Digital happenings this week from Mediabrands, Wunderman, Garnier and more

IPG Mediabrands has hired RamaKrishna (Ram) Raja as its new head of digital in Thailand. Raja joins from Iris Worldwide where he was in charge of the company's digital business in India. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing and streamlining  the agency's full-service digital capability and driving digital thought leadership in the market. 

Leo Burnett Hong Kong chief digital officer Anna Chan has resigned from her post after one year in the role. Chan has 12 years experience and joined Leo Burnett from Reprise Media Asia on 14 March last year. Her resignation becomes effective at the end of March. 

In a video interview with Microsoft last week, Ken Chang, APAC commercial director for advertising and online at Microsoft, confirmed that mobile is one of the company's biggest priorities moving forward alongside a continued focus on forging strategic partnerships. Microsoft is planning effective web and app strategies to capture audiences, including launching a mobile app for Android, IOS and Blackberry.

WPP agency Wunderman has won the digital duties for The Coca-Cola Company in Vietnam.  The agency will handle digital strategy, campaign activation, social media and analytics for the beverage brand as it moves to build stronger digital engagements with target audiences in the country.

HSBC has launched an interactive TV wall at Hong Kong Station as part of a wealth management campaign to get people thinking about their long term financial security. Motion-sensor technology combined with live-feed imaging sees passers-by projected across 32 flat panel TVs with thought bubbles pondering their financial future. 

Singaporean telco SingTel has aquired US-based advertising platform provider Amobee for US$321 million. The move marks SingTel commitment to provide brands with geo-targeted customised advertising across its 400 million customers in 25 countries. Pending a regional restructure, Amobee will fall under a new digital life unit serving to promote the telco in the digital ecosystem. 

The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) honoured UK-news publication The Telegraph with the top award for its new online advertising format, Cascade, at its inaugural Future Formats Awards on 29 February. Cascade expands downwards in response to a consumer's degree of interaction to reveal additional panels with content from video to RSS feeds. 

A new study released by Ovum has revealed that users in emerging markets are more likely to turn to social media for customer service than their counterparts in mature markets. While 32 per cent of consumers in the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China have used social media for customer service issues, most companies are yet to integrate the channel into their customer care operations. 

Online insurance company DirectAsia.com has partnered with Initiative for its media planning and buying business in Singapore. The agency will work to increase brand awareness and champion the company's aim of changing consumer's insurance experience in the Lion City. DirectAsia.com joins AirAsia, Mini, Nescafé and Heinz ABC on Initiative's roster in SEA. 

Isobar has agreed to acquire Beijing-based digital agency eLink Advertising as the Aegis Group agency moves to strengthen its ties and digital service in China. eLink specialises in marketing communications strategy, website design, online media buying and online PR. The company has 75 employees based in Beijing with another office in Shanghai and one pending in Guangzhou. 

Air France has transferred its Asian digital business back to Havas Media from VivaKi following the group's retention of the account globally, led by MPG across 54 markets and based out of France. The Asian business includes China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. The airline has worked with Havas since 1992.

Garnier has appointed Publicis-owned local agency Wangfan to handle its digital strategy in the Mainland. The win follows three rounds of pitches and includes a first trial project with a one-year contract hanging in the balance. L'Oreal's skin and haircare brand has not used a long-term digital agency prior to the appointment.