Exec Moves at Google, Starcom, PHD, Mindshare, Razorfish, and Aegis
Agencies in the digital world have been busy promoting their execs to new roles or across markets in January, at least in Asia.
Agencies in the digital world have been busy promoting their execs to new roles or across markets in January, at least in Asia.
Agencies in the digital world have been busy promoting their execs to new roles or across markets in January, at least in Asia. The latest moves at a glance:
Karim Temsamani returns to Asia as Google president of Asia-Pacific sales and operations. He is responsible for determining the business strategy for Google products such as AdWords, AdMob, and DoubleClick Ad Exchange across the 16 offices in the region. Temsamani joined Google as managing director for Australia and New Zealand in 2007 to lead its business and strategic partnerships. Three years later, he became the global head of mobile to oversee the growth of Google’s mobile ad business worldwide. His most recent role was Google’s VP for new products and solutions for America. Meanwhile, Daniel Alegre has relocated to California to lead partner business solutions globally at Google HQ in Mountain View.
Starcom MediaVest Group, part of Publicis Groupe’s media agency network, has promoted Andrew Wong, its head of digital to general manager for Hong Kong. Under his leadership, the agency has added new businesses from Air New Zealand, Longchamp, and Novartis as well as started managing all media planning and buying for P&G Hong Kong since early 2012. When Wong (pictured left) joined in late 2010, there were only two digital execs but he has since expanded the digital team to more than 15. He reports directly to Bertilla Teo, CEO for SMG Greater China.
Digitas and Razorfish Asia Pacific have also appointed Richard “Goz” Gostelow and Ian Shepherd as regional executive creative directors based in Hong Kong. Reporting to Erik Hermanson, senior VP global accounts, they will be responsible in leading the creative teams across the region for brands such as Intel, Lenovo, and Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific, among others.
John Gamvros (pictured left) returns to Omnicom Media Group as global head of content and digital strategy at PHD Singapore to manage global communications planning for Unilever. With a focus on branded content and digital, he will lead strategic planning for the personal care category. A founding member of Fuse, the agency’s branded content arm, Gamvros was with OMD Australia for seven years. Before his current role, he was regional planning director at Saatchi and Saatchi Singapore. At PHD, Gamvros will be part of a 40-member team in the Unilever hubs headed by Marie Gruy, managing partner in Singapore and Robert Ray, MD of the Unilever global planning unit in London.
In Shanghai, Mindshare China has appointed Jonathan Beh as the new national head of performance. He is tasked to manage and grow the agency’s SEM, SEO, and performance marketing teams in the country. Beh was previously working in Mindshare U.K. as search director for global clients like Unilever and LG. He reports to Crystal Chan, head of digital operations, Mindshare China in the new role.
Aegis Media has promoted Arvind Sethumadhavan to a newly created role as chief innovation officer for Asia Pacific. He was previously the social and ROI analytics practice leader for Isobar, APAC. As CIO, he will be tasked to incubate new business opportunities with existing clients, identify scalable initiatives, products, and services, as well as support all Aegis brands around the region. Based in Singapore, Sethumadhavan reports to regional CEO Nick Waters.