Move and win roundup: Week of September 23, 2024

Campaign compiles a new 'Move and win roundup' as each week progresses.  This edition will cover September 23 through September 27, 2024.  Catch up on past people moves and business wins.

Media company MM2 Asia has appointed Cindy Tan to the group’s board of directors. The board has also appointed Tan to serve on its audit committee and as the chairman of its remuneration committee. Prior to MM2, Tan was previously managing director, APAC, for global clients with Meta. Before Meta, she held various management positions with international media and consumer travel firms, including INTO University Partnerships, TripAdvisor and BBC News. 

Billups, an independent out-of-home (OOH) managed services agency, has appointed Ben Milne as chief executive officer for the Asia-Pacific region and Claudia Valderrama as global chief operating officer. Milne, a seasoned OOH advertising veteran who previously led Dentsu's global OOH division, will drive operations and business development across APAC from Singapore, focusing on team expansion across the region. Valderrama, formerly global CFO at Wieden+Kennedy, will oversee Billups' global operational strategy, including finance, IT, and people operations, from Portland, Oregon. Both Milne and Valderrama report to David Krupp, global CEO.

Epsilon has appointed Simrat Sawhney as VP, sales and client growth for Asia, leading commercial strategy across India, Southeast Asia, and North Asia. With over 15 years of experience, including a leadership role at Meta’s Asia-Pacific growth business for global gaming, Sawhney brings a strong track record in client partnerships and business development. She will oversee Epsilon’s sales team in Asia Pacific, aiming to strengthen the company's position as a marketing technology partner. Sawhney is also known for her advocacy in diversity and inclusion, founding Women@ APAC at Meta and co-founding Connected Women Singapore.

Benedictus Media has appointed Danielle St. George as managing director as part of a major restructure, with founder Phil Benedictus stepping into a business development and sustainability role. St. George, with over 16 years of industry experience including senior roles at Havas Media Network and Hyland, will focus on driving the agency’s next stage of evolution. Benedictus highlighted her dynamic leadership and passion for sustainability, stating that St. George’s fresh perspective will help structure the agency for future success.

Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed Gigi Cheung as managing director of global marketing, products and partnerships. With over 24 years of experience in business development, partnerships, sales, and consumer experience, Cheung will lead PPG’s global marketing strategies and e-commerce operations. Previously, she was vice president at K11 MUSEA, leading sales, partnerships, and loyalty programmes, and has held key roles at New World Development, Procter & Gamble, Kao, Jardine Matheson, Adidas, and Puma.

FCB Ulka, part of FCB Group India, has appointed Ajay Ravindran as national planning director. Ravindran was head of brand marketing for Razorpay before joining FCB. Previously, he has also led planning teams in agencies like Ogilvy, VML, MullenLowe Lintas Group, and Grey. He has worked on brands like Unilever, Britannia, Colgate, Vodafone-Idea, Dell, Titan, TVS, 3M and many others.

FCM Travel Asia has promoted Gursheel Dhillon as its new head of marketing. She joined the business last year, overseeing regional PR and communications across six key markets in Asia. Before FCM Travel, she was the founder and director of the luxury lifestyle marketing agency Vanilla Luxury. Prior to that, she worked at Eclectique Concepts and Triumph International. 

Happy Happy Foods, a plant-based beverage company, has appointed Melbourne-based creative shop 10 Feet Tall as its Australian agency of record. This strategic partnership aims to unleash the creative potential of Happy Happy Foods as it prepares for the national launch of its flagship product Happy Happy Soy Boy, in Coles supermarkets across Australia soon.

Ogilvy PR has appointed Simon Webb as regional head of risk management in Asia Pacific, in addition to his current position as senior vice president at Ogilvy PR Beijing. Webb will lead Ogilvy's newly enhanced Brandshield reputation protection offering and the launch of Influence Shield—a solution that provides brands with comprehensive protection against the reputational risks associated with influencer marketing. Webb has been working in Australia and China since joining Ogilvy in 2008.

Burson Greater China CEO Claire Li has departed the agency, a spokesperson from Burson has confirmed to Campaign. Li was appointed as Greater China CEO in June following the merger of WPP-owned BCW and Hill & Knowlton. She joined Hill & Knowlton as Greater China CEO in September 2023. Before joining, her career spanned nearly three decades in both agency and in-house leadership roles, having served as the chief communicator in the Chinese market for brands such as Ford, GE, and Starbucks. Earlier in her career, she was part of the corporate communications practice in Hill+Knowlton’s Hong Kong office. She also worked for the corporate communications and government affairs practice at Fleishman-Hillard China and the strategic communications practice for APCO Worldwide in Shanghai.

Ogilvy Malaysia has been appointed by Lactalis, the French dairy giant, to lead the brand revitalisation of its iconic dairy brand, Lactel. The partnership will commence in mid-August and involves an integrated brand campaign aimed at re-establishing these beloved brands in the Malaysian market.

Talented has announced the launch of Early, a second entrepreneur-led company, co-founded by Meghana Bhat following the introduction of its creator and social agency, The New Thing. Early will offer fractional marketing advisory services specifically for startups and businesses in the early stages of growth. Before founding Early, Bhat worked at InVideo, ScoopWhoop Media, and Dentsu Webchutney, where she was the former COO and head of strategy.