Campaign Asia

Auditoire China appoints Carla Matoses as art director

SHANGHAI - Auditoire China has hired Carla Matoses as art director to build it’s award-winning creative brand experience team.

Transparency the key for online video in China

HONG KONG - Trust and transparency while building strong partnerships with content providers, advertisers and end users are the keys to the development of China’s online video market, according to speakers at the CASBAA Online Video in China forum on 2 March 2011 in Beijing.

Converse challenges China's youth to find summer party venue

BEIJING - In its latest digital campaign, American shoe brand Converse invites China’s urban youth to defend the pride of their cities.

Fleishman Hillard wins Gome's PR business

BEIJING - Fleishman Hillard has been appointed by Gome, one of the biggest electronic appliances retailers in China, to handle its public relations, sources familiar with the agency confirmed.

Razorfish, Digitas add regional president of network operations

BEIJING - Vivaki's Razorfish and Digitas networks have appointed Vincent Digonnet as president of network operations in APAC, which currently includes Australia, Greater China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia calls digital pitch for new QB model

SHANGHAI – Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors, a joint venture between Kia Motors and Chinese auto producers Dongfeng Motor and Jiangsu Yueda Group, has called a digital pitch in China earlier this week, according to industry sources.

RAPP China signs as McDonald’s data-driven marketing agency

SHANGHAI - RAPP China has been appointed by McDonald’s to collect and analyse data from the fast food giant’s delivery services in China, generating consumer insights to tailor promotional campaigns and ultimately drive incremental sales and visitor frequency.

Fashion retailer C&A kicks off digital campaign targeting urban youth

C&A, an international chain of fashion retail stores, has kicked off a campaign targeting China’s urban young people, its major consumer group.

UM China appoints Amy Peng as chief strategic officer

SHANGHAI – UM China has appointed Amy Peng as chief strategic officer, which will see her leading strategic planning solutions.

Former Publicis China CEO Sheena Jeng joins DDB Taiwan

TAIPEI – After spending years in China, advertising veteran Sheena Jeng has returned to her native Taiwan and joined DDB as co-president and chief creative officer.

Balin Times wins Beijing Subway Line 4 advertising franchise

BEIJING - Chinese outdoor agency Balin Times has won the exclusive advertising franchise of Beijing Subway Line 4 and Daxing line, adding another entry to its portfolio of public transportation clients across China.

Philips launches sitcom to promote SensoTouch 3D razor

CHINA - Philips has launched a TV campaign on Tudou.com, one of China’s largest video-sharing websites, to promote its SensoTouch 3D electric razor.

China's FMCG sector saw 16 per cent growth in 2010 : Kantar

SHANGHAI – China’s fast moving consumer goods market saw a year-on-year growth of 16 per cent growth in 2010, driven by a mixture of consumption growth and price inflation, according to Kantar Worldpanel Retailer Flash, which provides quarterly analysis of key retailers by region and city tiers in China.

Neo@Ogilvy Shanghai appoints new general manager

SHANGHAI - In an effort to strengthen its leadership team in China, Ogilvy has appointed Debby Chang as general manager for Neo@Ogilvy Shanghai, a newly created position effective from 1 March.

SinoTech Group, Label.ch form strategic partnership

BEIJING - Chinese interactive advertising agency SinoTech Group announced today that it has established a strategic partnership with Swiss agency Label.ch.

Founder Group retains UM in China

BEIJING - UM has retained the media planning and buying business for Founder Group’s IT products and services, following an annual agency review,

Ogilvy & Mather China appoints chief digital officer

BEIJING - Ogilvy & Mather China has announced the appointment of Peony Wu, managing director of Neo@Ogilvy Greater China, to the newly created position of chief digital officer.

WE Marketing Group partners with meat product company Jinluo

BEIJING – WE Marketing Group has partnered with Jinluo, a Shandong-based meat products company, following a competitive pitch.

UM wins full-service mandate for Amorepacific Hong Kong

HONG KONG - UM has won a full-service communications mandate from Amorepacific Hong Kong. The mandate covers communication activities in Hong Kong for the company’s cosmetic brands Laneige and Sulwhasoo.

Harman awards first PR retainer contract to Ogilvy PR

SHANGHAI - Ogilvy PR has been named the retainer China PR agency for Harman Consumer Group, an affiliate of Harman International, a global provider of premium audio and infotainment solutions from brands including JBL, AKG, Harman Kardon and Infinity.

Tencent introduces heart-warming QQ anniversary campaign

Chinese Internet giant Tencent has launched a heart-warming campaign for its massively popular instant messaging service QQ, in celebration of the company’s 12th anniversary.

Shanghai Volkswagen Skoda launches Valentine's Day campaign

Despite being a western tradition, Valentine's Day is becoming increasingly popular in China as more and more brands try to cash in on the shopping spree, including auto maker Shanghai Volkswagen.

ICLP appoints Peggy Cheng as business director in Beijing

SHANGHAI - Loyalty marketing agency ICLP has relocated Peggy Cheng, former business director in Shanghai managing CRM activities, to Beijing.

CASE STUDY: Centuries-old Chinese pharmaceutical tries for trendy image

CHINA - Ma Ying Long, a Chinese pharmaceutical company with a history of 400 years, set out to change perceptions of hemorrhoid cream among young people with a creative campaign.

Facebook charges Cacafly with ad sales in Taiwan

TAIPEI – Social networking giant Facebook has picked Taiwanese online community marketing company Cacafly as its advertising agency in Taiwan.

Online buzz crucial to China auto sales

There is no doubt that word of mouth is an important way of marketing, and in this increasingly wired era a large part of these conversations originate in the online world. But to what extent do internet discussions impact sales?

GroupM China appoints Tony Chen as digital head

SHANGHAI - GroupM China has appointed Tony Chen as managing director of GroupM Interaction China, effective immediately.

Euro RSCG Shanghai gets cooking with Bohi

SHANGHAI - Following a pitch against several multinational agencies, Euro RSCG Shanghai has been appointed as brand consultant for Chinese cooking oil brand Bohi.

Tencent acquires Google-backed Comsenz

BEIJING – Tencent Holdings has inked a deal to acquire Comsenz, one of the biggest providers of bulletin board systems and social-networking software in China.

Unilever branded TV drama rakes in 100 million views on Tudou

‘Unbeatable', a 36-part branded drama series for Clear Shampoo, has been played over 100 million times on Tudou.com since its 5 August premiere, the online video-sharing site has announced.

3M appoints Bates 141 Shanghai to handle Filtrete

SHANGHAI – Bates 141 Shanghai has been appointed by 3M to handle the brand promotion business for Filtrete, the US based multinational’s filter and air purifier brand.

Starwood names new marketing director for two hotels in Tibet

LHASA - Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has named hotel veteran Elfa Cleofe as the complex director of sales and marketing for the St. Regis Lhasa Resort and Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa.

Li-Ning inks industry-defining partnership with NBA's Evan Turner

GLOBAL - In what many call its biggest step into the US market, Chinese sportswear maker Li-Ning has officially entered into a long term endorsement agreement with Evan Turner, the 2010 number two overall draft pick of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Iris hires DDB's Barry Low as creative director in China

BEIJING - Global creative agency Iris has recruited Barry Low as creative director for its China operation. Low will leave his current role as senior creative director at DDB China to join Iris’ Beijing office in August.

Techworks Asia appoints new senior PR account manager

BEIJING - Mcallight Liu, former chief editor of trade titles ECN China and Electronic Engineering & Product World, has joined Techworks Asia as senior PR account manager.

Guangzhou to resume reviewing billboard applications

GUANGZHOU - After a halt of 18 months, the municipal government of Guangzhou has announced that it will resume reviewing applications for outdoor commercial advertising from 1 September.

Publicis produces TVCs for China Mobile's World Expo service

Publicis Shanghai has recently kicked off a campaign advertising ‘Shibo Tong’ (Expo Smart), China Mobile’s World Expo-themed mobile service.

Chenghua Yang steps up as MD of Publicis Shanghai, Guangzhou

SHANGHAI - Chenghua Yang (pictured), general manager of Publicis Shanghai, has been promoted to managing director of both the Shanghai and Guangzhou offices.

JWT Shanghai appoints Johan Wong as director of digital strategy

SHANGHAI - Johan Wong (pictured), former chief digital officer for Leo Burnett/ Arc Hong Kong, has joined JWT Shanghai as director of digital strategy for JWT Interactive.

China to kick off publicity campaign to promote its image

BEIJING – China is aiming to launch a global advertising campaign later this year to boost its image worldwide, according to reports in the national media.

Sportswear brand Anta calls creative review; JWT declines to pitch

SHANGHAI - Chinese sportswear brand Anta has called a pitch for its creative business over the next three years. Incumbent agency JWT said it has declined to take part in the pitch.

Ogilvy Shanghai, Grey Hong Kong and SenseTeam win gold at Adfest

TOKYO - The winners of the Adfest 2010 Lotus Awards were unveiled last night, crowning Grey Hong Kong, Ogilvy Shanghai and SenseTeam in Shenzhen with a gold Lotus each in a variety of categories.

Fleishman-Hillard VP Claire Li departs for Ford China

SHANGHAI – Claire Li, senior vice-president of corporate communications and public affairs at Fleishman-Hillard in Beijing, has left the company to join Ford Motor Company.

Volkswagen introduces advanced new model CC with promise of glamour

Earlier this month, Volkswagen unveiled its new model CC in China, the most advanced Volkswagen ever built in the country. Dynamic Marketing Group (DMG) has produced a TV commercial which vividly conveys the car’s unique characteristics.

Japan leads at Adfest, followed by Thailand and India

REGIONAL - Japan takes the lead with 62 shortlisted entries at this year's Adfest judging-only event, followed by Thailand and India. Judges received a total of 2,708 entries in 14 categories from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Mediabrands Ventures appoints Jimmy Poon as China CEO

SHANGHAI – Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands Ventures today announced the appointment of Jimmy Poon (pictured) as its new CEO for China.

ZenithOptimedia tasked to handle Red Bull Unplugged Concert

CHINA - Newcast, a division of ZenithOptimedia Group that specialises in non-traditional communication solutions, has won the creative account for this year’s Red Bull Unplugged Concerts.

JWT Beijing wins creative for instant noodle brand Wu Gu Dao Chang

BEIJING - JWT Beijing has been awarded the brand communication business for Wu Gu Dao Chang, an instant noodle brand under COFCO (China Oil & Foodstuffs Corporation), following a competitive pitch involving Grey, Publicis and Bates.

The metamorphosis of Western brands in China

On the back of Coca-Cola's advertising campaign to promote Galceau Vitaminwater in China, Media looks at how some brands are pricing themselves at the top of the Chinese market despite going for mass appeal at home.

Sina and Tencent launch Groupon-cloned service

BEIJING - Sina, one of China's largest portal sites, launches its own Groupon-cloned collective buying service today, Sina Tuan, joining what Internet observers already call "the craziest webplay in history."

Don't lump lower tier markets in China into one big category : GroupM

SHANGHAI - GroupM China's Project Deep Dive (PDD) has found that marketers cannot afford to lump lower tier markets into one big 'catch-all' category as there are lots of opportunities for brands that understand each segment.

Chinese drivers are showing more interest in local auto brands : Nielsen

BEIJING – Local auto brands are quickly overtaking their American and Japanese counterparts as the top choice for potential automobile owners in China, second only to Germany, according to a report released by Nielsen today.

Coolpad appoints M&C Saatchi as communications partner

SHANGHAI – Chinese cellphone maker Coolpad has appointed M&C Saatchi South China as its integrated communication solutions partner.

GroupM appoints OMG's Lawrence Wan as e-Business Solutions head

SHANGHAI – GroupM China has announced that Lawrence Wan (pictured) has been appointed as managing director of e-Business Solutions, effective immediately. Wan reports to Bessie Lee, GroupM China CEO, and is based in Shanghai.

NICG unveils new China headquarters in Beijing

BEIJING - London-based Newland International Communications Group (NICG) unveiled its new China headquarters in Beijing yesterday.

China's rich are willing to shop online for luxury : Ruder Finn

HONG KONG - Nearly half of Chinese consumers are willing to purchase luxury items online, indicating that China will provide a fertile ground for a booming online luxury market in the near future.

HSBC finds a new advertising platform in power poles

Passengers who have been to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport recently might have already noticed the giant ‘power poles’, where they can charge their cell phone or laptop batteries for free.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation joins hands with Shanghai Media Group

SHANGHAI - The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Shanghai Media Group (SMG) today signed a cooperation agreement which will provide the basis for a long term partnership between their international channels: Australia Network and International Channel Shanghai (ICS).

Auditoire China to collaborate on grand opening of Porsche headquarters in Shanghai

SHANGHAI – After a three-round competitive pitch involving four agencies, Auditoire has been appointed to create and produce the grand opening event for the new flagship Porsche Centre in Shanghai Pudong.

WPP Digital takes stake in digital ad measurement firm in China

BEIJING - WPP Digital, the digital investment arm of WPP, announced today that it has acquired a minority stake in Leading Smart Holdings Limited.

Publicis Shanghai appoints Akae Wang as creative partner

SHANGHAI - Publicis Shanghai has appointed Taiwan advertising veteran Akae Wang as creative partner, in a wave of new hires that are expected to bolster its creative team.

China Digital Media Summit closes in Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Thought-leaders from across the digital industry gathered in Shanghai yesterday to talk about the development of China's digital landscape and to discuss global trends in digital advertising.

Publicis Shanghai appoints Akae Wang as creative partner

SHANGHAI - Publicis Shanghai has appointed Taiwan advertising veteran Akae Wang as creative partner, in a wave of new hires that are expected to bolster its creative team.

Local PR company Eastwei signs retainer contract with Puma

SHANGHAI – Puma is believed to have appointed local PR company Eastwei Relations to handle its PR business in China.

Contac launches new embedded ad campaign in Guangzhou

Starting today, Tianjin SmithKline & French Laboratories (TSK&F) is launching a six-month long campaign for its cold medication brand Contac NT in Guangzhou, the capital city of South China’s Guangdong Province.

PHD China appoints new digital lead

SHANGHAI – Ali Zein Kazmi has been appointed by PHD as its digital director to be based in Shanghai and responsible for all aspects of the network’s Unilever portfolio of brands in China.

Greenpeace launches 'Magic cube' campaign to promote environmental protection

In a bid to promote public awareness of environmental protection, Greenpeace recently launched a campaign centered around a specially designed 'Magic cube'.

VisionChina handed new contract for TV ad sales for Beijing subway

BEIJING – Beijing Media and Culture Group has appointed VisionChina Media to be the exclusive advertising agent for its Beijing subway mobile TV screens for the next five years.

WE Marketing Group scoops online recruitment site ChinaHR's creative account

BEIJING – ChinaHR, one of the largest online recruitment service providers in China, has appointed WE Marketing Group to handle its creative account, according to undisclosed sources familiar with the company.

7-Eleven launches model contest to promote its iconic Slurpee

Slurpee has long been one of most popular beverages in 7-Eleven. To usher in the hot summer days and search for fresh, new faces to represent this iconic, flavorful beverage, 7-Eleven has launched the 7-Eleven Slurpee 'Super cool model contest in Hong Kong.'

Unilever's Rexona campaign brings Chinese football fans to South Africa

Borrowing heavily on the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup, Unilever is launching a campaign for its Rexona Men deodorant brand in China. The campaign is implemented by local public relations company Dream Worker.

Guangzhou's Leatop Plaza selects O&M for branding assignment

GUANGZHOU – Following a competitive pitch against two other 4A agencies, Ogilvy & Mather Guangzhou was awarded the integrated branding communications assignment for Guangzhou’s Leatop Plaza.

CMG appoints brand strategist Adrienne Bateup-Carlson as executive VP

BEIJING - Brand strategist and business developer Adrienne Bateup-Carlson has been appointed as executive vice-president for integrated marketing in China by Interpublic’s Constituency Management Group (CMG).

Venus Chan joins MS&L as Hong Kong GM, Greater China head of consumers

BEIJING – Public relations veteran Venus Chan has joined MS&L as head of consumer practice for Greater China and general manager for Hong Kong.

DDB launches campaigns for Lipton starring Takeshi Kaneshiro in China

DDB Shanghai has completed the last of three campaigns in 2010 for Lipton China, having developed a cohesive effort that reinforces the brand’s international status as a world tea expert.

Ogilvy named brand consultancy for Elegant Prosper

SHANGHAI – Ogilvy has been appointed as the exclusive brand consulting agency for Zhejiang Elegant Prosper, a Sino-Italian women’s wear joint venture.

Red Bricks Media rebrands as RBM

GLOBAL – Digital marketing agency Red Bricks Media today announced that it will be rebranded as RBM with a new logo to reflect its service offering.

China's online advertising up 43 per cent in Q2 : En-fodesk

BEIJING - China’s internet adspend has hit 5.95 billion yuan (US$875 million) in the second quarter of the year, according to a reported released today by Beijing-based research agency En-fodesk.

Mindshare leads China billings in 2009 : RECMA

GroupM’s Mindshare leads China billings with US$2.27 billion in 2009, closely followed by ZenithOptimedia, according to RECMA.

Zaheer Nooruddin joins BM as director, digital lead for Greater China

SINGAPORE - Burson-Marsteller has appointed Zaheer Nooruddin as director and lead digital strategist for its Greater China operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong.

Hannah Lane joins Ogilvy Earth China as senior counsel

SHANGHAI - Hannah Lane has recently joined Ogilvy Earth China as senior counsel and a senior member of Ogilvy Public Relations in Shanghai.

HK4As to present global study on Chinese brands during Expo

HONG KONG – With the help of its members, the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong (HK4As) has conducted a survey of brand experts to provide insights for Chinese companies looking to compete overseas.

Starcom China announces three senior appointments

SHANGHAI - Starcom China today announced three key senior appointments in China including Jonathan Hsia, Jeffrey Tan and Caterina Camerata all based in Shanghai.

Sohu sells Sogou stakes to Alibaba

BEIJING - Sohu, one of China’s leading internet portals, has teamed up with the country’s top e-commerce company Alibaba by selling 16 per cent of its search engine service Sogou to the latter.

Holiday resort Shenzhou Peninsula appoints Impactasia to handle PR

BEIJING - Shenzhou Peninsula, a holiday resort in South China’s Hainan province, has appointed Impactasia to handle its PR business, including project marketing, public relations consulting and road shows arrangements.

Chinese consumer confidence drops in cities, rises in rural areas

BEIJING – Consumer confidence in China’s rural areas continues to grow, while Chinese consumers in cities across all four tiers are less confident, according to the latest probe into consumer confidence in the mainland.

Adam O’Conor steps up as CEO of Ogilvy Group Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Ogilvy & Mather today announced the promotion of Adam O’Conor to the newly created role of chief executive officer of the Ogilvy Group in Hong Kong, effective immediately.

Mobile internet more popular in China than in US : Nielsen

CHINA - Mobile consumers in China have surpassed their American counterparts when it comes to using the devices to access the internet, according to a research report due for publication by the Nielsen company.

Master Kong invites fans to join its biscuit world

Euro RSCG 4D Beijing recently launched an integrated campaign around the theme '3+2 Sandwich Biscuit World'.

JWT Shanghai boosts management team

SHANGHAI - JWT China has announced two recent additions to its management team in Shanghai. Eric Lee (pictured left) has joined as general manager, and Elvis Chau (pictured right) has been promoted to ECD.

JWT Shanghai brings 'Fantasy Westward Journey' to life

Every year in China, more than 200 online games are launched without much distinction from each other. JWT Shanghai partners with Netease to create an identity for its Fantasy Westward Journey online game in China.

Cannes: Greater China receive 40 nods in first of shortlists

CANNES - As the world's biggest celebration in creativity in communications kicks off in Cannes, we take a look at the shortlisted entries from the Greater China region for seven of the 12 categories, including Direct, Promo & Activation, PR, Outdoor, Media, Radio and Press.

Cannes Lions appoints Mark Ringer as direct jury member

Jin Bo