Move and win roundup: Week of January 28, 2019

Tourism New Zealand has appointed Digitas Singapore as their digital integrated agency for Singapore and Indonesia responsible for digital creative work to drivie tourism from those markets following a competitive pitch process against two other agencies. This creative mandate is in addition to Digitas' current role as Tourism New Zealand’s media agency for South East Asian, China and India.

Puma India has appointed Digitas India as its digital partner for the Puma product range as well as the One8 brand that is powered by Puma following a multi-agency pitch. The mandate includes digital creative, social media, content and advocacy and will be handled by Digitas’ newly launched Bengaluru office.

Brisbane-based creative agency Khemistry rebranded as GrowthOps, following its decision to join the growth services partner, which listed on the ASX in March 2018. Andy Fyffe and Ashton Ward founded Khemistry in 2004.

China Eastern Media has appointed Transmission Creative as its media buying agency in Hong Kong for China Eastern Airline. 

WPP AUNZ merged customised-research houses AMR and Colmar Brunton under the name Colmar Brunton. The company will continue to be led by CEO Joan Young supported by chief operating officer Maree Taylor and chief client officer Jenny Witham. Colmar Brunton has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

Cognito, a finance, technology and professional services communications agency, appointed Sid Kapur as digital director, APAC. He will be based in the APAC headquarters in Singapore and will oversee all digital projects across Cognito’s offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. He was previously digital services director at Construct Digital, a Singapore-based digital agency.

Geometry Japan appointed Fumitaka Takano as executive creative director. He was previously creative director and communication architect at ADK Tokyo.

GPJ Australia was appointed as the experiential agency of record for the Tourism Western Australia, following a competitive pitch. The agency will deliver experiential, creative, strategy, activation and production services.

Inskin Media appointed Darryl Choo, previously account manager at BBC Global News, as head of sales for Southeast Asia, heading up a newly expanded sales team.

Sinclair announced a series of new business wins. The agency has been reappointed as PR, digital and social-media agency in Hong Kong for Singapore Tourism Board, extending a six-year relationship for an additional 2+1 years from this month. Meanehile, Tourism Australia has tapped the agency to build campaigns with a strong storytelling component to attract Hong Kong visitors to Australia. For Resorts World Sentosa, Sinclair will devise and implement content-driven campaigns. And Plaza Premium Group appointed Sinclair to develop creative, cross-channel communications strategy for its Plaza Premium First, Plaza Premium Lounge and Aerotels brands in the Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR markets.

Merkle appointed Ted Bray as managing director of Merkle Southeast Asia, in addition to his current role as senior vice president and chief growth officer for Asia Pacific. (Read more)

BBC Studios named Lion & Lion as digital agency for a BBC Earth digital campaign, including the launch of BBC’s latest natural history series, Dynasties. Lion & Lion will be responsible for digital content, social and audience engagement, and driving media in order to build anticipation and viewership for the series. The agency will also develop the integrated digital strategy to drive viewership of the BBC Earth channel in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.

WSC Sports, a sports highlights platform, appointed Guy Port as head of Asia Pacific. He was most recently APAC MD of Nielsen Sports (formerly Repucom), where he spent 14 years. WSC Sports' technology is in use by the NBA, Cricket Australia, and NBL. He is based in Sydney. 

MSL hired Luc Mandret as general manager of its Vietnam operations. Mandret was previously general manager at Havas Riverorchid in Cambodia. He will lead MSL Vietnam across both its offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Joseph Leveque joined Splio as China marketing and business development director for a timebound mission while still keeping his shareholdership at his previous company 31Ten. He has taken a step back from his management role there, and still represents the firm as head of marketing and partner.

FleishmanHillard promoted Patrick Yu to general manager and Kitty Lee to deputy general manager of the PR agency's Hong Kong office. Yu succeeded Geoff Bilbrough, who stepped down to return to New Zealand. Yu was previously deputy general manager and will continue as the office's financial and professional services lead. Lee will also continue to co-lead the APAC consumer practice. 

Wavemaker has been appointed media agency of record for Thai Glico and Glico Frozen (Thailand) following a competitive pitch, covering their entire portfolio of products, including Pocky, Pretz and Giant Cone. Wavemaker will oversee the delivery of fully integrated media campaigns, covering all areas of planning, buying, digital & technology and activation. “Glico is one of the most loved iconic brand in the world and we are excited to have been given the opportunity to help reshape the business transformation,” Wavemaker Thailand MD Christina Vatcharanetr said in a release. 

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) appointed former GroupM chief investment officer and head of trading Linda Lim in the newly-created position of chief of advertising partnerships and market development at SPH Integrated Marketing. Lim, with more than 12 years of experience with media owners and media buyers  at GroupM Singapore and StarHub, will work with media buyers and other industry relationships while also taking charge of SPH’s outdoor advertising business, SPHMBO beginning February 1st.

Edelman China appointed Geoffrey Lim, former head of strategy for Ogilvy Shanghai, as chief strategy officer for Edelman China.  Lim will oversee a team of 17 planning specialists across Edelman China’s four offices, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzen

BBDO Guerrero won two "significant" projects from the Philippine Department of Tourism following a pitch. The agency will develop an integrated campaign to be launched this year and following on the 'more fun' theme that BBDO Guerrero first developed in 2012. Separately, the agency will support the department's sustainability agenda with another campaign designed to entice eco-friendly travellers.