Move and win roundup: Week of April 1, 2019

Data research firm Kantar has named Pablo Gomez its chief digital officer for North Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, responsible for driving digital capability and helping clients with technology-driven advances.

Essence appointed Atrayee Chakraborty as vice president of integrated media planning in India, based in Mumbai. Chakraborty, who most recently was regional head of media for APAC at WPP’s Red Fuse Communications will lead the integrated media planning practice across all channels for Essence’s clients in India. 

This Place, a digital design and user experience agency, announced a new Hong Kong office, which joins the headquarters in London and offices in Seattle and Tokyo. The expansion follows the signing of Dairy Farm as a client. The Hong Kong branch will be led by Andy McGinn, COO, who joined This Place in 2016.

Singapore Media Exchange (SMX), the advertising exchange set up by Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp, signed seven new media publishers and marketplace owners: Viuin in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines; Carousell in Singapore; Mudah and Blaze Digital by Astro in Malaysia; Sanook and Kaidee in Thailand and GMA New Media in the Philippines. The company also announced it had hired Rahul Raj, formerly programmatic director with Dentsu Aegis Network, as programmatic market development director. He will help SMX work with brands and agencies in Singapore to meet their programmatic demand and drive further adoption for premium programmatic.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings announces that its strategic operating unit Kyu acquired a majority share in Atölye Yaratıcı Proje Geliştirme Eğitim Danışmanlık Tasarım Hizmetleri ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (“Atölye”), which is billed as an innovation platform and is headquartered in Istanbul. Atölye operates the Design Studio, which provides consulting services, and the Creative Hub, a co-working business. The company already collaborates with Kyu members IDEO and SYPartners. 

Red Bull Australia appointed Mindshare Sydney to handle its main media account following a competitive pitch. The agency will take on all strategy, planning and buying for the brand across all channels.

The Works was appointed as lead creative agency for The Smith Family, an Australian children’s charity following a pitch. The agency will manage creative strategy, creative and direct response for The Smith Family’s multiple campaigns, to deliver on its five-year growth and innovation strategy.

AppNexus promoted Samuel Tan to senior director, JAPAC market development. Based in Sydney his previous remit was just for Australia and New Zealand. Tan will be responsible for AppNexus' go-to-market strategy across the region. He joined AppNexus in 2014, having previously worked at PwC and IBM.

Production company Collider has launched a new experience division, Lunar, and appointed managing director and partner Rachael Ford-Davies to lead it. The company has also appointed Michael Dole as executive artistic and experience director and Annabel Stevens as executive producer of digital. Dole has past experience with Wieden+Kennedy, Mojo, Clemenger BBDO, Sapient and Dentsu. Stevens joins from software and technology company Snepo, where she was executive producer.

Laura Quigley becomes managing director of Southeast Asia at Integral Ad Science (IAS), a promotion from her previous role at the company as director, public solutions, APAC. Quigley will be based in Singapore, reporting to Stephan Dolan, APAC MD, who said that Quigley will lead the "growth proposition" for IAS in the Southeast Asia region.

Patrick Miciano was appointed executive creative director of Grey Group Indonesia. Miciano joins Grey from DDB MNL, where he spent eight years working on brands such as Volkswagen, Kia and Isuzu.

GroupM appointed David Fish as chief client and business partner in Australia and New Zealand, a newly created role. He will work to align GroupM and agency teams, goals and operational structures, reporting to GroupM Australia & New Zealand CEO Mark Lollback. Fish is currently managing director of Media Lab, GroupM’s bespoke agency serving Westpac. The company is now searching for a general manager for Media Lab, and Fish will continue to oversee the business.

Digitas hired Toby Ruddock as client partner for APAC. He joined from Havas Media in Dubai, where he was global client officer responsible for Emirates Group, and brings more than 20 years' experience having also worked at MediaCom, Starcom and Mindshare. At Digitas, Ruddock will oversee the regional Visa business through the agency's Visa One team.

McCann Japan appointed Yousuke Shibuya as client service director. He spent 12 years with TBWA Hakuhodo and was most recently GM of business development at Quantum. He has also worked for Toyota’s in-house agency Delphys and has experience with clients in the auto, apparel, and restaurant industries.

IPG Mediabrands agency Initiative appointed Caleb Watson as general manager in Guangzhou. He was previously GM of Starcom in Brisbane and has also held roles at Telstra and Ikon Sydney. He will report to Richard Zhang, MD of Initiative Shanghai.

Hotel brand Generator appointed Ruder Finn Hong Kong for its Greater China communications and its Asia social-media channels. For the communications retainer, the agency will be looking to enhance brand awareness and drive sales in Greater China. For the social-media retainer, Ruder Finn will develop content and establish Generator’s social-media presence in Greater China, enhance awareness and drive room bookings for Chinese tourists travelling to Europe.

Line appointed Jungho Shin, it chief WOW officer (CWO), as co-CEO. He will work alongside Takeshi Idezawa, the CEO and president, while retaining his CWO role. The company said Shin has been behind the creation of many services, inlcuding the Line messaging app, and has spearheaded the company's growth internationally.