MAM
Katy Xu is BBC Advertising’s regional director for Hong Kong, Greater China
MUMBAI: BBC Advertising, part of BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of UK pubcaster the BBC, has announced the appointment of Katy Xu as regional director for Hong Kong and Greater China.
Xu will be responsible for BBC Advertising’s business in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Philippines and China, and starts with immediate effect.
Xu will be based in Hong Kong and report to senior VP sales Asia Sunita Rajan.
She joins BBC Advertising from Eurosport Asia Pacific where she was regional account director (Greater China, Thailand and Singapore) for two years.
Previous to that, Xu was regional sales manager for both Greater China and South East Asia at Microsoft Advertising, and regional account director (Asia Pacific) for MTV Asia. She has also held sales roles at Lycos Asia and ChinaQuest Software.
Key achievements over her past 12 years of international media background have included helping major Chinese brands such as Haier and Huawei launch their first ever international advertising campaigns – Haier sponsoring MTV Asia Awards in 2006, and Huawei (device) sponsoring the broadcast of London 2012 on Eurosport.
Rajan said: “With vast experience in both pan regional TV and digital, having worked with global media companies such as Viacom, Microsoft Advertising Solutions and most recently Eurosport, Katy is well poised to drive growth for our business from these markets with her expertise in multi-screen and content solutions Ad Sales and her added knowledge and fluency in Mandarin.”
Xu said, “I am delighted to have joined the BBC Advertising team, and am looking forward to working with businesses in Hong Kong and Greater China to promote their goods and services alongside some of the world’s best, most watched and most trusted content.”
She moves into the role vacated by Michael Rees, who has relocated to Singapore as BBC Advertising’s regional director for Singapore, Korea.
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
