Move and win roundup: Week of March 30, 2020

Campaign compiles a new 'Move and win roundup' as each week progresses.  This edition will cover March 30 through April 3, 2020.  Catch up on past people moves and business wins.

Julia Wei has joined Singapore-based PR outfit AKA Asia as managing partner. Wei was formerly GM at The Secret Little Agency and VP, integrated comms, at Lazada. She also spent a decade at Edelman where she rose to the title of consumer head. “Julia is a rare find. We’ve been searching for someone with her hybrid capabilities for some time and in the words of Rihanna, we found love in a hopeless place, what with the COVID-19 challenges of today," said Amy Wright, founding partner at AKA Asia. Wei's new role will include providing creative and strategic stretch, while driving integrated thinking across digital, social and traditional comms.

AE Brands Korea, a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries Europe, has appointed Havas Korea to handle its social media mandate for its portfolio of brands that include Pilsner Urquell, Kozel, Peroni, Grolsch. The agency will be responsible for crafting and executing AE Brands’ social media strategy that includes content creation. The contract is effective immediately.

Foodpanda has selected WhiteLabel PR as its new PR partner in Singapore. The account was previously held by W Communications. WhiteLabel PR will be handling strategies and execution of media relations and public communications work for a period of one year.

MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) MyRepublic appointed strategic communications consultancy Rice to a year-long retainer following a pitch. Rice will drive the brand's communications and public relations programme in Singapore.

Rebecca Boustead has been appointed as executive vice president, food & beverage, Asia Pacific, for Edelman. Prior to this, she helmed a 23-year stint at Kellogg, where she was most recently head of corporate communications, government eelations and public affairs, for Asia Pacific and Sub Saharan Africa. In her new role, she will focus on capability building, client advisory and new business development within the F&B sector. She will report to  Amanda Goh, vice-chair, clients and sectors, Asia Pacific.

Following a pitch, Redhill has been picked as digital marketing agency for Singapore-based early childhood education provider Busy Bees. Redhill will be responsible for the digital content strategy and execution across Facebook and Instagram for eight of Busy Bees’ brands in Singapore, including Pat’s Schoolhouse, Brighton Montessori, Learning Vision, and Small Wonder.

Mediacorp has named Rebecca Lim as head of corporate marketing and communications where she will develop corporate marketing plans to deepen stakeholder engagement, enhance government relations, and reinforce its CSR portfolio. Prior to this, Lim helmed communications at the Smart Nation & Digital Government Office (SNDGO) under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI). In her new role, she will report to Oliver Chong, head of marketing and communications. 

Carat has won Heineken’s media account in China following a pitch. Publicis Media’s Spark Foundry was the incumbent, based on RECMA's report. Dentsu Aegis Network's media network scooped the account after demonstrating "strong strategic thinking and smart data utilization capabilities", the agency said in a release. Heineken was specifically looking for a partner to grow its influence amongst young consumers. The appointment will begin in April and covers media planning and buying, including the brand's integrated media marketing activities.

Indonesian cosmetics manufacturer Paragon Technology and Innovation has appointed PHD to manage the digital planning and buying duties for its Emina and Make Over lines. The Omnicom agency beat out four other agencies for the account, which went into review in December. PHD’s digital capabilities and media creativity were cited as key drivers of the agency’s appointment. The appointment goes into effect from April 1.

Video streaming platform Dailymotion has struck a partnership with demand-side ad firm Yazle Media, to offer advertisers in Thailand the ability to purchase ads alongside Dailymotion's premium video portfolio (not user-generated video). Yazle Media has offices in nine markets globally and is headquartered in Dubai. Yazle Media will be representing Dailymotion exclusively in Thailand.