Live Issue... Battered Batey looks for new role in changing times
As Alan Fairnington (pictured) points out, most articles about Batey these days end up being negative.
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Profile... Candid Singaporean out to revive ailing Tiger
Beer marketing veteran Edmond Neo is charged with restoring the city's famous brew to its former glory.
Live Issue... Emerging markets feel the heat as economies cool
Asia's emerging markets have become a new focus for marketers over recent years.
Media Prima scales back expansion plan
KUALA LUMPUR - Media Prima has been forced to rethink aggressive regional expansion plans due to growing global economic pressures.
Profile... Low aims to make mio TV the market leader
Mio TV chief Low Ka Hoe intends to turn SingTel into a world-class integrated multimedia firm.
Profile... National doctor finds shock is the best medicine
The head of Singapore's Health Promotion Board is unapologetic about employing some gruesome tactics.
Grand Prix sponsors leap into action
SINGAPORE - Marketing activity around the inaugural Singapore Formula One Grand Prix has finally sprung to life just a few weeks before the chequered flag is waved on 28 September.
Profile... The internet revolutionary with sensible shoes
Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales may look like a professor, but he is bringing his knowledge crusade to Asia.
Profile... The path ahead for Malaysia's turnaround king
The 39-year old CEO of Malaysia's largest media company sees growth potential at home and abroad.
Live Issue... Isaac prepares to fill big shoes at Ogilvy Asia-Pacific
The Englishman was not everyone's favourite to succeed Miles Young (pictured) as Ogilvy's chairman in the region.
Feature... Preparing for the downturn
As the global economy continues to slow, is Asia immune from the bust and, if not, can marketers adapt?
Adidas appoints Iris for global running duties
LONDON - Sportswear giant adidas has appointed integrated agency Iris to handle strategy, advertising, retail and experiential marketing for its running category globally.
Chauhan takes reins at Rediffusion DYR
MUMBAI - Rediffusion DYR has replaced Diwan Arun Nanda with Mahesh Chauhan (pictured) as the agency's group CEO.
Singapore Police renews Dentsu contract
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Police Force has renewed its S$1 million (US$700,000) advertising contract with Dentsu as the force looks to attract a higher calibre of recruits.
Guinness set to bring 'Rise together' to Asia
ASIA-PACIFIC -Diageo will introduce to Asia its global 'Rise together' positioning for Guinness as part of a plan to revive the fortunes of the iconic stout in the region.
BBH Asia-Pacific restructures creative department as Waldron departs
SINGAPORE - BBH Asia-Pacific has restructured its creative department in Singapore in response to new business growth and the departure of executive creative director Todd Waldron (pictured).
River Orchid hires M&C Saatchi talent
BANGKOK - River Orchid Group has hired four ex-members of the now defunct M&C Saatchi Thailand, including its erstwhile managing director David Howell (pictured).
Floundering Proton pins hopes on launch of MPV
KUALA LUMPUR - Troubled state-owned carmaker Proton is hoping that the imminent launch of an as-yet-unnamed MPV model will help revive its fortunes in Malaysia.
HP kicks off regional retail review
SINGAPORE - Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest computer supplier, has initiated a search for an agency to handle its retail marketing business across Asia-Pacific, an account divided among a number of agencies.
BBH hires JWT planning head Walawalkar
SINGAPORE - BBH Singapore has appointed JWT planning director Ayesha Walawalkar (pictured) to oversee planning for Unilever's Vaseline brand across the region.
Y&R and Bates141 compete for OCBC Bank's BTL
SINGAPORE - Two shortlisted agencies are in contention for the below-the-line portion of OCBC Bank's regional creative review.
Vietnam government hires Ogilvy in anti-bureaucracy drive
HO CHI MINH CITY - Vietnam's Office of Government (OOG) has hired Ogilvy & Mather to communicate its efforts to tackle bureaucracy in the country.
VW draws up Singapore shortlist
SINGAPORE - Volkswagen has narrowed its search for an advertising agency in Singapore ahead of the imminent closure of its current agency M&C Saatchi.
RMG Connect's Davies shifts to global role at OgilvyOne
ASIA-PACIFIC - Paul Davies (pictured), the president and founder of RMG Connect Asia-Pacific, is leaving the network to join WPP network rival OgilvyOne as worldwide senior vice-president based in Singapore.
Malaysia's ad industry issues new code of conduct
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's advertising industry has released a new code of conduct for print and outdoor advertisers to cover controversial areas such as green claims in advertising.
Buxton-Leow departs MediaCorp Publishing
SINGAPORE - Media industry veteran Joanne Buxton-Leow (pictured), VP of marketing for MediaCorp Publishing, has left the company after a five-year tenure.
Malaysia's Ministry of Health issues tender
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Ministry of Health has issued a tender for a four-month advertising campaign to raise awareness of the hereditary blood disorder thalassaemia.
Profile... The man to turn South Johor into a metropolis
Razaleigh Zainal has ambitous plans to turn a tired manufacturing zone in Malaysia into an investment hub.
MEC expands regional digital
SINGAPORE - MEC Interaction has expanded its Singapore-based regional digital team to eight people with the appointments of Rachna Julka from GroupM Interaction India and Shreedharan Raman from MindShare India.
River Orchid signs ex-M&C Saatchi MD Howell
BANGKOK - River Orchid Group has hired four ex-members of the now defunct M&C Saatchi Thailand, including its erstwhile managing director David Howell.
Subaru searches for agency partner in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Motor Image Enterprises, the Singapore distributor of Subaru, is talking to agencies ahead of the imminent the closure of its existing agency partner Bridgepoint Advertising.
Singapore Air Force launches 'Wind' brand campaign
SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Air Force has launched a corporate brand campaign to position itself as a premium armed entity as the city-state celebrates 43 years of nationhood.
HSBC reviews $70m marketing in China
BEIJING - HSBC is reviewing its US$70 million marketing activities in China as the world's second largest bank pursues an aggressive expansion strategy in the country.
The Pizza Company appoints Creative Juice Thailand
BANGKOK - The Pizza Company has appointed Creative Juice/G1 to create advertising for its delivery service, as the company looks to increase its market lead over fast-food delivery rivals McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut.
Troubled Proton selects McCann in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - Arguably Malaysia's most prestigious pitch of the year, the RM45 million (US$14 million) advertising review for troubled national carmaker Proton, has concluded with incumbent McCann Erickson emerging as the winner.
Golden Communications makes senior hire
HO CHI MINH CITY - Vietnamese agency Golden Communications, which has been subject to takeover speculation, has appointed industry veteran Hoang Anh Ng as VP of Golden Communications Group and MD of Golden Advertising.
IRDA escapes pitch fees
KUALA LUMPUR - A disagreement between the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA) and the 4As has moved towards a resolution after the advertising industry body conceded that IRDA does not have to pay a pitch fee now mandatory for large advertisers in Malaysia.
New-look Straits Times gets lukewarm reception
SINGAPORE - Media agencies and advertisers have given a lukewarm reception to the redesigned The Straits Times that launches tomorrow (Friday 8 August) amid fears of further ratecard hikes from Singapore's flagship national broadsheet.
Y&R regional ECD departs agency abruptly
SINGAPORE - Y&R's regional ECD Rowan Chanen is leaving the network without a job to go to after the abrupt appointment of ex-TBWA\Singapore art director Marcus Rebeschini as chief creative officer for Asia.
Adspend drops ahead of Cambodian poll
PHNOM PENH - Advertising spend in Cambodia has fallen considerably since the beginning of the year, as marketers took a cautious approach in the run-up to the recent parliamentary election.
Windsor looks for new markets
ASIA-PACIFIC - Diageo has awarded regional advertising duties for its Windsor premium whisky brand to McCann Worldgroup as the drinks giant looks to expand the beverage beyond its core market in Korea.
OMD strengthens regional digital team in Singapore
SINGAPORE - OMD has strengthened its Singapore-based digital team with three appointments - Jasmine Pang and Karen Kwan from MEC and Rochelle Lobo from Media Contacts - to service recently - won clients Intel, Estee Lauder and Johnson & Johnson.
Y&R acquisition talks with The Upper Storey fall through
SINGAPORE - Lengthy acquisition negotiations between WPP network Y&R and Singaporean digital agency The Upper Storey have fallen through.
Kelly quits TBWA\Singapore
SINGAPORE - TBWA\Tequila Singapore's creative integrator Graham Kelly (pictured) has resigned from his post a little over a year and a half after joining the agency.
Y&R Asia appoints Rebeschini as chief creative officer
ASIA-PACIFIC - Y&R has appointed former TBWA\Singapore art director Marcus Rebeschini (pictured) as chief creative officer for Asia, a move which leaves regional ECD Rowan Chanen without a job to go to.
Lee steps down at OgilvyOne Malaysia, Ang promoted to new role
KUALA LUMPUR - OgilvyOne Malaysia MD Alex Lee is stepping down after three years running the agency, a shift that sees ECD Selina Ang (pictured) take on a new role as executive director.
Coke China trumpets ethical marketing
BEIJING - In the same week that Greenpeace issued a critique of the environmental footprint of Olympic sponsors, Coca-Cola has released a report trumpeting its sustainability commitments in China.
Bates141 confirms 10AM acquisition
SINGAPORE - WPP agency network Bates141 has announced the acquisition of Singaporean creative hotshop 10AM Communications, confirming the news broken by Media earlier this year (Media 17 March).
Zenith rolls out search and mobile marketing tools
SINGAPORE - ZenithOptimedia is rolling out a new search tool across the region which the agency claims gives its clients a competitive edge in search marketing on Chinese-language websites.
Publishers voice copyright concerns over mygazines.com
ASIA-PACIFIC - Magazine publishers in Asia have reacted cautiously to the launch of mygazines.com, a website that allows people to upload magazines and share content without approval from media owners.
Sponsors hit back over Greenpeace report
BEIJING - Olympic sponsors have responded vehemently to a report from Greenpeace released yesterday that scrutinises their environmental credentials.
Siva takes top job at Grey Group PR Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - Grey Group has promoted head of corporate practice Raymond Siva (pictured) to the role of acting head. He replaces Chong Wei-Hsiang who left the agency to join Naga DDB's PR arm earlier this month (Media 4 July).
APP sponsors Indonesian Idol as Paseo pitches stall
JAKARTA - Controversial Indonesian company Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has moved to raise its profile through the sponsorship of one of the country's most popular shows, Indonesian Idol.
Greenpeace hits back in Olympic sponsors row
BEIJING - Olympic sponsors Lenovo and Panasonic have drawn further criticism from Greenpeace, which is unsatisfied with the companies' environmental commitment in the run-up to the Games.
OMD International launches in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Omnicom's OMD has rolled out its multinational client unit OMD International in Singapore.
Profile... Tortoise and hare plot a race-winning strategy
They may have little in common, but Starcom's new leaders share a common vision.
Profile... Thompson toasts brave new era for Guinness
The head of marketing for Diageo Asia-Pacific has his work cut out to revive flagging sales in the region.
Audi Singapore and Batey negotiate new contract
SINGAPORE - Audi is renegotiating a new contract with Batey, its creative partner in Singapore, amid rumours of unease between client and agency.
Greenpeace scrutinises 'greenness' of Olympic sponsors
BEIJING - Ahead of what has been billed as a 'green Olympics', Greenpeace has slammed a number of key sponsors of the Games for their environmental commitment.
Diageo picks McCann to drive Windsor's regional expansion
SINGAPORE - After a hard-fought three-month review, Diageo has awarded regional advertising duties for its Windsor whiskey brand to McCann Worldgroup as the drinks giant looks to introduce the beverage into new markets in Asia-Pacific.
Singapore Tourism refuses to blame advertising for fall in visitor numbers
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has refused to place any blame for a slowdown in the growth of visitor numbers on the performance of its 'Uniquely Singapore' campaign.
Malaysian 4As waives IRDA's pitch fee
KUALA LUMPUR - A disagreement between the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA) and the 4As has moved towards a resolution after the advertising industry body conceded that IRDA does not have to pay a pitch fee now mandatory for large advertisers in Malaysia.
BBDO Singapore hires L'Oréal marketer King
SINGAPORE - BBDO Singapore has hired L'Oréal marketer Jason King (pictured) as planning director.
Lowe appoints Mishra to run regional Wall's business
BANGKOK - Lowe Worldwide has appointed Sabyasachi Mishra (pictured), the MD of its Vietnam operation, as regional business director for its recently won Unilever ice cream business.
OMD withdraws from $25m Sara Lee media review
ASIA-PACIFIC - OMD has withdrawn from the upcoming US$25 million regional media review of Sara Lee because of conflict with Reckitt Benckiser, one of the Omnicom network's largest globally aligned clients.
M1 marketing chief leaves after 12 years
SINGAPORE - Sharon Tan (pictured), the director of marketing services for Singaporean telco MobileOne, is leaving after 12 years with the company.
Y&R fortunes up despite setbacks in the region
SINGAPORE - Y&R may be underweight in China and suffering mixed fortunes in Asia, but the WPP network looks set to meet its global revenue targets, Hamish McLennan (pictured), the agency's global chairman and CEO has told Media.
OCBC creative pitch leaves agencies sour
SINGAPORE - OCBC's regional creative review has turned sour after complaints by agencies that the pitch has been unprofessionally run.
IRDA in pitch fees dispute with Malaysian 4As
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA) has become embroiled in a dispute over pitch fees with the Malaysian 4As.
Affin Bank seeks agency ahead of marketing drive
KUALA LUMPUR - Affin Bank has invited agencies to present credentials ahead of a marketing offensive to boost the company's lowly standing in Malaysia's financial services market.
GroupM Philippines hires ex-actor as digital consultant
MANILA - GroupM has hired ex-actor, product developer and graphic designer Ricky Baizas (pictured) as a digital consultant to all of GroupM's agency brands in the Philippines.
Adspend falls as elections approach in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH - Advertising spend in Cambodia has fallen considerably since the beginning of the year, as marketers take a cautious approach in the run-up to the parliamentary elections next week.
Standard Chartered to revamp web presence
SINGAPORE - Standard Chartered Private Bank is looking for an agency to help it revamp its global web presence.
Singapore Customs pitches creative
SINGAPORE - Singapore Customs is searching for an advertising agency as the government body looks to promote its role in clamping down on duty-unpaid cigarettes and other border-related offences.
Yahoo eyes Philippine online advertising market
MANILA - Yahoo has appointed three online resellers to handle its advertising sales in the Philippines, a country it has earmarked for its long-term market potential.
NTUC FairPrice appoints Euro RSCG as lead agency
SINGAPORE - NTUC FairPrice, Singapore's largest supermarket chain, has appointed Euro RSCG as its lead agency in the city-state after a six-way creative review.
Publicis Modem launches in Korea with Portfolio acquisition
SEOUL - Publicis Groupe has acquired the 11 year-old Korean interactive marketing agency Portfolio, a move that establishes fledgling digital network Publicis Modem in the Northeast Asian country.
GroupM Thailand unveils new management structure
BANGKOK - GroupM has unveiled a new leadership team in Thailand, with MindShare's head of strategy Paul Gibbons promoted to managing director and current MindShare MD Stephanie Bell (pictured) rising to CEO and chairman of GroupM Thailand.
OCBC confronts claims of unprofessionalism, Euro and Y&R make shortlist
SINGAPORE - OCBC Bank has challenged accusations that its regional creative review has been beset by withdrawals and unprofessionally run.
Maybank reviews advertising in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Maybank, Malaysia's largest financial services group, is reviewing its advertising activity in Singapore as the company searches for a long-term strategic partner to improve its standing in the market.
Diageo hires Momentum for Guinness 9-Ball Tour final
JAKARTA - Diageo has appointed Momentum Worldwide Indonesia to handle its activation business for the final stage of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour, to be held in Jakarta in late October.
Publicis Groupe India hires marketing journalist Balakrishnan
MUMBAI - Publicis Groupe India has appointed marketing journalist Ravi Balakrishnan (pictured) to the management team of its small town and rural marketing division Xpanse.
Golden hires new MD and CD
HO CHI MINH CITY - Golden Communications, one of Vietnam's largest full-service agencies, has appointed former Bates, BBDO and Storm Eye executive Hoang Anh Ng as VP of Golden Communications Group and MD of Golden Advertising.
M1 hires Nokia Singapore marketer Ramalingam
SINGAPORE - MobileOne has recruited Nokia marketer Ramalingam Shanmugam following the exit of director of marketing services Sharon Tan (Media 17 July).
Coke hires Ogilvy to lead sustainability drive
SINGAPORE - Coca-Cola has awarded a regional marketing brief to Ogilvy as the soft drinks giant looks to push its sustainability credentials in Asia-Pacific.
Tan ends a 12-year spell with M1
SINGAPORE - Sharon Tan (pictured), the head of marketing of Singaporean telco MobileOne, is leaving after 12 years with the company.
Nokia hires Cuyegkeng for SE Asia mobile
SINGAPORE - Nokia has expanded its Asia-Pacific mobile advertising sales team with the appointment of Vinchi Cuyegkeng as sales head for Southeast Asia and Pacific.
Astro's Syron fills head of content role at StarHub
SINGAPORE - StarHub has filled its long-vacant head of content position with Kathleen Syron, the programming head at Malaysian media giant Astro.
Thai PR firm restructures in line with CSR trend
BANGKOK - Thai public relations firm DC Consultants has restructured its management line-up in response to growing demand for PR based around corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Kingdom.
Singapore Institute of Management pitches creative
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Institute of Management is searching for an agency to handle its above- and below-the-line advertising business as M&C Saatchi, SIM's incumbent agency, prepares to shut up shop in Singapore.
MEC hires Francia-Munar to run Philippine operation
MANILA - WPP media agency MEC has hired Achie Francia-Munar to run its Philippines operation as managing director.
Ogilvy and Leo Burnett face off for Chevy
SINGAPORE - Competition for General Motors' regional creative pitch for Chevrolet has thinned to two agencies, with Ogilvy Advertising understood to be contesting a final round with Leo Burnett, the incumbent.
Yellow Pages turns to Religion in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Yellow Pages has appointed independent agency Religion to handle its advertising in Singapore as the directory attempts to communicate its relevance in the face of increasing competition online.
Yahoo appoints online resellers in the Philippines
MANILA - Yahoo has appointed three online reselling houses - AdMax Network, Yehey and Havoc Digital Media - to handle its advertising sales in the Philippines.
The Talent Business appoints Y&R's Khoo to run China business
BEIJING - Recruitment consultancy The Talent Business has hired the general manager of Y&R, Linda Khoo (pictured), as the managing director of its Greater China operation.
Guinness turns to BBDO in Asia
Asia-Pacific - After a long, hard-fought pitch, Diageo has handed Asia-Pacific creative duties for Guinness to BBDO as the alcoholic drinks giant looks to revive the fortunes of its iconic beer in the region.
TBWA and Formul8 vie for global Standard Chartered web brief
SINGAPORE - Standard Chartered Private Bank is pitching a brief for the revamp of its global web presence, with agency-of-record TBWA\Tequila fighting it out with independent agency Formul8 in the final round.
Wikipedia rebuffs China's censorship demands
NEW YORK - Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, will not bow to pressure from China to censor its content, founder Jimmy Wales (pictured) has insisted in an interview with Media.
Sentosa embarks on media agency review
SINGAPORE - Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), the Government-linked company which manages and promotes Singapore's most popular tourist destination, has initiated a review of its media agency arrangements.
Proton global pitch down to McCann Erickson and M&C Saatchi
KUALA LUMPUR - Proton is expected to choose between McCann Erickson and M&C Saatchi after a final round of pitching for the Malaysian national carmaker's RM45 million (US$14 million) global advertising account.