Move and win roundup: Week of June 1, 2020

Spikes Asia festival director Joe Pullos has stepped down from his role to pursue other opportunities in APAC. The challenging business environment led to the cancellation of Spikes 2020, and with the creative, media and marketing industries continuing to face unprecedented changes in the months ahead, Spikes Asia will be introducing a new festival model for 2021. Philip Thomas, chairman of Cannes Lions and Spikes Asia, said: "We are grateful to Joe for his efforts in building Spikes to the region’s leading award for creativity and thank him for the passion and enthusiasm he brought to Spikes." Pullos said his years in the role provided a "phenomenal experience...developing amazing content, partnerships, awards, operations as well as commercial leadership". The Spikes Asia team in Singapore will be led by Atifa Silk, group director at Haymarket Media Asia, effective immediately. Details of Spikes 2021 will be announced shortly.

MediaCom has promoted Archana Ram to managing director of Singapore, replacing Vivian Yeung, who is in discussion about her next role within the group. The agency said details on Yeung's new role "will be advised when appropriate". She has been managing Singapore for seven years. Ram takes up the leadership position, from her previous role as content and strategy lead of Team P&G. She began her journey with MediaCom India over 13 years ago, relocating to Singapore in 2013. As part of her new remit, Ram will now be responsible for driving commercial growth, managing key client relationships and the ongoing development of the MediaCom Singapore team.

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has chosen Interone China as its overseas brand marketing partner. The BBDO agency has been tasked with revamping the brand's global master website as well as handling the roll out for all global markets. Interone’s responsibilities will include the Vivo global web strategy, global website concept, art direction, and designing local features and customer experience for more than 30 countries and regions. The win followed an intensive pitch involving other 4A agencies from China.

Redhill Communications in Singapore announced two business wins: 

• VP Bank, a boutique private bank specialising in wealth management, appointed Redhill as its PR and communications agency of record in Asia. The agency will support the media and integrated communication plans for the Singapore branch of VP Bank as the bank accelerates its expansion across the Asian market. 
• Fincy, a contactless payment solutions platform, appointed Redhill as PR agency in Singapore from May 1. Fincy claims to have more than 1 million users in Asia and is making its first entry into Singapore with Singapore-based smart city investor GBCI Ventures. Redhill will be responsible for brand building and planning and execution of the brand's communications strategy in Singapore.  

Dentsu Aegis Network digital agency Happy Marketer won an appointment in the Philippines from life insurance company AIA Philam Life. The agency will be tasked with leading technology and best practices for a data-driven marketing strategy that will allow AIA Philam Life to effectively reach out to more Filipinos. It will also enhance analytics relevance, provide relevant insights into customer experiences, and implement data-driven use cases that will allow for segmented personalisation and relevant communications.

Following a competitive pitch, Synergy Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has been appointed as the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) agency of record for the seventh consecutive year in Korea. The contract commenced in May and lasts for two years. STB Korea and Synergy H+K will continue their strategic communications partnership in Korea through a range of activities including media strategy, external communications, content creation, PR event coordination, as well as reinforcing online and social media communications.

Creative veterans Fajar Kurnia and Jeremy Chia joined independent creative agency Goodstuph as business partners. The former executive creative directors at Publicis Singapore will be responsible for the agency’s regional expansion plans into Bangkok, Thailand. Kurnia and Chia were at Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore, where they led the Head & Shoulders account regionally, before being promoted to ECDs at Publicis Singapore, where they oversaw clients such as Audi, Emirates and the Health Promotion Board Singapore. Goodstuph Thailand is opening its doors with a 10-person team, and counts Netflix Asia and Hewlett-Packard (Southeast Asia and Korea) as clients.

Citrine One, a Malaysian communications agency, has launched its international business outfit, Citrine One Global to focus on cross-border business activities, starting with the SEA region and Australia. Citrine One Global will provide strategic communications services in multiple territories via its network of partners and affiliates. The unit will be headed by Junaidi Asmara Rosly, a marketing and communications specialist with over a decade of experience in fields including consumer electronics, F&B, tech startups, government services, and creative multimedia industries. Citrine One Global is positioned as a gateway for Malaysian businesses seeking strategic communications services in new markets, and for international businesses looking for a footing in Malaysia and other SEA countries. Among the affiliates under the Citrine One Global Network of Professionals are Ardent Communications (Philippines & Vietnam), Ying Communications (Singapore), IMAGI PR (Indonesia), and Bass PR (Australia). 

Independent advertising agency The Hallway has been appointed by Binge to work on Australia’s newest entertainment streaming service. Following a competitive pitch, The Hallway was appointed to develop Binge's brand campaign from the ground up as well as leading media strategy and channel planning. Binge is a new entertainment streaming service, offering an on-demand lineup of shows and movies from creators including WarnerMedia, HBO, NBCU, FX, BBC, Sony and more. 

Singapore-based design boutique Balance has expanded into Vietnam. With rapid growth over the past few years, there is growing demand for rebranding and repositioning from worldwide or local brands in Vietnam. With its experience in more mature markets, a Balance statement says the firm can can help brands in Vietnam devise solutions to advance their strategies and strengthen their image. 

Freeman has appointed Eugene Ng as head of creative services. Ng will report to Ian Terry, managing director in Singapore. Ng will spearhead the agency’s integrated brand experience offering and will lead creative and strategy teams to develop experiential campaigns. Previously serving as head of creative services and design at the Freeman Beijing office, Ng's portfolio of live experiential marketing clients includes Audi, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Google, Microsoft, Lego and Procter & Gamble. Ng led the Audi AI:ME Concept Car World Premiere, which recently earned a gold and three bronze awards in Campaign Asia-Pacific's 2020 Event Marketing Awards.

The National Environment Agency Singapore (NEA) reappointed Metia Group as its social agency of record, with views to grow its audience and boost engagement across social media channels. The pitching process saw 22 different agencies compete for the social media tender, with Metia Group ultimately securing the 12-month contract, which has the option to be extended for three more years. The Metia team will be responsible for the management of the NEA’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram activities, providing support across strategy, planning and monitoring.