Peach Natividad Joins BBDO Guerrero Philippines as New Chief Strategy Officer
Prior to joining BBDO Guerrero, Natividad spent the last five years at Google as Country Lead – Creative for Philippines and Vietnam, where she marketed the Google brand, YouTube, canvas, and technology to top advertisers and agencies in both markets. Her extensive experience includes leading digital and strategy teams at top agencies.
Natividad’s accolades include being part of the teams that earned six Campaign Asia Digital Agency of the Year (GOLD) awards for the Philippines and three 4As Digital Agency of the Year (Creative) awards across different agencies. Additionally, she is a graduate of three Mini MBA courses with Mark Ritson at Marketing Week (UK).
Francine Kahn-Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of BBDO Guerrero, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Peach to the BBDO Network. Her innovative approach and deep understanding of digital strategy will be invaluable as we continue to push the boundaries of creativity and effectiveness. It’s wonderful to be working with her again, and this time as a team member.”
Natividad said:
“I am excited to return to the creative agency setting and work alongside such a talented team. BBDO Guerrero has a remarkable legacy of creativity and impact, and I’ve collaborated with them countless of times. I look forward to collaborating with the different teams to drive innovative strategies and deliver exceptional results for our clients.”
David Guerrero, Creative Chairman of BBDO Guerrero, added:
“It’s great to have Peach join our team. We always put strategic planning and insight as the starting point of great creative campaigns. And Peach brings the proven track record, and cutting edge knowledge of digital platforms to drive outstanding work for our clients.”
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Anirban Mozumdar Steps Down from his Role of CSO at Havas Creative India
Anirban Mozumdar, Havas Creative Network India’s Chief Strategy Officer, has stepped down. Mozumdar is now a CSO on demand and an independent consultant. He joined the company in March 2023 to create meaningful brands through teamwork for breakthroughs. He worked with 82point5 before taking this position.
Anirban Mozumdar moves on from Havas Creative India
Mozumdar has previously worked for ITSA Brand Innovations, Publicis India, Mudra Communications, Leo Burnett, Rediffusion DY&R, and Chlorophyll brand & communications consultancy. John Thangaraj was named Chief Strategy Officer of Havas Creative Network India by Havas India in his place.
Mozumdar has over 25 years of expertise in the branding and advertising sectors as a strategist and consultant for brands. He has experience working with a broad range of brands and categories in B2C, B2B, D2C, and startup environments in industries including core FMCG, industrial products, and technology. He has scaled small businesses and brands in communication and brand consulting as an entrepreneur and business leader.
Mozumdar’s glorious career
He started his career at Leo Burnett, where he worked for more than ten years, and holds a post-graduate degree from MICA. Apart from his position in India, he worked for two years as a Regional Lead for P&G Laundry brands in the Philippines, where he oversaw brands like Mr. Clean, Fab, and Tide.
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BCCL Names Partha Sinha as President and Chief Brand Officer
Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. has appointed Partha Sinha, formerly President – Response, to the position of Chief Brand Officer (CBO) (The Times of India). The former CEO and Managing Director of Paytm Payments Bank, Surinder Chawla, has joined The Times of India as President – Response.
Partha Sinha joins BCCL as President and Chief Brand Officer
As CBO, Partha will lead all of the brand verticals (Languages, ET, TIMS, and TOI) and concentrate on enhancing audience engagement, creative product launches in unexplored markets, and brand salience. In his capacity as President-Reaction, Sinha made a substantial contribution to the event’s success. Under his leadership, the group grew stronger, more self-assured, and successful in hitting revenue goals every year. This success has been greatly attributed to his strategic vision, innovative thinking, and unwavering drive.
Sinha brings more than thirty years of industry experience, mostly in media, communications, and brand marketing. In addition to serving on the boards of numerous trade associations like the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), the International Advertising Association (IAA), and The Ad Club (TAC), he has worked for organizations like Publicis, McCann, Zee, and Citi Bank. Chawla, on the other hand, was formerly the managing director and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank. He has a broad background in both baking and finance. He had previously worked for RBL Bank as the head of brand banking.
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Adtech startup Cake.Shop launches in Australia, promising transparent programmatic ad services
Cake.Shop, an adtech startup, has officially launched in Australia, offering brands and agencies innovative programmatic ad buying services that emphasise transparency and rich media creative ad targeting.
Founded by former AdLudio and Mindshare Australia programmatic executive Luke Hills and former Azerion JAPAC managing director Georgia Woodburne, Cake.Shop draws its name from the proverb “to have your cake and eat it,” reflecting the company’s commitment to delivering the best of both worlds in media buying.
Hills is the former VP of growth at AdLudio in London and was previously head of programmatic at Mindshare Australia. Woodburne was responsible for driving Azerion’s expansion in the JAPAC region and played a key role in rich media creative company Inskin’s expansion in the Asia Pacific region, where she held the role of GM, APAC.
Cake.Shop aims to provide agencies and brands with a trusted solution to address the industry’s biggest challenges: easy access to programmatic advertising, creative excellence, and precise measurement. By offering a unique experience, Cake.Shop helps brands and agencies achieve strong performance from their programmatic ad spend.
The company stated that it aims to disrupt the media buying process through a four-pronged approach: creative-led, with attention-grabbing ads designed to engage rather than annoy; sustainable marketing, by measuring, reducing, and optimising to meet sustainable goals; technology ownership, by eliminating intermediaries for greater control and transparency over marketing technology; and commercial flexibility, which allows businesses to grow sustainably.
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For Hills, traditional managed service options are not working, and agencies and brands need control over their technology choices and must work transparently with their partners.
Meanwhile, Woodburne believes that transparency is at the core of Cake.Shop’s ethos.
Woodburne said,
“We believe this should be reflected in fee structures and solutions,”
Speaking more about the launch, Hills shared,
“We’re thrilled to introduce Cake Shop to the world. Our mission is to support agencies and brands in achieving sustainable growth both commercially and environmentally. We aim to make effective advertising more accessible for brands of all sizes. Cake.Shop is designed to lower the barrier to entry, providing market-leading solutions that enable agencies to deliver world-class services to their clients. By stepping into the gap left by larger technology companies, Cake.Shop offers a local and global, client-focused alternative for businesses.”
Hills added.
“Our flexible approach means clients can reduce spending without the pressure of restrictive contracts. We’re possibly the only business in the market advocating for clients to spend less, focusing instead on quality, ownership, and transparency for long-term brand growth. With significant headwinds in marketing through privacy, compliance, and sustainability, we believe legacy solutions in the market will struggle to meet the demands of local businesses. We’re here to help companies navigate these pressures with solutions that complement our sustainable vision.”
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Interactive Avenues Secures Social Media Mandate for RPPL
The digital division of IPG Mediabrands India, Interactive Avenues, has acquired the social media account of Racing Promotions (RPPL), a management company for Formula Racing and other motorsports. The Indian Racing League—India’s first franchise-based motorsports league—and FIA Formula 4, the nation’s first FIA-graded racing championship—will be the agency’s flagship properties on the internet. The account will be managed by Interactive Avenues from its Mumbai location.
Interactive Avenues wins social media mandate for RPPL
Interactive Avenues was chosen by RPPL due to its strategic vision and track record of successfully managing sports media for well-known national and international teams. The partnership’s main goals will be to raise awareness of motorsports in India and provide young people with aspirations of becoming racers, engineers, or mechanics with more opportunities.
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Here’s what they said
Commenting on the collaboration, Akhilesh Reddy, chairman, RPPL, said,
“Our vision is to place India on the global motorsports map and social media is a crucial part of this journey. Interactive Avenues presented a compelling long-term strategy and we’re confident that their expertise in sports marketing will help us consistently grow our fanbase and elevate engagement around the Indian Racing Festival.”
Shantanu Sirohi, COO, Interactive Avenues, added,
“Our partnership with RPPL aligns perfectly with our commitment to drive meaningful engagement and awareness in the sports sector. RPPL is fostering a world-class motorsport ecosystem in India, and we are excited about crafting a distinct social media identify for them, integrating FIA F4 and the Indian Racing League into everyday conversations among sports enthusiasts.”
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VML Names Richard Williams as Group ECD for Melbourne and Sydney
VML has selected veteran Richard Williams from Clemenger BBDO to take Jake Barrow’s place. Beginning in September, Williams will work for VML as group executive creative director for its Sydney and Melbourne offices. Based in Sydney and Melbourne, he will oversee a team of more than thirty creatives, continuing the legacy of Jake Barrow.
VML appoints Clemenger BBDO’s Richar Williams as group executive creative director
Over the course of his nearly 25-year career, Williams has worked primarily at Clemenger BBDO, where he has been a key creative director for some of Australia’s most recognizable advertising campaigns. He was a member of the agency’s senior leadership team and oversaw key accounts like Carlton & United Breweries, BMW, TAC, and NAB.
Barrow will start later this year at VML Czech Republic in the newly created position of chief creative officer. Allegedly signifying a fresh phase for VML, the organization anticipates that Willaims’s appointment will enable it to persist in exploring the limits of inventiveness.
Williams’ most widely recognized pieces are Bonds’ “The Boys” and Carlton Draught’s “Slow Mo” and “Beer Chase.” Sarah Bailey, managing director of VML Melbourne and Sydney, said Williams is a highly respected and award-winning individual. In September, he will start working at VML.
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Here’s what they said
Williams, on his appointment, said,
“I am delighted to be joining VML later this year. I’ve been waiting a long time for the right opportunity to arrive… The creative ambition of the agency, the strong and talented leadership, and its technical proficiency made the decision very easy for me. The creative legacy of George Patterson, Young & Rubicam, and JWT is so significant in this country, and I feel privileged to help write the next chapter.”
Paul Nagy, chief creative officer of VML APAC commented,
“If I were to list my favorite advertising ideas to ever come out of Australia… Rich has probably done about four of them. Even my Dad was impressed when I showed him his work and believe me when I tell you – that never happens. Rich is super talented, really focused on what he wants to achieve, a genuine leader and a lovely human being…we are so lucky to have him and I can’t wait for him to get started.”
Managing director of VML Sydney and Melbourne, Sarah Bailey, added:
“Rich comes highly awarded and highly regarded. When we did our due diligence on Rich, the word quality was mentioned a lot, as was the word talented, and when we met him, it was clear that the rumors were true. These characteristics are very important to me and the team at VML so we’re all really excited Rich is joining us to build on the incredible creative spirit Jake has cultivated over the past thirteen years.”
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Tarek Daouk Expands Leadership Remit to Turkey as CEO, MENAT and Appointed President, Merkle SEMENAT
Dentsu today announces the appointment of Tarek Daouk as CEO for the newly created sub-cluster of dentsu Middle East North Africa and Turkey (MENAT), expanding his role to lead dentsu’s operations in Turkey. Going forward, Tarek will lead the integrated growth strategy and business execution for MENAT, where dentsu has reorganised its operations to accelerate synergies in the region.
In parallel, Tarek has been appointed President, Merkle Southern Europe, Middle East North Africa and Turkey (SEMENAT), expanding his leadership across an extensive geographic scope to partner with markets to implement dentsu’s transformation agenda and to lead the CXM Practice across the wider cluster. In this new role he will be responsible for expanding data-driven experiences with best-in-class technology to deliver digital transformation for clients – a critical foundation for dentsu to deliver experience transformation across key growth markets in the cluster.
Daouk joined dentsu in 2018 and has since delivered strategic growth across MENA by leveraging dentsu’s capabilities to design integrated solutions for clients that are focused on the seamless merging of technology, media, content and customer experience – with the ultimate aim of delivering better business and societal outcomes. Tarek has since transformed dentsu’s business and operations in MENA and built an ambitious leadership team.
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Mariano Di Benedetto, CEO of dentsu SEMENAT commented,
“Tarek has shown unwavering passion and dedication to uniting the very best aspects of dentsu to drive business growth, while showing his leadership in delivering integrated solutions that put clients at the center,”
“The MENAT region is a high performing and high growth area, and I look forward to collaborating closely with Tarek to continue to realise our strategic goals across the region. I have no doubt that Tarek will continue to successfully lead the business into its next phase of growth, while delivering long term value for our clients in MENA, Turkey and across the CXM practice for the wider SEMENAT cluster.”
Daouk said,
“I am delighted to be taking on a wider remit at dentsu at such an exciting time for the network as we evolve our offering across marketing, consulting and technology to be at the forefront of the industry,”
“I am ready to take on this next opportunity collaborating with our people across MENAT to build on the existing success in the region and support the needs of our people, clients, and consumers by unlocking the potential of dentsu’s integrated growth solutions. I also look forward to working with the wider Merkle SEMENAT team to leverage technology and innovation to deliver experience transformation.”
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Snap Inc. Appoints Abdulla Alhammadi as Managing Director in KSA
Snap Inc. announced Abdulla Alhammadi’s appointment as Managing Director in KSA, a calculated move to maintain the company’s success in Saudi Arabia. Alhammadi, who was previously Snap’s Regional Business Lead, will move into his new position and be based in Saudi Arabia to aid in the company’s expansion there. The brand and its creators are anticipating the opening of a new office and Creator Studio in the Diriyah Jax cultural district of Riyadh later this year.
Abdulla Alhammadi joins Snap Inc. as Managing Director KSA
Alhammadi joined the company in 2019 and has been instrumental in its expansion. Assuming leadership in a Saudi Arabian partnership ecosystem that includes small and medium-sized businesses and the government. Alhammadi is also concentrating on developing the team’s roster using the Kingdom’s thriving local talent.
Alhammadi’s previous endeavors
Alhammadi has an impressive background in business. Before joining Snap, she worked as a small business marketing lead for Google in Saudi Arabia, a member of the founding team at Careem, and a senior engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. Alhammadi has also held positions on several boards, such as Beyoncé’s board of directors. His wealth of experience and successful track record at Snap, along with his honors bachelor’s degree in finance and international business from Georgetown University, provide him with a promising platform for leading the way in Saudi Arabia.
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Snapchat boasts a distinct and exceedingly active user base in Saudi Arabia, with 22 million monthly users who open the app over 50 times a day on average. Snapchat invests heavily in the Kingdom to support the vast community of Snapchatters, content creators, and advertisers, offering value to all users on the platform. Snapchat is viewed as a digital extension of the social fabric of the Kingdom.
Here’s what they said
Commenting on his new role, Alhammadi said,
“At such an important and transitional time for both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Snap as a business, I am honoured to be stepping into a new position at a company I value so highly. The next year is set to be an exciting time for Snap in Saudi Arabia, as we officially open our new office and Creator Studio. Alongside this, I hope to continue building our GCC community and our creator ecosystem, cementing our leadership in AR, and demonstrating the ROI we provide for our partners. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing Snap’s success in Saudi Arabia.”
Hussein Freijeh, Vice President of Snap in the MENA region, commented,
“We couldn’t think of a better person to be leading Snap in KSA. Alhammadi has taken the business from strength to strength, and with KSA being one of our largest markets in the region, his skillset and determination will be imperative to carrying out our strategic plans and to supporting our partners.”
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The Times of India Appoints Gaurav Mashruwala as President – Times Experiences
Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India) has appointed Gaurav Mashruwala as President – Times Experiences, the company’s new experiential marketing vertical.
As President – Times Experiences, Gaurav will be responsible for overseeing the growth and profitability of the company’s experiential marketing business. He will lead the creation and execution of innovative experiential solutions, including brand IPs, brand solutions, and Business conclaves. He will drive a comprehensive revenue strategy for the experiential business, maximize the potential of existing IPs, design new creative formats, and spearhead new business ventures. He will help add an accelerator to the Experiential Marketing Business unit by identifying Market opportunities and challenges, leveraging new technologies and platforms to generate offerings, solutions, and business models (both B2B and B2C).
Gaurav, a commerce graduate from University of Mumbai and an MBA from KJ Somaiya, is an accomplished business leader with over 24 years of experience. Gaurav brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise across media, entertainment, and sports. In his earlier role as Vice President and Business Head for INS Live business at Viacom18 Media, Gaurav was responsible for driving business growth and managing P&L.
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