Y&R Singapore names Jonathan Lang as head of integrated marketing

According to the agency, Lang will be responsible for advancing Y&R’s digital initiatives for all local, regional and global clients managed out of Singapore, with a goal of boosting the agency's ability to integrate digital into other marketing activity.

Lang, who joins from Lowe Worldwide, where he was the agency’s global strategy director on Nokia, will assume his role on 2 November. He is to oversee the digital planning duties previously handled by Jain, and the digital strategy team who reported to Jain will now report to Lang, alongside the strategy planning team.

Jain, who exited the company less than two years in his position, was appointed Y&R’s first head of digital in January last year. He worked under managing director of Y&R Tanuj Philip to expand the agency’s digital capabilities and increase digital revenues through new business development. Jain additionally bolstered his digital profile following the resignation of Mohammed Sirajuddeen as regional digital director of Y&R Asia in November.

The agency has not released details surrounding Jain’s exit nor where he is headed.

“Our digital and interactive department grew significantly during Taru’s time with us and generated profits within a year,” Philip said. “I’m confident Jonny will now take our capabilities to even greater heights given his unique experience on iconic brands with agency, client and consultancy companies.”

“Jonny is a highly progressive planner who represents a valuable addition to the Singapore team and what is already a powerful planning group in the region,” added Neil Cotton, chief strategy officer of Y&R Asia.

In his previous role at Lowe, Lang reported to the agency’s global chairman and was responsible for leading the development of the mobile brand’s Nseries and Eseries handsets, as well as communication strategies for Nokia entry-level products and services in Africa, Southeast Asia and Middle East emerging markets. He additionally spent time at Bates Asia, where he worked on Sony, Nokia and Heineken at regional and global levels.

Lang has also held the position of regional brand director at Virgin Mobile Asia where he oversaw the brand communications of the Virgin Mobile start-up across 10 Asian markets, reporting to Virgin Mobile’s CEO.