Dentsu Media opens in Malaysia under Yap Chee Weng

The new company, which is a core element of the group’s media business in Malaysia, will begin operations next month with 12 employees. It will be led by Yap Chee Weng, who left Starcom Mediavest Group (SMG) in 2009 to pursue other interests outside the industry. Yap’s position in SMG was subsequently filled by Ranganathan Somanathan.

Yap joined Dentsu Group last year to set up Dentsu Media Malaysia.

Akira Nomoto, vice president at Dentsu Media Malaysia, noted that Malaysia is a growing market and it is worth investing there.

"Malaysia is one of our missing pieces in SEA region," Nomoto told Campaign Asia-Pacific. "From our point of view, the entity will contribute to provide media and integrated services to our regional clients."

Dentsu Malaysia is currently handling media duties for clients such as Canon, Sharp and Malaysia Airport.

"With our new CEO, we are sure to expand our business. We believe we can leverage on his experience and network to grow. More than that, we are glad to provide integrated communication services to our clients. Now we are equipping some new tools, studies and IPs and we believe those will be new solutions to them.

Dentsu Media Malaysia will work alongside Dentsu’s existing two local brand agencies, Dentsu Malaysia and Dentsu Utama, to enhance full-service capabilities for clients and contribute to the group's further growth and expansion in the country.

The trio will develop services that are directed toward the acquisition of new regional and local clients in addition to Japanese clients.

This marks the 10th agency under the Dentsu Media network, after Taiwan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Korea, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Dentsu Media Malaysia will leverage off the group’s media services expertise, which includes planning methods, analysis tools and digital business expertise, as well as sports and entertainment content resources.

Dentsu Media Vietnam began operations in January, as part of Dentsu Group’s strategy to establish a network of media agencies across the region.