Campaign Asia

Campaign appeals to Indonesians to 'Adopt a mom'

JAKARTA - A heart-rending campaign by TCP-TBWA for Indonesia's Agency of Social Welfare Coordination asks people to pledge human contact to lonely mothers in senior-care facilities.

Aldi unveils high-concept Christmas ad campaign

AUSTRALIA - The frosty residents of a frigid northern-hemisphere town warm up to Aussie Christmas traditions in a campaign for grocery store chain Aldi.

Ogilvy Philippines confirms employee death

Passing of Mark Dehesa reignites debate about industry work pressures.

Ikea and BBH give catalogue launch a high-tech sheen

SINGAPORE - With BBH Asia Pacific as accomplice, Ikea spoofs Apple packaging and advertising in the launch campaign for its 2015 catalogue.

Grey's 'I Sea' saga: Lessons learned?

The agency remains tragically defiant about the 'I Sea' controversy. Perhaps other companies can learn from its failures.

Publicis.Sapient reveals SapientRazorfish positioning, APAC head

Rajdeep Endow is APAC head of an agency focused on "customer-centric digital transformation".

Gender studies: Highs, lows and soul searching

From men behaving badly to women ascending to power, a look back at recent coverage of gender-equality in the marketing-communications industry.

Facebook post: 'Please watch and buy my girl'

Provocative video post leads off human-trafficking campaign for Hagar Singapore by Blak Labs.

DAN's latest buy: India's Perfect Relations Group

Purchase nets the group five PR firms covering 50 cities in India.

2016 Spikes Asia winners

A full list of winners and photos from the ceremony Friday night in Singapore.

McCann Worldgroup Singapore announces restructuring

Agency names new CEO as it integrates McCann and MRM; says move unrelated to OCBC pitch.

AR should mean more than a trick your phone does: Pokémon Go creator

How an April Fool's joke turned into a worldwide smash by staying true to a mission rooted in human experience.

The future will be 'cognitised': PHD's view on AI

A presentation on artificial intelligence predicts the end of consumerism as we know it.

Years of career advancement in 30 minutes?

MullenLowe Profero's Wayne Arnold makes a big promise and a valiant attempt to deliver.

The world is not flat: McCann's Diamond

Setting the stage at Spikes, McCann's CEO outlines the global-local challenge facing creative leaders.

Ruder Finn acquires Hong Kong-based Daylight Partnership

Daylight founder David Ko to lead Ruder Finn’s regional digital arm after acquisition.

Vinomofo set to go global with irreverent take on wine

New campaign through Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne will expand to Singapore, US and UK.

'Experiment' attempts to demonstrate the power of Barbie

Online work for Mattel by BBDO Hong Kong will run across Asia.

Overtime and suicide: Industry reactions

This is where we're compiling ongoing discussion about the industry's overtime issue.

Editor's note: On suicide, overtime and responsibility

A column we published yesterday has provoked a strong reaction. We’d like to hear more.

‘Adulting’: A fluid process for young people

Brands should start understanding and assisting young people in the complex business of growing up, according to McCann’s latest ‘Truth about Youth’ research.

MediaCom Philippines names CEO

Nap Carrao promoted from MD to newly created role.

HKTB launches multi-country campaign through Grey

Four TVCs will take the tourism outfit's recent emphasis on authentic experiences to regional and global audiences.

The Trade Desk launches in Indonesia

Programmatic company opens office in Jakarta, announces five launch partners in market.

No LOLs in this mannequin-challenge video

A creepy look at child sexual exploitation in Naga DDB Tribal's followup to 'Nursery crimes'.

Have you heard the one about love that lasts forever?

Cleverly produced love story out of Australia has a hidden agenda.

SEA trails in shift to digital channels: eMarketer

Digital ad spending in APAC this year is set to grow by double digits overall, but will remain below 20 percent in Southeast Asia, according to a new forecast from eMarketer and IAB Singapore.

GroupM acquires controlling stake in MediaCom India

WPP's media investment arm ups its ownership to 74 percent.

Grey names trio of creative and strategy leaders

Agency adds APAC strategy officer, brings in new creative and strategic execs for GSK and the Singapore office.

Carat wins global Standard-Chartered media pitch

Following a six-month pitch process, the Singapore office will handle media duties across more than 60 markets.

A tobacco company's ode to Indonesian independence rings false

Gudang Garam celebrates Indonesia's independence day with a gorgeous film. But its true intent, and our industry's complicity, deserve examination.

Diaper brand claims messages on wet nappies prevent postpartum depression

HONG KONG - In an example of a brand reaching way too far in an effort to seem like it's doing good in the world, diaper brand Hello Angel has made the rather ridiculous claim that its product, plus baby urine, can help new mothers avoid postpartum depression.

Australia's DT to join AKQA network

WPP AUNZ's DT, with offices in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, will rebrand as part of AKQA within the year.

Branding and design agencies to form Asia association

The Design Business Association Asia aims to open first in Singapore, followed by a Shanghai chapter.

InMobi joins with Moblaze for Vietnam mobile-ad push

Partnership eyes booming mobile-first market.

OMG China names new CEOs for OMD and PHD

PHD China CEO Aaron Wild moves over to OMD, while PHD MD Anna Chitty steps up.

Indictment adds to Samsung's reputation woes, or does it?

With its leader indicted on corruption charges, Samsung's brand reputation faces a "long and steep road". Or, perhaps the scandal will have no impact whatsoever.

Publicis Communications starts 'white-label' innovation effort with Singapore EDB

Agency hopes to move client conversations upstream through technology 'hub' effort centred in Nurun.

Singtel's Amobee to acquire Turn

Acquisition values DMP and DSP platform at US$310 million.

Meet Betsy: Cathay Pacific's beer 'brewed for 35,000 feet'

Named after the airline's first aircraft and brewed in Hong Kong, the beverage is supposedly formulated for in-flight consumption.

Tribal Worldwide wins AOR appointment for Volkswagen in Singapore

Two-year appointment includes strategy, ATL, retail marketing, digital, social, mobile and CRM.

Auckland shops lead APAC showing in Gunn Report

Colenso BBDO and Y&R NZ land in the global top five.

MP & Silva promotes from Asia for global role

The company has named Suhyeon Cho as chief commercial officer.

Trust and Trump loom large at Financial Services Marketing forum

Day-long conference opens with trust discussion that emphasises fundamentals and content with empathy.

Korea influence scandal: Authorities raid unit of Cheil

Authorities seized hard disks and documents from a sport-related unit of the Samsung-owned agency in connection with the influence-peddling scandal involving the country's president.

Australian pro football leagues unveil united brand design

New look by Hulsbosch brings Hyundai A-League and associated leagues under a single visual identity.

WPP AUNZ merges Landor, Designworks in Australia

The change does not impact Designworks New Zealand.

Tech talk: CtrlShift, Exponential, S4M, and more

A weekly roundup of tech news and announcements.

Tech Talk: TubeMogul and Tapad, AdAsia, Criteo, Amnet and RadiumOne

A weekly roundup of tech news and announcements.

Why AIA believes its HK carnival pays off, even with awful weather

AIA's sponsorship of the recently concluded AIA Great European Carnival surely didn't come cheap. But the insurer is quite happy with its investment despite historically wet and cold weather during its run. Here’s why.

93% of APAC youth say pandemic changed their lifestyle forever

Results from an APAC-wide study by Vice Media, revealed here exclusively, underscore the need for brands to re-examine everything they think they know about the way young people view family, money, time, mental health and work.

Cannes 2016: Asia's Health Lions winners

India wins two golds; New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong one each.

Suntory leaps onto FMCG 'champions' list

Company emerges at position 17 on OC&C Consultants annual list of the top 50 global FMCG companies.

Cannes 2016: Print & Publishing winners include Grand Prix for 'McWhopper'

'McWhopper' Peace Day proposal earns Grand Prix for Y&R NZ Auckland.

Cannes 2016: Glass winners include Grand Prix for Mindshare India

O&M, BBDO among winners; India dominates category with three of six awards.

Cannes 2016: APAC's Direct Lions winners

Double Golds for Colenso BBDO Auckland and Y&R New Zealand

Wunderman names Shanghai MD, client director

SHANGHAI - Wunderman has promoted from within to fill the Shanghai MD post left open when Bryce Whitwam stepped up to China CEO earlier this year, naming Pornthip Suchanthabut as the new MD.

APAC adspend forecast becomes slightly less optimistic: Carat

ASIA-PACIFIC - The latest media spending forecast from Carat, issued today, predicts 4.4 percent growth for APAC in 2016, down slightly from an earlier forecast due to economic uncertainty in several markets.

Insights disconnect: WFA research says quarter of marketers unhappy

KUALA LUMPUR - Less than a third of marketers are satisfied with the insights function within their companies, and a quarter have a negative perception of the ability of their insight teams to produce commercially actionable insights and act as strategic consultants, according to research released today by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).

Phibious Group hires regional strategy officer

HO CHI MINH CITY - Phibious Group has appointed Rekha Padmalaya as chief strategy officer for Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

APAC taking lead in tech-driven marketing: R3

A new report from pitch and performance consultants R3 suggests that Asia-Pacific is taking the lead when it comes to tech innovations in marketing.

'Billboards for good' initiative gives charities space and design support

Lumo Digital Outdoor and online design-tool provider Canva are launching the initiative in New Zealand but hope to see it spread internationally.

Former DDB Hong Kong leader joins Mindshare

Irene Tsui will assume the Hong Kong MD role on March 7.

Dentsu Aegis Network acquires JaymeSyfu Group in Philippines

ASIA-PACIFIC - Award-winning Philippines agency DM9 JaymeSyfu will become Dentsu JaymeSyfu as it ends its relationship with DDB and sells a majority stake to Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN).

FCB Group India adds affiliate in Sri Lanka

Addition of KL.LK will help FCB offer "seamless" service to clients who view South Asia as a contiguous market, according to FCB Group India.

AIA Korea helps a mother sing for her daughter's birthday

KOREA - AIA Korea undertook a project that moved more than 10,000 people to 'donate' their voices in order to help a mother with a speech impediment sing for the first time.

Uproar: Are animal portrayals in ads a new brand risk?

Advertisers and agencies love animals, because animals sell. But a Year of the Tiger Gucci campaign that made activists growl shows that the definition of what’s appropriate may be evolving when it comes to using the world's fauna.

Bates CHI&Partners wins pitch for AIA Singapore

SINGAPORE - Ending a relationship with TBWA, AIA Singapore has appointed Bates CHI&Partners as its agency of record following a pitch.

GroupM hires McDonald's marketer to head Australia and New Zealand

SYDNEY - GroupM Asia Pacific has appointed Mark Lollback, currently CMO of McDonald's for Australia and New Zealand, to the role of CEO for GroupM Australia and New Zealand.

Display in Muji. Book plots in haiku format. Library promo.

INSPIRATION STATION: Singapore's National Library Board promotes reading with help from Ogilvy, Muji, and a venerable Japanese poetic form.

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".

Sports hero Li Na is not the hero in this Mercedes-Benz ad

CHINA - Mercedes-Benz has made an interesting choice in a new China campaign featuring tennis superstar Li Na—by positioning her husband as the hero.

The men in Mirror reel in brand deals

While reporting 29% adspend growth in Hong Kong for the full year 2021, media reporting company Admango has also documented the stunning number of brands using local boyband Mirror to push their products.

MyRepublic rockets into next phase with rebrand

REBRANDING EXERCISES: The telco unveils a refreshed look—spearheaded by Superunion—that it says better suits its status as a mature player with B2B offerings and global ambitions.

WFA offers guide for DEI-conscious media planning and buying

DEI is not just a task for creative and HR teams, the guide's authors argue: Planning and buying choices play a critical role in supporting diverse voices and controlling whether hate speech and misinformation get funded.

KFC Malaysia creates 100 seriously cheezy preroll videos

MALAYSIA - KFC has launched a campaign that will end up delivering 100 brief preroll ads, each containing a groan-inducing pickup line delivered by a saucy chicken burger.

D&AD winners: Y&R NZ is world's 'most-awarded'; White Pencil for 'Clever buoy'

LONDON - Y&R New Zealand emerged as the world's most awarded agency, a masking tape expo in Japan won a Black Pencil, and M&C Saatchi's 'Clever buoy' brought home a White Pencil as the D&AD announced its professional awards overnight.

Nike cuts ties with Manny Pacquiao after derogatory remarks on same-sex couples

Nike said early Thursday that it no longer has any relationship with popular Filipino boxer and politician Manny Pacquiao after he made comments comparing same-sex couples to animals.

BBQ chain extends product line to...dog food?

THAILAND - Dog food might not seem like a natural or appetising menu extension for a restaurant chain, but Thailand's Bar-B-Q Plaza is making its own brand of puppy chow as part of an appealing campaign to make people think about food waste.

Prudential challenges you to stare at the ones you love for 4 minutes

ASIA-PACIFIC - A challenge that sounds like a child's game leads to intense emotions in a compelling new campaign for Prudential Asia by FCB.

Independents, unlimited: Agency leaders see only upsides

The heads of thriving independent agencies around APAC explain why it's a fine time to be in charge of their own destiny, and why they wouldn't have it any other way.

Publicis drinks in PepsiCo China media win

The account moves from Mindshare to a dedicated Publicis Groupe unit, led by Zenith, that will handle planning and buying for all the company's beverage and food brands for three years.

Ad blocking and social media: Should we freak out now?

MEDIA360 SUMMIT - An afternoon discussion track focused on one technology, ad blocking, that is causing a lot of angst right now, and a second technology, social media, that used to cause a lot of angst but is now well understood and delivering great value for brands.

ANZ attacks gender inequality with powerful film, concrete action

Matthew Miller