MAM
Havas appoints Mediacom’s Karl Wu as Greater China CEO
MUMBAI: Havas Media Group has appointed media and marketing specialist, Karl Wu, as the CEO for Greater China. Based in Beijing, Wu will be responsible for Havas’s brands — Havas Media and Arena Media, as well as Havas Group pure player agencies Socialyse, Affiperf, Ecselis and Mobext. The media group currently has five offices in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Wu joins the agency with an impressive track record in integrated marketing and advertising space, having held senior roles both on the agency and the client side. He was most recently the COO of Mediacom China and concurrently the Asia Pacific Managing Director of one of the agency’s largest clients – Volkswagen.
Prior to joining Mediacom, Wu led Digital Marketing for Nokia as Marketing Director for Asia Pacific as well as China. He has also held senior positions at Dentsu Aegis Media and Publicis Vivaki, and his experience on the brand side extends to blue chip companies such as Intel and NBA in China, and Bell Canada in Toronto Canada.
Wu will report to the Global Executive Committee represented by Christophe Cases, who will relinquish his role as CEO of Greater China but continue to be based in China in his global role as Deputy Global Managing Director of Havas Media Group.
Cases said, “We are delighted to have Karl as CEO for Greater China. He is a very important hire for us and integral to our ambition for this market as we strengthen our client-centred collaborative model. Karl brings with him an international mindset and deep knowledge of not only China market but Asia Pacific as a whole. His experience in leadership roles both on the agency and the client side will be a definite asset as we move our business to next level of growth.”
Wu said, “I have been on both sides of the table, and I can see the changes needed for our industry to deliver better customer value. Havas Group not only has the vision and strategy but has also started executing to that vision. The Havas Village integration is an example of the many initiatives that will ultimately re-shape our industry. I am excited about what the future holds and looking forward to my new role.”
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
