Move and win roundup: Big Mobile, Carat, Adobe, Integral PR, more

PEOPLE MOVES

Big Mobile appointed executive chairman David Green as group CEO. He will assume his new role in promoting the business in ANZ and Southeast Asia, while continuing his duties as chairman. He replaces the outgoing Graham Christie. CFO Richard Leifer will also step into a new 'head of people experience' position.

Carat Malaysia appointed Lorraine Capel as CEO, effective 1 October. She was previously head of integration at Astro, having also held senior roles at GroupM Malaysia and Starcom Mediavest. She will oversee operations and drive strategic planning and management as well as further strengthen Dentsu Aegis Network’s media capabilities in her new role.

Iris Singapore has announced senior promotions in its creative department. Ed Cheong is now executive creative director, reporting to Grant Hunter, APAC regional executive creative director. Adam Yeo and Sylvester Poh have also been promoted to creative group heads, and Pearlyn Ong to senior creative.

Adobe appointed V.R. Srivatsan as managing director of its Southeast Asia operations, replacing the outgoing Stephen Hamill. 'Sri' was previously managing director, ASEAN, at Autodesk, managing director for SAP in Malaysia, and vice president for South Asia at Business Objects. He also held several senior positions at Oracle.

Datalicious has appointed Simon Pereira as its general manager of operations while head of strategy Andrew Newell, has been promoted to general manager, business development. The senior appointments are in response to increasing demand from overseas and a shifting focus on global markets.

Integral PR in India appointed Sujay Mehdudia as CEO. A career journalist, Mehdudia has spent 25 years covering a host of sectors including politics, aviation, business and infrstructure. He will lead operations, talent management and new business, and will report to Sharif Rangnekar, chairman of Integral. 

Australian boutique PR firm Magnum & Co has hired Aaron Crowther as general manager. Crowther was formerly general manager at Red Agency, and will be in charge of running the agency day-to-day, together with owners Michelle Hampton and Katie Barclay.  

TBWA Group Singapore has promoted Rukshan Perera to director of business transformation and operations, effective immediately. He was previously director of operations at TBWA’s Digital Arts Network (DAN) Singapore, a role he held since April 2014. 

BUSINESS WINS

COFCO announced that Carat China will become its media agency, responsible for buying and planning, in an agreement from the second half of 2016 through 2017.

Nikon has appointed J Walter Thompson Sydney as its local lead strategic and creative agency, with its first major project encompassing a creative campaign for the forthcoming launch of the new KeyMission 360.

BBDO Singapore has been appointed as the creative agency for Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) after a competitive pitch process through government tender. The incumbent agency was Grey Group Singapore. The supporting partner media agency is PHD Singapore.

Salvo Stores, a recycling charity retailer in Australia, has appointed DT, led by CEO Brian Vella, and Switched on Media, under MD Chris Hitchcock, both part of WPP AUNZ, as its partnering agencies across creative, digital and media services.

Singapore’s online shopping platform Qoo10 appointed Text100 to run the company’s external communications’ programme. Qoo10 hopes the move can cement its ecommerce brand position and reach Singapore’s ardent online shoppers.

OTHER DEALS

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sport Singapore announced a partnership to host the Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation programme, in Singapore for the first time. The even starts in late July and will run through September. 

Entertainment media buying agency M Advertising relaunched as The M Agency – The Entertainment Experts, a full-service marketing agency. The company also appointed Tim Triggs, brother of founder Emma Triggs, as partner and head of digital.