Agency News: GroupM, Next Digital, Aegis
GroupM launches MJoule, Next Digital acquires FutureLab, Aegis buys Upper Storey, and other agency news.
WPP’s GroupM partners with tenthavenue to launch mobile ad firm MJoule in China. The alliance underscores the acquisition of Beijing-based mobile agency Wisereach, which counts China Construction Bank, Michelin, and Microsoft as its clients. Wisereach CEO Craig Zhang will lead MJoule and reports to Michael Collins, CEO of Joule, part of tenthavenue, a New York based mobile company. MJoule has presences in Beijing and Shanghai.
Next Digital, an Australian digital marketing agency, beefs up its social offering with the acquisition of FutureLab Asia. The move will extend Next Digital’s service offering from its three offices in the country to another three more in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, and Singapore. FutureLab Asia founders Janet Teo and Vic Sithasanan will join the Aussie firm and head up the KL and Singapore offices respectively. FutureLab’s client portfolio includes Johnson & Johnson, AirAsia, and 7-Eleven.
Aegis acquires minority share in Singapore-based digital agency The Upper Storey (TUS) that will become part of Isobar in Asia Pacific. TUS Isobar will continue to be headed by group CEO and co-founder Prakash Kamdar. Its client list includes Microsoft, American Express, Intel, UOB, and Mediacorp.
In other agency news:
Aegis Media China appoints Meg Chen as executive VP of digital investment management. Based in Shanghai, she is responsible for consolidating the group’s resources for digital assets and enhancing digital vendor relationships. Chen reports to Michelle Lau, COO of Aegis Media China.
Omnicom Media Group (OMG) promotes Autumn Martin as digital director. Martin relocates to Singapore from Omnicom’s U.K. office where she headed the HP account. She reports to OMG Singapore’s CEO Torie Henderson.
Kenshoo, a digital marketing software company, appoints Philip Chiu as Asia Pacific MD. He is tasked to oversee sales and account management for the region with a focus in key markets such as Japan, Australia, China, and Korea. Previously, he was with Beyond Media Global.
Epsilon, a data-marketing firm, names Regina Leung VP of marketing, international. Her expanded role extends marketing leadership for Asia Pacific to the European (EMEA) region. Based in Hong Kong, Leung reports to Dominic Powers, senior VP and MD for international operations and Heather Wilkerson, senior VP, corporate marketing.
