Move and win roundup: Week of November 16, 2020

Tribal Worldwide Singapore appointed Dawn Yang as associate creative director, effective immediately. A copywriter in both English and Mandarin, she joined Tribal in 2008 as part of the digital agency's founding team and has taken part in winning pitches for DBS, Uniqlo, Changi Airport Group and Australian Tourism Board. The agency calls her the driving force behind key clients including the Ministry of Health, the National Youth Council, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and Gardens by the Bay. Over the past year, she has participated in DDB Worldwide's annual Phyllis Project, helping women transition into leadership roles across the network.

Following a competitive pitch, Australian-owned sugar free foods company Noshu appointed Host/Havas Sydney to help launch its Snackles range of sugar free bars into the mainstream grocery market. The appointment, effective immediately, includes all above and below the line activity, PR and media. The Snackles launch campaign debuted on November 4. The brand, whose name derives from 'no sugar' aims to disrupt the mainstream muesli bar category, as its bars contain an average of 4% sugar, compared to the 30% or more added sugar content in competing products.

Singapore-based MNC Dole Packaged Foods signed on with newly launched platform-first agency, Wondrlab. Wondrlab will help the brand launch in India and provide further strategic and creative direction. The India launch kicked off with a Diwali-themed pack and will be followed up with a series of other product launches in the coming weeks.

M&C Saatchi is preparing to announce Moray MacLennan, chief executive of the M&C Saatchi Worldwide network, as the new chief executive of its PLC business as it seeks to draw a line under its accounting scandal. (Full story)

Ahmad Izham Omar has been named executive director of content and creative for Disney+ Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, Omar will be responsible of building a portfolio of TV series and movies for the platform in the region, developing and producing original programming, acquiring content, ensuring end-to-end title launch readiness, and overseeing the production of surround content for major sports and general entertainment programmes. He joins from Media Prima Berhad, where he was CEO of Primeworks Studios (PWS), a major production company in Malaysia. He began his media career in 2003 by launching 8TV and held senior leadership positions within Media Prima. In his new role, he will report to Amit Malhotra, regional lead, emerging markets, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific. 

TheAsianparent named Rotsen Quispe as country manager of Indonesia, where he will be responsible for growing the brand tenfold in the next 18 months. He is in charge of all business functions such as traffic, sales, marketing and operations to drive user engagement on the platforms while ensuring client satisfaction through the delivery of brand solutions. Prior to this, Quispe was VP of growth and marketing (Southeast Asia and Middle East) at OYO, and head of marketing (International Markets) for Traveloka. He has also had stints at Microsoft, Intel and Sony. 

TBWA China appointed Ali Zein Kazmi as chief strategy officer. Based in Shanghai, Kazmi will lead the strategic offering for TBWA’s Shanghai and Beijing offices and become part of the senior management leadership team in China. Prior to joining TBWA, he was VP of partnerships and strategic development at Ogilvy Asia and held senior roles at PHD and Omnicom Media Group.

Indonesian healthcare platform Halodoc extended its partnership with M&C Saatchi Performance until September 2022. The extension follows an existing year-long partnership. The agency’s work will include media planning, buying and strategy for awareness and performance duties. The account will be led by Roshat Adnani, country director of Indonesia at M&C Saatchi Performance. 

WhiteGrey has been appointed by Aussie fast food restaurant chain Red Rooster as its social media agency of record, responsible for social strategy, creative, content creative and community management. The client said that the agency demonstrated a “solid understanding of brand values” and presented an “ingenious social strategy underpinned by clever creative and content” that matched the fun-loving nature of the brand. Work commences immediately with the first campaign expected to roll-out early 2021.

CatchOn, a Finn Partners company, appointed Louise Oram as director of client services. Based in Hong Kong, she will work with the teams throughout the region to drive campaigns while developing the agency’s capabilities and expanding its reach into new sectors. Oram has had in-house and agency experience across a range of sectors including travel, hospitality, luxury and consumer brands, including World Travel & Tourism Council, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Marriott International.  

Creative outfit Splash Productions has named Mark Lim as creative director and Wilson Yip as creative and film director. Lim will work closely with current creative director and co-founder Stanley Yap on conceptual thinking and strategy development. In the last few years, Lim has held senior creative roles including associate creative director at GOVT Singapore, senior creative group head at Tribal Worldwide and associate creative director at KPMG Singapore. Yip, meanwhile, has worked with international and local artistes, as well as major TV and corporate clients for over 17 years. His experience spans narratives, commercials and brandings, VFX works, corporate films and animation projects.

Dentsu's B2B marketing specialist agency Gyro appointed Rhys Taylor as managing director for Asia Pacific, reporting to Kieran Vye, Gyro’s Asia Pacific CEO. Taylor was previously regional head of strategy. He will work with the existing leadership: Yasmine Mansour (regional head of growth), Rimi Sweis (regional head of media), Francesca Babet (head of Singapore operations) and Christine Mills (head of Australia/New Zealand operations). Gyro’s Strategy practice will now be led by Uzma Atcha who joined the business earlier in the year.

Havas Group appointed Virginia Hyland as CEO of Havas Media Group Australia following the successful integration of her self-named agency, Hyland, earlier this year. She takes over from Matt Houltham, who departs after more than four years in senior roles. Hyland will work with Mike Wilson, chairman of Havas Media Group ANZ and the agency’s senior leadership team to advance strategic plans for a comprehensive and agile media offering across Australia and New Zealand, the company said.

Dentsu has promoted Terrence Yung, the COO of its media line of service in China, to replace CEO Tony Chen , who had only been named to the position earlier this year. In a release, Dentsu said Chen, the former CEO of iProspect China, was stepping down to spend more time with family. It recognised Chen's contribution in simplifying its media offering and winning key accounts this year. (Full story)

Wunderman Thompson announced a trio of related creative promotions:

• Wunderman Thompson Australia appointed João Braga, previously CCO at Wunderman Thompson Thailand, as national chief creative officer, starting in January and based in Sydney. He will lead all creative output across Wunderman Thompson’s Australia offices, leading a team of 54 creatives. He replaces Simon Langley, who departed in June and joined Edge. Earlier in his career Braga was global creative director for Ogilvy, based in Singapore, and spent several years with Publicis in Portugal.
• Wunderman Thompson Thailand promoted Park Wannasiri from executive creative director to Braga's former role as chief creative officer and Thasorn Boonyanate from creative director to to executive creative director, effective January 4. Wannasiri joined Wunderman Thompson in 2017 and has worked alongside Braga over the past few years. Earlier in his career he was with BBDO, Leo Burnett and FCB. Boonyanate has also been with the company since 2017. Prior to that he held roles at BBDO and Fred & Farid in Shanghai and BBDO and Lowe & Partners in Bangkok.

Media auditing and marketing consultancy Ebiquity has appointed Arvind Sethumadhavan to the dual role of managing director of their SEA business and chief product officer of Asia-Pacific to support recent growth and new client demands. His appointment comes as Ebiquity sets its sights on expanding in APAC amid new competition. Sethumadhavan has had an extensive career across APAC, holding management positions at WPP's Kantar, GroupM, Mindshare and was former chief innovation officer at Dentsu Aegis Network APAC.  He has advised some of the world's largest advertisers like Unilever, P&G, Diageo, Samsung, Huawei and HSBC.

FCB Malaysia promoted Syahriza Badron to general manager. Known as 'Syah', she has been with FCB since 2013 when she joined as an associate account director and has risen through the ranks to her former designation as head of business development. In her new role, she will lead all account-management operations while retaining her existing business-development portfolio. Shaun Tay, co-owner and CEO, said Badron has been a "massive part of FCB's consistent success since the management buyout three years ago".

iNova Pharmaceuticals appointed Clemenger BBDO Sydney to handle its portfolio of brands that include Duro-Tuss, Difflam and Dermaveen.