AD Agencies
APAC Effie Awards 2016 names Omnicom’s Cheuk Chiang as awards chairman
MUMBAI: Asia Pacific Effie Awards has named Omnicom Media Group CEO, Asia Pacific Cheuk Chiang the 2016 Awards chairman.
Chiang oversees the global media and communications network in Asia Pacific, with brands like OMD, PHD and M2M that have been built on strong cultures of creativity and innovation.
Chiang’s career to date spans across account management, strategy planning and agency management roles in creative, direct marketing, digital and media agencies over the past 23 years.
Prior to joining Omnicom Media Group, Chiang had a long spell as the managing director of CumminsNitro in Australia and was recognised as one of the top executives in the region. He joined PHD as CEO for Asia Pacific in 2008 and had led the agency in achieving numerous milestones and awards year-on-year. Chiang was subsequently appointed as CEO, Asia pacific for Omnicom Media Group in 2013. Under his leadership and vision, OMD and PHD continues to grow progressively.
“It is an honour to be invited to chair the APAC Effie Awards this year. Having been involved in the APAC Effie, I am very impressed with the efforts Effie has in place to uphold and celebrate high standards in marketing effectiveness. APAC Effie is indeed the gold standard when it comes to recognising and rewarding marketing effectiveness in the region. Effectiveness is arguably the most important factor when it comes to judging the success of a campaign and something we always strive to achieve. I am excited to work with my peers in the industry to continue driving marketing effectiveness in the Asia Pacific region,” said Chiang.
Speaking on the appointment, APAC Effie Committee chairman Jarek Ziebinski added, “We are pleased to have Cheuk Chiang on board as the chairman for the upcoming awards. Cheuk’s credentials and expertise in the field will be invaluable to APAC Effie in championing the most effective works in the region.”
APAC Effie 2016, the third edition of the Awards, continues to celebrate the most effective marketing communications efforts in Asia Pacific. Call for Entry will begin in the coming weeks.
AD Agencies
Microsoft shifts global media account from Dentsu to Publicis Groupe: Reports
Closed review ends decade-long tie-up; Xbox remit may remain with Dentsu
MUMBAI: Microsoft has reassigned its global media planning and buying business to Publicis Groupe, according to media reports, ending Dentsu’s long-standing stewardship of one of the advertising industry’s biggest accounts.
The move follows a closed review and marks a notable shake-up in the global media landscape. Dentsu, which managed the account through Carat, had held the mandate since 2014 and successfully defended it in a 2018 review.
While the broader business is shifting, Dentsu is expected to retain media responsibilities for Xbox, according to media reports, though the exact contours of that arrangement remain unclear. None of the parties involved have publicly outlined the transition timeline or the full structure of the handover.
The scale of the account underscores the significance of the change. Estimates from COMvergence, cited by Ad Age, peg Microsoft’s global media spend at roughly $700 million last year.
For Publicis Groupe, the win deepens an already expanding relationship with the tech giant. Earlier this year, Microsoft Advertising partnered with Publicis Media Exchange and Epsilon to integrate Epsilon’s data into its platform, aiming to sharpen targeting across search, native and display formats.
The decision reflects a broader industry shift, as large advertisers increasingly favour agency partners with strong first-party data capabilities, AI integration and platform-led solutions. Publicis Groupe has been leaning into this model, positioning its data assets and technology stack as a central differentiator.
For Dentsu, the loss is significant. Media remains a core pillar of its global business, and the development comes close on the heels of leadership changes, including the appointment of Takeshi Sano as global chief executive officer.
The shift also carries a touch of irony. Microsoft and Dentsu have worked closely beyond the client-agency relationship, including collaborations around AI tools such as Copilot to support media and creative workflows.
As the dust settles, the message is clear: in today’s data-driven, AI-powered media world, relationships may be long, but they are rarely permanent.
