GECs
Ogilvy PR Asia Pacific appoints three senior leaders
MUMBAI: Ogilvy Public Relations (Ogilvy PR) has announced three appointments to its Asia Pacific management team, following the announcement that Scott Kronick has been appointed as president and CEO of Ogilvy PR, Asia Pacific w.e.f January 2014.
Debby Cheung, currently group managing director of Ogilvy PR, China and president of Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) Group, Shanghai, has been named president of Ogilvy PR, China/Hong Kong. Current regional director of Ogilvy PR, Southeast Asia, Andrew Thomas, has been promoted to president of Ogilvy PR, Southeast Asia with additional responsibility for Ogilvy PR’s leadership in India. Similarly, current CEO of Ogilvy PR, Australia, Kieran Moore, will take on a broader role as regional director of talent to lead the firm’s regional talent initiatives, including creating processes to attract, engage, reward and retain the talent that will define the future of the public relations industry.
Ogilvy PR, Asia Pacific president and CEO Scott Kronick said, “I’ve had the honor of working closely with these three colleagues under Steve Dahllof, the current President and CEO of Ogilvy PR, Asia Pacific. The four of us will join together to form a stronger and even more focused regional management operation for Ogilvy PR with the goal of ensuring clients receive first-hand senior management attention and counsel.”
With more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region, Ogilvy PR is the largest and most awarded network regionally.
“A region that covers 28 markets with more than 1,200 staff needs the breadth and depth of a strong leadership team, and that is what we have planned for Ogilvy PR in Asia,” said Ogilvy & Mather, Asia Pacific chairman Paul Heath. “This structure is aligned with how we are organizing ourselves throughout the region to focus our senior leadership attention on our people and clients in each of these markets. Debby, Andrew and Kieran are first-class and they round out a very strong PR team for us in Asia.”
On her new role, Cheung commented, “I’m a firm believer in creative thinking and original content, and this is particularly challenging in public relations because it requires constant reaction to global information flow. My focus moving forward will be to ensure our clients are getting the very best our industry has to offer in both China and Hong Kong, as a model for us in Asia and throughout the world.”
Thomas joined Ogilvy PR in Singapore in 2005 and has been responsible for growing the firm into a market leader. “Southeast Asia is exploding and this is providing growth opportunities throughout the region. My role will be to connect the dots in different ways for our people and our clients,” said Thomas. “India is an exciting market and it’s a great honor to be given the responsibility for growing our presence there.”
With more than 27 years’ experience in public relations covering strategy development and implementation, reputation and crisis management, and corporate positioning in Australia and the U.K., Moore will continue her current role, and will also serve as the firm’s Regional Director of Talent, responsible for creating and driving talent strategy for the agency, including talent attraction, people engagement and retention.
“Talent strategy is an area that I am passionate about. People are the cornerstone of our business and I am thrilled to be asked to support our talent growth and reputation in Asia,” she said.
The appointments will take effect 1 January 2014.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
