DDB Group Singapore has announced the appointment of Daniel Huang as Senior Strategist, bolstering its strategic planning department as the agency continues to invest in emotional intelligence and innovative brand-building tools. Huang will work closely with Chief Strategy Officer Subodh Deshpande, who joined the agency group last year.
With a rich global background spanning Shanghai, London, and Hong Kong, Daniel Huang brings deep expertise in brand planning, cross-cultural communication, and customer experience strategy. His notable work includes shaping Dove’s global communications under Unilever to challenge beauty stereotypes across cultures, and playing a central role in launching Huawei’s Mate 40 and P40 smartphones, as well as the Huawei Global Photography Awards.
At DDB Singapore, Huang joins a growing strategy team that includes:
Susanna Yap, Planning Director, a 12-year DDB veteran with a track record of leading strategic work for brands such as Google, DBS Bank, and McDonald’s, especially in the social-first space.
Annabelle Goh, Brand & Social Strategist, formerly with Ogilvy Singapore, where she worked on marquee accounts like Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Colgate-Palmolive. Goh brings expertise in digital storytelling and e-commerce, having earned Marketing Interactive’s E-commerce Team of the Year award.
Kenneth Wee, an Integrated Consultant with a background in research, strategy, and futurism. He specializes in uncovering deep cultural insights and crafting content strategies across both public and private sector clients in Southeast Asia and the U.S.
Daniel Huang’s appointment comes as DDB Group Singapore introduces the Feels Barometer—a first-of-its-kind global tool developed in collaboration with insights agency TRA. Unlike traditional sentiment analysis, the Feels Barometer captures the depth, intensity, and cultural texture of human emotions, including sensory associations like colour, shape, and temperature.
A localized Asian edition of the tool is set to launch later this year, allowing DDB Singapore to deliver emotionally resonant strategies tailored to the region’s rich cultural diversity.
“We have seen first-hand the power of feelings to gain an emotional advantage,” said Deshpande. “As a hub for regional clients, the Feels Barometer will be instrumental in making sure our campaigns align with the unique emotional drivers of diverse audiences. This is particularly pertinent in Southeast Asia, one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world.”
“I believe that a brand’s value lies in its meaningful impact on people,” adds Huang. “Thanks to our incredible team and the powerful resources we have at hand, we are in the best position possible to empower clients with creative ideas that move people deeply.”
The Feels Barometer will be fully integrated into DDB’s global strategic and creative workflows, joining the group’s proprietary AI tool stack, RAND DDB. Clients can expect customised reports, interactive workshops, and tailored industry applications that tap into emotional insights like never before.
Read more: NDTV Appoints Aayush Ailawadi as Editor – Tech and AI
