MAM
Dentsu Aegis Network appoints Cheuk Chiang to lead Greater North business in APAC
MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network announces the appointment of Cheuk Chiang to the role of CEO, Greater North, Dentsu Aegis Network APAC, effective 2 December. Based in Shanghai, China, and reporting to Ashish Bhasin, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network APAC, Cheuk will oversee Dentsu Aegis Network China, Dentsu Aegis Network Hong Kong, Dentsu Aegis Network Taiwan and Dentsu Aegis Network Korea. He will also join the Dentsu Aegis Network APAC Executive team.
The appointment follows the announcement of the simplified three-cluster structure in March this year, which was put in place to further operationalise our markets, giving them the autonomy to react to client needs. This allows our businesses to deliver more strategic and market-specific initiatives at pace and scale.
Cheuk takes over from Takaki Hibino who was overseeing Greater North in the interim. He will now focus on his role as Executive Chairman, Dentsu Aegis Network APAC.
Dentsu Aegis Network APAC CEO Ashish Bhasin comments: “Greater North is a critical collection of markets that needs a strong and accomplished leader to drive our business forward in an increasingly complex and challenging landscape. Cheuk is a visionary leader who’s keenly focused on reinventing the way the industry operates, consistent with the vision of our business and the value we place on our clients. He is an industry thought-leader who has played a pivotal role in driving transformation across the industry. It was clear from the start that he is the perfect candidate to navigate these fast-paced markets for our clients. I am delighted to have Cheuk join the APAC Executive team to drive value and realise the long-term growth in our business.”
Dentsu Aegis Network APAC Greater North Cheuk Chiang, comments: “As an industry, we are seeing unprecedented changes and at Dentsu Aegis Network, I saw a company that is leading that change. Its capabilities are future-facing and it is important for me to be able to contribute to a network that can leverage its competitive strengths to meet new demands. I am delighted to take on this leadership in one of the most dynamic and technologically advanced group of markets in our industry. The Greater North presents us with a combination of unique challenges and opportunities, which Dentsu Aegis Network is extremely well-positioned to capitalise on with our unparalleled market-specific offerings. I look forward to taking our Greater North business forward.”
As the network continues to mobilise its Cluster structure to unlock greater opportunities in the faster moving parts of the business, Ashish Bhasin will continue to lead Greater South as the Executive team continues to look for a successor.
Brands
6 in 10 face bias, 58 per cent delay care: India’s LGBTQIA+ health crisis
Study highlights bias in care and unsafe spaces shaping everyday choices
MUMBAI: A significant number of LGBTQIA+ women in India are putting off essential healthcare, with 58 per cent reporting delays or avoidance due to discrimination, according to a new study. The figure is the highest among five countries surveyed, pointing to deep-rooted systemic challenges.
The research, conducted by Kantar in partnership with DIVA Charitable Trust and The Curve Foundation, draws insights from over 3,200 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary individuals globally. Released around Lesbian Visibility Week, the findings highlight how bias continues to shape access to care.
In India, 60 per cent of respondents said they had faced discrimination in healthcare settings, often feeling dismissed or not taken seriously by providers. This has led many to delay seeking treatment, underscoring how trust deficits in the system directly impact health decisions.
The study also reflects broader social realities. Instances of verbal or physical abuse were commonly reported across platforms such as social media, public transport and social venues, reinforcing a persistent sense of insecurity in everyday life.
At the same time, expectations from brands are evolving. In India, 78 per cent of respondents believe companies should actively contribute to advancing diversity and inclusion, signalling a growing demand for corporate accountability.
Kantar India HR head Mridul Shekhar said, “LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people remain underrepresented and overlooked. Their experiences are shaped by uneven access to care and systems not designed with them in mind. When people are invisible in data, they become invisible in decision-making.”
DIVA Charitable Trust executive director Lady Phyll added, “When people delay healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion. These are life decisions driven by the need to feel safe.”
The findings underline a stark reality. While awareness around inclusion is growing, bridging the gap between intent and lived experience remains an urgent priority.
