most popular pop singer, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, has never before agreed to represent a brand until the launch of new Vitamin C-enriched drink, Sunkist C500.

Case Study: How an online retailer turned sales around with programmatic

KUALA LUMPUR - Faced with stagnant sales, online fashion and beauty retailer FashionValet engaged Sociomantic Labs to put its limited marketing budget to good use.

BBDO most awarded network, Australia third most awarded country: Gunn Report

GLOBAL - The Gunn Report for 2015 has found BBDO to be the world's most awarded network, Australia the third-most awarded country, and (Mullen) Lowe China's Buick Road Safety campaign the most awarded print / OOH campaign in the world.

Ooredoo Myanmar settles creative, digital, media and PR agencies

YANGON - Ooredoo, Myanmar's second-largest telco, has chosen all new agencies across its creative, digital, media and PR accounts following an 18-agency review across the four disciplines.

Rich Stoddart is Leo Burnett's new worldwide CEO

GLOBAL - On 1 February, Rich Stoddart, CEO of Leo Burnett North America, will add the role of CEO worldwide to his post.

Ogilvy names new APAC head of global brand management

HONG KONG - Adam O'Conor, CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong, has taken on the additional post of Asia-Pacific president of global brand management.

Dentsu Aegis consolidates APAC operations with SEA team exit

SINGAPORE - In a bid to cut “duplicate costs”, Dentu Aegis Network (DAN) has consolidated its operations in Asia Pacific, with four Southeast Asian leads exiting the business.

Miles Young to step down as Ogilvy CEO, North America head takes over

NEW YORK - John Seifert has been appointed worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, effective immediately. Outgoing CEO Miles Young will continue as chairman until September 1, at which point Seifert will become worldwide chairman and CEO.

Maxis appoints two new agencies to creative roster, leaves Ogilvy

KUALA LUMPUR - Maxis Malaysia has selected IPG Mediabrands-owned content arm Ensemble and Kingdom Digital as its creative brand and digital agencies, respectively, following a pitch announced in January this year.

Publicis Media formation leaves questions about Asia unanswered

Publicis Groupe's recent formation of Publicis Media, and the consolidation of its media brands announced early this morning, have left many questions unanswered regarding the disposition of talent across the newly formed brands in Asia-Pacific.

ASN to rebrand to Sports Illustrated after deal with Time Inc

HONG KONG - Time Inc has struck a deal with ASN to launch a Sports Illustrated sports broadcasting and digital network across Asia, starting with the rebrand of pay TV sports channels ASN and ASN2 to Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated 2.

OMD wins Telenor in India and Pakistan

SINGAPORE - OMD has been awarded media strategy, planning and buying duties for Telenor Group in India and Pakistan, while in Thailand, OMD picked up pre-paid while retaining the post-paid business along with dtac in Thailand following a multi-market media review.

Three APAC countries in top 5 most awarded for media in 2015: Gunn Report

Emily Tan