MARKETING-INTERACTIVE

foodpanda Malaysia has appointed Ming Luk Tan as its new managing director. With over a decade of #leadership experience in commercial and operational roles across Singapore and Malaysia, Tan brings with him industry knowledge, deep understanding of local markets and consumers, and a proven track record for driving business growth. #appointment

Global next-gen creative, tech and media group, MSQ, along with its branding and design consultancy, Elmwood Brand Consultancy, have announced the appointment of seasoned brand strategist Ambrish Chaudhry as its new head of strategy for Asia. Chaudhry will work closely with the regional leadership team, including Celeste Cheong, managing director, #ElmwoodSingapore; Andy E., general manager, #MSQAsia; Angeline Kong, managing director, #ElmwoodShanghai; and Susie Hunt, Asia chair, #MSQ and #Elmwood. “Chaudhry is the perfect fit to help us strategically strengthen our position in Asia as a full-service brand and experience design consultancy,” said Daniel Binns, CEO of Elmwood. #appointment

Automotive brand Lexus Asia is taking a turn into culinary. In partnership with AR Asia Production Limited, #LexusAsia will be releasing a gastronomy series titled #TheMaverickAcademy on Netflix. The Maverick Academy is a culinary competition that champions gastronomic talent in craft and entrepreneurial spirit of aspiring chefs across Asia such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Hong Kong. The winner will be granted the opportunity to work as acclaimed chef Alvin Leung's apprentice and business partner. "This partnership is a celebration of #craftsmanship and excellence, and we're excited to be a part of The Maverick Academy. The show aptly demonstrates the ethos of Lexus - the blending of passion, innovation, and exceptional customer-centric focus to create unforgettable elevated experiences," said Preston Tan, vice president of Lexus Asia. #partnership

The festive seasons are a lucrative time for brands. In a cultural melting pot such as Malaysia especially, brands are known for releasing a myriad of campaigns and advertisements for celebrations such as #ChineseNewYear and #HariRaya amongst many others. With Deepavali around the corner, Malaysian brands are gearing up to unveil Deepavali #films. Most recently, CelcomDigi explored intergenerational bonds in its heartwarming Deepavali film while MR DIY Malaysia's film, starring a man and his grandmother, brought viewers to tears. Taylor's University, on the other hand, utilised a blend of powerful visual narrative with an original Tamil song, delivering a message that resonates deeply with today’s audience. With Deepavali coming up this week, A+M spoke to brand leaders and marketers, including May Ling Chan, Douglas R Tan, Suzen Chai, Ben Foo, Abdul Sani Abdul Murad to find out what the trends are this Deepavali and whether or not ad spend is being put in this festival of lights. #Deepavali #AdSpend

Malaysian national oil company PETRONAS is reportedly planning an "aggressive" expansion in Indonesia. The expansion will reportedly see the creation of a hub for its operations in East Java and #investments into exploring the country's eastern regions. This is according to Petronas Indonesia head Yuzaini Md Yusof who said that the company was encouraged by recent regulatory steps that made it easier to develop energy projects, reported #Reuters. #expansion

Creative agency Iris Singapore has picked Paolo Agulto as its new executive creative director. In his new role he will be charged with elevating the agency’s creative output, rounding out a slew of global and local hires. Agulto will be supported by global chief creative officer Menno Kluin, and creative chairman Eduardo Maruri, who were also brought on recently as part of #Iris. Agulto will be tasked with collaborating closely with Shea W., Iris Singapore’s recently appointed chief strategy officer, as “it’s in the strategy x creative partnership where the sharpest creativity happens”, added Nadilo. “Agulto is an incredibly sharp, modern creative stepping into this role with hunger and ambition. We needed someone who shared Iris’ ‘participants not passengers’ mentality, not just in the kind of work we create, but also in how we work and the culture we create at Iris”, said Rebecca Nadilo, managing director of Iris. #appointment

American pop rock band #OneRepublic is taking fans behind the scenes of its new Singapore track. Done in collaboration with Universal Music Group Singapore (#UMSG) and Singapore Tourism Board (#STB), the behind-the-scenes video shines a light on the inspiration behind the ethereal track. The video was filmed during the band's visit at the recent Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 and features frontman and lead singer #RyanTedder and keyboardist #BrianWillett exploring the city. “The Singapore track beautifully pays homage to our city's essence – a harmonious blend of #heritage and #modernity. Inspired by the #creativity and ingenuity of the track, we invite listeners worldwide to immerse in the journey that this track takes you through, in the vibrant and eclectic tapestry that Singapore offers," said Huei Miin Choo, executive director, brand, #SingaporeTourismBoard. #collaboration #tourism

In the ever-evolving marketing world, industry players need to keep up with the latest trends to resonate with their audience, especially the future consumer - #GenZ.  In terms of financial #investment, a recent research by HSBC shows that Gen Z starts investing on average at the age of 20, eight years earlier than other generation respondents. Meanwhile, one in five Gen Z investors tend to follow #influencers or friends for tips when they struggle with investment knowledge. Leading the full spectrum of marketing functions at a homegrown brand, Jordan Cheung, chief marketing officer, Hang Seng Bank, said his biggest worry is the fear of becoming outdated in his approach to marketing as the bank strives to stay young and relevant to the Gen Z audience. #WhatsKeepingMeUp

The former CEO of Cyberport Hong Kong Peter Yan King Shun has been tapped by the Hong Kong government to lead the office tasked with #attracting companies from specific fields to the city. Effective today, Yan will take on the role as the director-general of the Office for Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises(OASES), following an open recruitment exercise. #Chan, said, "Yan possesses rich experience and extensive knowledge in the field of information #technology and has frequently communicated and collaborated with #stakeholders from strategic industries.” #innovation #technology

Nina Hospitality, a member of Chinachem Group, has embarked on a #transformation journey since 2021, ushering in a new era of #refinement. Nina Hospitality has developed a solid business model, created a unique service philosophy, and fostered a vibrant company culture. Through tailored #improvement plans for each property and a comprehensive brand #relaunch, Nina Hospitality aims to breathe new life into its identity and refresh consumer perceptions. #hotel #campaign