SINGAPORE - Chris Chiu, group executive creative director with Leo Burnett Singapore, is set to depart the full time role in favour of founding a new creative consultancy. But he will continue to support the agency on selected accounts and projects over the next year.
SYDNEY - M&C Saatchi has been named lead advertising agency for Australia's Commonwealth Bank, one of the world's 50 biggest financial institutions.
HONG KONG - The first Pacific Summit on Measurement takes place in Hong Kong from 29 February, and even those not attending have the chance to present their views. Organisers are urging marketing professionals throughout the region to participate in a pre-summit survey on PR, research, measurement, and analytics.
HONG KONG - The first Pacific Summit on Measurement takes place in Hong Kong from 29 February, and even those not attending have the chance to present their views. Organisers are urging marketing professionals throughout the region to participate in a pre-summit survey on PR, research, measurement, and analytics.
LONDON - Fit Digital, a bilingual Japanese-English digital agency based in the UK, has launched a Japanese-language social media marketing service for western brands looking to make an impact in Japan.
SYDNEY - Garuda Indonesia is set to launch its first integrated campaign in Australia, combining print, outdoor and prime time TV spots to highlight its new and improved reputation.
HONG KONG - Ogilvy & Mather has announced the launch of "Social@Ogilvy", a new worldwide practice connecting the agency's social-media experts.
SYDNEY - Garuda Indonesia is set to launch its first integrated campaign in Australia, combining print, outdoor and prime time TV spots to highlight its new and improved reputation.
MELBOURNE - McCann has brought its technology-driven marketing services arm MRM to Australia.
SEOUL - Tesco Homeplus is expanding its trial of ground breaking virtual stores, to 20 bus stops in Seoul.
SINGAPORE - Former social media manager at Omnicom Media Group Jessica Sukhita has joined PR network Fleishman-Hillard as the new social media lead for its Singapore operations.
MUMBAI - Promotional and shopper marketing agency the Integer Group has opened an office in Mumbai, in partnership with TBWA.
SYDNEY - Whybin\TBWA\Tequila, alongside Mediacom, has launched a new campaign for NRMA Insurance under its "Experience the difference" brand positioning. This one highlights the many vehicular "extras" that other insurers don't cover.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Craig Smith, chief operating officer across Asia-Pacific for Marriott International, says the hotel group puts a lot of resources into ensuring its campaigns are targeted and effective.
SINGAPORE - International PR firm Mulberry Marketing Communications has made a full acquisition of Singapore agency Red Dawn Communications.
DELHI - Ogilvy Delhi has been awarded the India Ministry of Tourism creative account, following a multi-agency pitch.
SYDNEY - Advertisers in the Australian market are expecting to increase their main media spending by 3.8 per cent in 2012, according to the latest Starcom Mediavest Group Media Futures survey. But media agency executives put the likely growth rate at just 1.7 per cent.
ADELAIDE - Former co-creative directors for BBDO Clemenger Adelaide Geoff Robertson and Greg Knagge have opened a new boutique agency in the South Australian capital.
TOKYO - The event still has a few days to run but the biggest winner from this year's Australian Open tennis championship may well be Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo, whose sponsorship of Kei Nishikori is already seeing strong results.
NADI - Fiji's national tourism body has launched a pitch among multinational advertising agencies, hoping to find a single creative network for a new global brand push.
ASIA-PACIFIC - OgilvyOne and its regional executive creative director John Jakubowski have parted ways, with the high-profile recruit having served less than a year with the digital network.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Market research provider GfK has promoted Frans Janssen to the role fo executive managing director for the Asia-Pacific region. His appointment is one of three key promotions for the start of the year, each in line with the company's new "Own the future" global corporate strategy.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Global research provider Forrester has released a new study on social media adaptation around the world. The results show some of the world's keenest users are in China and India.
GLOBAL - Philips, the electronics giant, has appointed Ogilvy & Mather as the lead creative agency on its US$465 million global advertising account.
MUMBAI - BBH Asia-Pacific has leveraged on one of its client's employees in its latest campaign for British Airways. Former Miss India, and now flight attendant Manisha Kohli is also providing the face for the airline in key cities in India.
MELBOURNE - Art Series Hotels, which has three boutique properties in Melbourne, is challenging its guests to steal a US$15,000 piece of art from its walls.
GLOBAL - Business news broadcaster CNBC has merged its Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa operations to form a single entity, CNBC International.
TOKYO - Japanese agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has signed an exclusive strategic partnership in Japan with consumer co-creation nertwork eYeka.
SHANGHAI - Word of mouth agency Advocacy says its unique campaign for Reckitt Benckiser brand Dettol proved "15 times more efficient" than television.
SYDNEY - Euro RSCG Sydney has restructured its creative department, naming four internal candidates as joint creative group heads.
GLOBAL - Air New Zealand has released an online Cluedo competition challenging people to solve the murder of its puppet mascot Rico.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Singaporean Yean Cheong is returning to her home country to take up the key regional digital role for Mediabrands.
GLOBAL - Lowe and Partners has joined forces with the United Nations, and digital agency Fantasy Interactive, to create a unique social-media driven celebration for international human rights day on December 10.
BATAM - HBO Asia has begun shooting for its first-ever Asia-made feature film, linking up with Singapore-based Infinite Studios and new soundstage facilities in Batam, Indonesia, for the action-horror movie 'Dead Mine'.
SYDNEY - Amanda McGregor, currently director of marketing for BBC Worldwide Australia, has been promoted to the new role of director of brands, consumers, and new ventures for BBC Worldwide in both Australia and New Zealand.
TOKYO - Dentsu has unveiled its annual look at trends and the products making people talk across the Japan market, with smartphones once again leading conversations throughout the market.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) is restructuring its Asian businesses in order to better reflect the diversity of markets across the region.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Campaign Asia-Pacific has released the shortlist for its Agency of the Year awards, with five advertising and six media agency networks making the cut.
SINGAPORE - OMD International, the arm that manages the media agency's multinational client accounts, has appointed Jonathan Mackenzie as director of platform strategy.
MUMBAI - Creativeland Asia has boosted its ranks in India with two senior appointments. Harshad Lad will head creative operations for the independent agency, while Neville Shah has been brought on board as creative director.
ASIA-PACIFIC - In the first of a four-part series exploring Asia's media industry at the close of 2011, Barney Loehnis, head of digital for Ogilvy & Mather in Asia-Pacific, says the year has been one of important, but largely invisible technological change.
SYDNEY - Qantas has shortlisted seven agencies in concurrent reviews of its creative and media accounts, leaving incumbents M&C Saatchi and Ogilvy Australia out of the running for the key prizes.
BEIJING - Microsoft Corporation plans to rapidly increase its research and development investment in Asia, mostly via a planned research hub in Beijing.
SINGAPORE - BBH has hired Brendan Smale, formerly of boutique Tokyo agency Syn Create, as its integrated creative director.
NEW DELHI - Matt Seddon, most recently chief executive officer of Ace Saatchi & Saatchi Manila, will join Saatchi and Saatchi India as CEO.
SINGAPORE - Regional entertainment television channel, Syfy, is calling on young and emerging filmmakers with its end-of-year short film competition 'Syfy Shorts'.
SYDNEY - Back in 2008, Australian retail giant Woolworths identified an opportunity to enter the massive home improvement retail market. Three years later, its new brand 'Masters' is up and running.
SINGAPORE - Ogilvy & Mather Asia-Pacific has a new digital engagement director, with Constantine (Con) Frantzeskos joining the team in Singapore, from DDB Melbourne.
MELBOURNE - Clemenger BBDO has launched an emotive campaign to launch the new branding for insurance and healthcare group Bupa.
JAKARTA - CPA Australia, a global professional body for accounting and other business leaders, is set to enter the Indonesian market, with help from M&C Saatchi Hong Kong.
SYDNEY - Procter & Gamble plans to introduce its own branding to a range of products in Australia and New Zealand.
UNITED STATES - Microsoft, Yahoo, and America Online (AOL) have formed a strategic alliance in the premium display ad market in the US, facing off against the growing power of both Google and Facebook. Analysts say the model could also take hold in Asia.
TOKYO - Ruder Finn has formed a partnership with Japan's largest independent PR consultancy, Kyodo PR.
BANGKOK - Mediahub Access, an online marketplace that aims to bring media owners from emerging markets together with content producers from around the world, will hold its first live marketplace in Thailand next year.
GLOBAL - Philips has split its estimated US$100 million worth of media duties between incumbent agency Carat and newcomer MPG.
GLOBAL - In line with its new brand positioning of 'new thinking, new possibilities', Hyundai has embarked on a unique digital content campaign featuring the inner-most thoughts of a range of international celebrities.
ASIA-PACIFIC - The region now hosts more than 420 million multichannel TV connections, according to the latest market research from CASBAA.
SINGAPORE - Independent agency Iris has signed on six new staff for its creative ranks, all joining this month and reporting to creative director Subha Naidu.
JAKARTA - Stephen Mangham has resigned his position with Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) Indonesia, just over one month in to his new role there. Executive creative adviser Gary Caulfield will also depart, with newly-appointed President of O&M ASEAN (Southeast Asia) David Mayo relocating to Jakarta to help fill the void.
COLOMBO - BBDO Worldwide has officially opened its first stand-alone agency in Sri Lanka, aiming to take advantage of its booming economy and increased international investment.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Discovery Channel is set to relaunch its associated magazine across Asia-Pacific this week.
SHANGHAI – WPP has teamed up with the Shanghai Art & Design Academy (SADA) to establish the WPP School of Marketing and Communications within the campus.
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Media Development Authority, together with Nanyang Polytechnic, has launched an assistance service for the city-state's game developers.
PARIS - Havas has reported 5.1 per cent revenue growth (year-on-year) for the third quarter, led largely by its Asia-Pacific division.
PERTH - Western Australian agency Block has teamed up with paper manufacturer Spicers to create a whole new way of creating paper designs and art supplies.
GLOBAL - Marketing research network Warc is seeking out the world's best example of innovation in communications work.
SEOUL - Kenneth Hong, director of LG's global communications group, reflects on the company and working in the unique Korean market.
SINGAPORE - Carol Campbell has joined Lowe and Partners' Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore, as global planner for the agencies' Clear and Close-Up accounts with Unilever.
SYDNEY - A team of STW Group executives have launched a new marketing communications agency, named Bohemia.
ASIA-PACIFIC - The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has retained two of its three key marketing partners in this region, as air-traffic from Asia to the US' "Aloha state" looks set to increase significantly. But change is afoot in the vital Japan market.
SYDNEY - Rob Atkinson, the chief operating officer of Clear Channel UK, has been appointed interim chief executive of Clear Channel's Adshel joint venture in Australia and New Zealand.
MELBOURNE - Creative agency Spinach has added a digital gaming element to its new campaign for First National real estate, creating the 'Real estate rumble' game for iPhone users.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Fresh from officially opening its first office in India last week, Ruder Finn Asia Pacific chairman Jean says further expansion – both there and across the Asian region — is on the cards for the independent PR network.
AUCKLAND - New Zealander Andy Fackrell will be returning to his homeland in 2012, to take up a year-long contract as executive creative director for DDB New Zealand.
SYDNEY - Innocean Australia's latest TVC effort for Kia
ASIA-PACIFIC - 134 entries have been shortlisted for this year's Digital Media Awards Asia. The winners will be announced on 9 November.
GLOBAL - Brands are still failing to build distinctive social identities, a new study by Weber Shandwick and Forbes Insights has found.
GREATER CHINA - Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese shoppers are among the world's biggest users of coupons and discount deals, a new global research report has found.
AUSTRALIA - Hyundai Motors Australia has launched its i40 Touring model, with a dramatic and visual campaign that looks to highlight the group's design credentials.
ASIA-PACIFIC - GolinHarris has signed former Unilever marketer Simon Ruparelia to lead its digital offering across the Asia-Pacific region.
BRUSSELS - The latest research from the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has found that media agency remuneration strategies are changing, with most contracts moving away from commission payments. Brands are also increasingly opting for region-wide media agency appointments, rather than single-market pitches.
SYDNEY - McCann Worldgroup Australia has confirmed its acquisition of local independent agency Smart. But it is the incoming agency leaders who will take on the key roles of the merged entity, now rebranded as McCann Erickson Australia.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Social network marketing software provider Buddy Media is set to open an Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore, bringing in Ken Mandel as its managing director.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Calvin Soh, vice-chairman and chief creative officer for Publicis across Asia-Pacific, is understood to be leaving the agency and will be announcing his departure within the next month.
SPIKES ASIA – In a wide-ranging live interview with Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Atifa Silk, global CEO of the Omnicom Group John Wren offers his thoughts on the network’s outlook, its position in the ongoing battle for creative talent, and the importance of Asia in a faltering world economy.
SINGAPORE - Alex Kwon, creative director of Cheil Worldwide Korea, says agencies working in Korea have to understand the key facets of local lifestyles and adapt their campaigns accordingly.
SINGAPORE - Organisers have confirmed a record number of entries for this year's Spikes Asia festival, which kicks off on Sunday 19 September.
SHANGHAI - Measured media advertising spend in China is expected to grow to US$54.2 billion this year, according to a new forecast by GroupM China.
SINGAPORE - It doesn’t matter where you are early next week. All the news, views, and pictures from Spikes Asia 2011 will be available via the festival’s new application for the iPad and iPhone.
KUALA LUMPUR - Maxus has confirmed its win of the L’Oréal account in Malaysia.
ASIA-PACIFIC – Ogilvy and Mather has unveiled several big changes at the top of its organisational chart in Asia-Pacific, including two new positions on its executive council for the region.
LONDON - Former Saatchi & Saatchi CEO in Asia-Pacific Ian Rowden has resurfaced in the top global marketing role for the Virgin Group.
SINGAPORE - Tim Love, CEO of Omnicom Group Asia-Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa, says there are concerns that overregulation of media industries around the world could prove counter-productive.
SINGAPORE - This year's Spikes Asia festival of creativity will feature a number of strong networking opportunities, including the opening night reception sponsored by TBWA.
DETROIT - General Motors' global US$3 billion media pitch won't include the business for China and India, but there's still plenty of prizes in Asia.
NEW YORK CITY - JWT New York is to lead a global marketing campaign for the US after winning a pitch against two undisclosed agencies.
ASIA-PACIFIC – Marketing financial services can be a tough task, but no more so than in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis. That's when Julie Lyle signed on as chief marketing officer for Prudential Corporation Asia.
HONG KONG - Cathay Pacific's decision to delay the second phase of its global campaign, in light of a series of lewd photographs of airline employees, was an effective and prudent one, PR leaders in Asia say.
ASIA-PACIFIC - Strategic communications provider Financial Dynamics Asia-Pacific has rebranded in line with its parent company FTI Consulting.
