Campaign Asia

M&C Saatchi wins US$107 million Commonwealth Bank account

SYDNEY - M&C Saatchi has been named lead advertising agency for Australia's Commonwealth Bank, one of the world's 50 biggest financial institutions.

Chris Chiu takes a step back from Leo Burnett Singapore

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.

Measuring communication: Your opinion wanted

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.

Measuring communication: Your opinion wanted

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.

UK-Japan digital agency launches social media service

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.

Iris hires Dan Pankraz as joint regional planning director

SYDNEY -

Garuda takes to Australian airwaves

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.

Ogilvy creates cross-discipline social media practice

HONG KONG - Ogilvy & Mather has announced the launch of "Social@Ogilvy", a new worldwide practice connecting the agency's social-media experts.

Garuda takes to Australian airwaves

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.

McCann launches MRM in Australia

MELBOURNE - McCann has brought its technology-driven marketing services arm MRM to Australia.

Tesco expands its virtual stores to bus stops

SEOUL - Tesco Homeplus is expanding its trial of ground breaking virtual stores, to 20 bus stops in Seoul.

Fleishman-Hillard Singapore hires new social media lead

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.

Integer opens in Mumbai

MUMBAI - Promotional and shopper marketing agency the Integer Group has opened an office in Mumbai, in partnership with TBWA.

TBWA to help NRMA build a car from "extras" only

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.

Mulberry acquires Singapore's Red Dawn Communications

SINGAPORE - International PR firm Mulberry Marketing Communications has made a full acquisition of Singapore agency Red Dawn Communications.

CAMPAIGN TV: Marriott International's socially-focused media strategy

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.

India's Ministry of Tourism returns to Ogilvy Delhi

DELHI - Ogilvy Delhi has been awarded the India Ministry of Tourism creative account, following a multi-agency pitch.

Australian market set for modest media spend growth in 2012: Starcom research

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.

Uniqlo cashing in on Kei Nishikori's Australian Open success

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.

Former Clemenger BBDO creatives launch Nation in Adelaide

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.

Tourism Fiji in search of an advertising partner

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.

Regional ECD John "JJ" Jakubowski departs from OgilvyOne

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.

GfK appoints several executives around Asia-Pacific

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.

Emerging markets "in love" with social media: Forrester Research

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.

Ogilvy & Mather wins global Philips business

GLOBAL - Philips, the electronics giant, has appointed Ogilvy & Mather as the lead creative agency on its US$465 million global advertising account.

Former Miss India helps promote her current employer British Airways

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 hotel group turns guests in to art theives

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.

CASE STUDY: Dettol's unique word-of-mouth campaign in China

SHANGHAI - Word of mouth agency Advocacy says its unique campaign for Reckitt Benckiser brand Dettol proved "15 times more efficient" than television.

CNBC merges Asia-Pacific operations with Europe, the Middle East and Africa

GLOBAL - Business news broadcaster CNBC has merged its Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa operations to form a single entity, CNBC International.

Asatsu-DK partners with co-creation community eYeka

TOKYO - Japanese agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has signed an exclusive strategic partnership in Japan with consumer co-creation nertwork eYeka.

Euro RSCG Sydney promotes four to head creative leadership group

SYDNEY - Euro RSCG Sydney has restructured its creative department, naming four internal candidates as joint creative group heads.

Air New Zealand challenges public to solve mascot murder

GLOBAL - Air New Zealand has released an online Cluedo competition challenging people to solve the murder of its puppet mascot Rico.

Mediabrands signs Yean Cheong as head of digital, Asia

ASIA-PACIFIC - Singaporean Yean Cheong is returning to her home country to take up the key regional digital role for Mediabrands.

Lowe teams with UN Human Rights commission to celebrate "humanity's birthday"

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.

HBO gets to work on first Asia-made feature

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'.

Amanda McGregor steps up to new role at BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand

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.

Dentsu reveals Japan's "hit products" of 2011, smartphones remain on top

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.

Turner reorganises its Asian business and leadership

ASIA-PACIFIC - Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) is restructuring its Asian businesses in order to better reflect the diversity of markets across the region.

Five networks make Campaign's Agency of the Year shortlist

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.

OMD International appoints director of platform strategy

SINGAPORE - OMD International, the arm that manages the media agency's multinational client accounts, has appointed Jonathan Mackenzie as director of platform strategy.

Creativeland Asia appoints Harshad Lad and Neville Shah

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.

CAMPAIGN TV: Ogilvy's digital head on technology changes in 2012

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.

Qantas shortlists three media agencies, and four creative shops

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.

Microsoft to build Asian internet centre in Beijing

BEIJING - Microsoft Corporation plans to rapidly increase its research and development investment in Asia, mostly via a planned research hub in Beijing.

Brendon Smale joins BBH as Asia-Pacific creative director

SINGAPORE - BBH has hired Brendan Smale, formerly of boutique Tokyo agency Syn Create, as its integrated creative director.

Matt Seddon to join as CEO of Saatchis in India

NEW DELHI - Matt Seddon, most recently chief executive officer of Ace Saatchi & Saatchi Manila, will join Saatchi and Saatchi India as CEO.

Syfy channel in search of Asia's young filmmaking talent

SINGAPORE - Regional entertainment television channel, Syfy, is calling on young and emerging filmmakers with its end-of-year short film competition 'Syfy Shorts'.

CASE STUDY: Building an Australia-wide hardware brand in six months

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.

Con Frantzeskos joins Ogilvy Asia-Pacific in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Ogilvy & Mather Asia-Pacific has a new digital engagement director, with Constantine (Con) Frantzeskos joining the team in Singapore, from DDB Melbourne.

Bupa's tear-jerker explores reunions with "our healthier selves"

MELBOURNE - Clemenger BBDO has launched an emotive campaign to launch the new branding for insurance and healthcare group Bupa.

CPA Australia launches in Indonesia, with Hong Kong agency

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.

Procter & Gamble launches own corporate branding in Australia, NZ

SYDNEY - Procter & Gamble plans to introduce its own branding to a range of products in Australia and New Zealand.

Microsoft, AOL, and Yahoo form alliance as the display market shifts again

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.

Ruder Finn partners with Japan's Kyodo PR

TOKYO - Ruder Finn has formed a partnership with Japan's largest independent PR consultancy, Kyodo PR.

Mediahub launches live content market for emerging markets

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.

Hyundai and Microsoft Advertising consider the ways celebrities think

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.

Philips picks Carat and MPG for global media account

GLOBAL - Philips has split its estimated US$100 million worth of media duties between incumbent agency Carat and newcomer MPG.

Iris Singapore expands creative team by six

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.

TV connections still growing: CASBAA

ASIA-PACIFIC - The region now hosts more than 420 million multichannel TV connections, according to the latest market research from CASBAA.

UPDATED: Stephen Mangham and Gary Caulfield depart; David Mayo moves to Jakarta in shakeup at Ogilvy Indonesia

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.

Discovery relaunches its print magazine in Asia

ASIA-PACIFIC - Discovery Channel is set to relaunch its associated magazine across Asia-Pacific this week.

BBDO opens stand-alone Sri Lanka office

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.

WPP launches school of marketing and communications in Shanghai

SHANGHAI – WPP has teamed up with the Shanghai Art & Design Academy (SADA) to establish the WPP School of Marketing and Communications within the campus.

Game developers get a helping hand

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Media Development Authority, together with Nanyang Polytechnic, has launched an assistance service for the city-state's game developers.

Havas growth builds from Asia: 3rd quarter results

PARIS - Havas has reported 5.1 per cent revenue growth (year-on-year) for the third quarter, led largely by its Asia-Pacific division.

Spicers and Block reach out to "extreme" designers

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.

Warc offers US$10,000 prize for innovation

GLOBAL - Marketing research network Warc is seeking out the world's best example of innovation in communications work.

PROFILE: LG's Kenneth Hong talks global marketing from Korea

SEOUL - Kenneth Hong, director of LG's global communications group, reflects on the company and working in the unique Korean market.

Lowe appoints planner for global Unilever role

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.

New STW agency Bohemia looks to leverage on owned media

SYDNEY - A team of STW Group executives have launched a new marketing communications agency, named Bohemia.

Hawai'i Tourism Authority selects key Asia-Pacific marketing partners

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.

Rob Atkinson to lead Adshel in Australia and New Zealand

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.

Spinach real estate campaign urges gamers to defend their home

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.

Ruder Finn eyes organic expansion in India and beyond

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.

Andy Fackrell joins DDB New Zealand as ECD

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.

Kia and Innocean demand respect in new TV campaign

SYDNEY - Innocean Australia's latest TVC effort for Kia

Digital Media Awards shortlists announced

ASIA-PACIFIC - 134 entries have been shortlisted for this year's Digital Media Awards Asia. The winners will be announced on 9 November.

Marketers still struggling with social media: Weber Shandwick study

GLOBAL - Brands are still failing to build distinctive social identities, a new study by Weber Shandwick and Forbes Insights has found.

Nielsen reveals China's world-leading love of coupons

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.

Hyundai and Innocean 'make an impression' on Western Australian outback

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.

Simon Ruparelia joins GolinHarris as digital head

ASIA-PACIFIC - GolinHarris has signed former Unilever marketer Simon Ruparelia to lead its digital offering across the Asia-Pacific region.

Advertisers shift away from commissions: WFA

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.

Acquisition puts heads of Smart in the McCann Australia driving seat

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.

Yahoo's Ken Mandel joins Buddy Media as MD of its new Asia-Pacific HQ

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.

Calvin Soh set to depart from Publicis

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.

Omnicom's John Wren reflects on the network, the industry, and Asia

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.

The keys to creative success in Korea: Cheil's Alex Kwon

Paul Howell