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
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
