Move and win roundup: Razorfish, W+K, Current Asia, Iris, much more

PEOPLE MOVES

Razorfish Hong Kong appointed Symon Hammacott as chief operating officer of Razorfish Hong Kong and Sean Burke-Gaffney as director of technology for Razorfish and SapientNitro Southeast Asia. Hammacott will retain his previous role as ECD of experience design for APAC. Burke-Gaffney’s previous job title was the same, but his remit has expanded to include Hong Kong as well.

Wieden+Kennedy Delhi appointed Sidharth Loyal as managing director, as current MD Patrick Cahill will be returning to the US with W+K. Loyal is rejoining the agency after a series of roles at agencies including DDB and Saatchi & Saatchi. The agency also named Shuchi Thakur and Molona Wati Longchar as executive creative directors. Thakur’s move is a promotion, while Longchar is rejoining the agency after a stint with Design Stash.

SpotX appointed Catherine Le Liboux as director of demand for Japan and APAC, a newly created role. She was previously senior manager of advertiser solutions, Southeast Asia, at PubMatic.

Ryan Communication hired Nora Schlenzig as head of research and Yuri van der Leest as head of content. Both are based in Hong Kong and support clients across the company’s Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai offices. Schlenzig joins from the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Politics & Public Administration. She has also spent more than three years with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Van der Leest joins from Manulife Asset Management, where he was director and senior investment writer.

Singapore’s Mandate Communications promoted Marcus Lim to assistant general manager and handed Lim’s previous role as client servicing director to Jimmy Teo, who was previously
brand communications director.

Current Asia, a marketing technology consultancy and managed services provider, appointed Sabine Borgia as content director, based in Hong Kong. She has experience at Commercial Radio, ATV World, South China Morning Post, and other media outlets. She will work with clients on data-driven content marketing, leading the development of buyer profiles and content strategies.

Futures Sport + Entertainment hired Chris Nunn as managing director in Australia. He was previously Port Adelaide FC’s commercial GM and before that, commercial partnerships manager at Cricket Australia.

Iris appointed Joshua Peacock as managing director in Seoul. He was most recently brand and product marketing manager for Hyundai Australia. Iris also appointed Huijin Park, previously head of planning at VICE Media, to lead strategy, culture and content in Korea, and Christine Mills, most recently marketing director for Iris in Korea and Greater China, to lead business development for the region.

A+E Networks named Rushit Jhaveri vice president of ad sales and digital partnerships, based in Singapore and reporting to deputy managing director Prem Kamath and head of advertising sales Charles Less. He was previously vice president for branded entertainment and digital partnerships at FremantleMedia Asia.

Sabre Corporation named Jerome Thil as vice president of marketing for Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific, reporting to Wade Jones, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for Sabre Travel Network. He takes over the role currently held by Martin Symes, who will remain with Sabre until later this year when he plans to return to the UK following a 20-year stint in the Asian travel industry.

In Malaysia, Dentsu LHS and Dentsu One announced three appointments. For Dentsu LHS, Milan Agnihotri will take on the newly created role of chief catalyst of brand planning and strategy, and Liew Mun Tip joins as group brand director. Both report to Tony Savarimuthu, CEO, Dentsu LHS. Dentsu One takes on Chia Mei Yeng as strategic planning director. Interestingly, all three join the Dentsu network from Leo Burnett.

The International Advertising Association has announced VP appointments to serve for the 2016-2018 term. From Asia Pacific: John Chacko, vice president of Asia development and president of IAA Malaysia Chapter; Yang Hong Feng (杨洪峰), vice president of development at China Advertising Association; Pradeep Guha, vice president of awards at 9X Media from India; Heather Leembruggen, vice president of Inspire Awards and president of IAA Australia Chapter; Ramesh Narayan, vice president of internal communications and Canco Advertising from India; Diane Slade, secretary and vice president of education at Edith Cowan University in Australia.

Edelman Shanghai hired Shijun Ma (马世骏) for the newly created position of corporate reputation senior vice president. He will give senior counsel to major corporate and healthcare clients in the Shanghai region and report to Shanghai managing director Sonny Shen. Prior to this, Ma served as China senior vice president for Racepoint Global.

Sam Olsen, who co-founded Lamplight Analytics, has relinquished his CEO position at the Hong Kong-based social-media-analytics startup. Fergus Clarke, formerly COO, takes the reins as new CEO.

Thuy Tranthi Rieder is the new group vice president of sales and marketing at Rosewood Hotel Group. Prior to joining Rosewood, she held senior marketing and communications roles at Richemont Group, LVMH, Disney Consumer Products and Elizabeth Arden.

Chingwei Chi has a new job as senior vice president of the advertising department at Cathay United Bank based in Taipei. Previously, he was the planning and new business director at Publicis Groupe Taiwan for almost two years for clients BenQ, Nescafe, Heineken, Amway Nutrilite and Artistry.

Lee Tae Hwa is currently the marketing director at Hanssem China, a manufacturer and retailer of cabinets originating from the United States. A native Korean, he was previously group account director at Cheil, responsible for Samsung Electronics, Samsung Mobile, Samsung Insurance and Hankook Tire before this move.

Baidu's management restructure saw the former Yihaodian CEO Wang Lu (王路) shuffled to the post of vice president of public relations, reporting directly to Robin Li. At the same time, new Yihaodian CEO Yu Rui (余睿) takes over at the helm of the struggling online grocery company. 

WINS AND DEALS

WE Communications has been retained by Hong Kong’s Pacific Place of Swire Properties as PR Agency of Record (AOR). The firm will drive a holistic communications program including media relations, on-ground support for events and strategic counsel. The remit is expected to comprise of a mixture of online and print communications efforts.

Sunsweet Growers awarded FCB Kuala Lumpur its regional business, marking the first time the US-based company has partnered with an agency to create a regional campaign in Asia-Pacific. FCB Kuala Lumpur will launch new work for Sunsweet Growers in mid-2017, focusing on Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

JCDecaux expanded its advertising footprint in Singapore with a partnership with Suntec City.

TBWA\Kuala Lumpur has partnered with Cooler Lumpur, a multidisciplinary festival of ideas, to bring a TBWA Disruptions Track to the event taking place this weekend. Applicable to brands, corporations and communities, the event will feature a lineup of individuals and organisations that have challenged and revolutionized their respective industries, showcasing how disruption can help unlock creative independence, according to the agency.

Tech specialist agency Bench PR added both 90 Seconds Australia and Fluent Retail to its client portfolio. 90 Seconds, a cloud video production platform and marketplace, recently opened offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Fluent Retail is an omni-channel fulfilment platform launched last year.

DeVries Global was appointed as Samsonite’s PR agency in Singapore. Beginning this month, the agency will handle communications and advocacy programmes for all Samsonite’s brands.