Are we heading for a recession? Currently there seems very little sign of this in the industry. Creative and media agencies on the whole are buoyed up after a good year in 2007 despite rises in staff costs. The People Going Places pages in the January/February issue of AdAsia magazine gave an indication of just how many people were showing up in January at their new place of employment. We also have reported on new offices being established in Singapore and new divisions being added to established firms.
      However, I personally feel, one would be wise not to be over-confident. Even as I write, I hear the mad escalation of office rents in Singapore (the market I know best) is beginning to falter. Indeed, I suspect landlords will be only too happy to renew at existing levels rather than risk an empty office space for months.
      Of course, we all know that advertisers should spend more during periods of slow down but few can grasp this concept so as current promotions and launches are completed, we must anticipate some slackening off. Rising costs lead to less money in the pocket for the average man and women in the street so some product categories will feel the pinch. All over the world analysts tell us the rich are getting richer so certain product and service categories may even grow in 2008.
      With a tightening of budgets may come a more serious interest in the online media which is still under-valued. The ability to pinpoint and interact with a consumer who actually has interest in your product or category along with a lower investment, is quite a compelling story for the marketer.
      As you receive this, I will be in Sri Lanka. The Chilli Awards (what a great name) are back again and I have been asked to help. Despite all the violence in this beautiful country, the creative people in the advertising industry are still focused on raising the standards they set for themselves and their clients. We will carry the results in the next issue of AdAsia magazine and AdAsiaOnline.
      Have a good month ahead. Best wishes


Allein G. Moore
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The Economist increases circulation
The Economist has shown an increase in circulation in the latest ABC figures. Globally, it has risen to 1,306,939, up nearly 110,000 on last year’s figures. Susan Clark, Global Marketing Director, says this growth shows that ‘smarting up’ not dumbing down is how media companies can win in a fragmented and competitive landscape.
Singaporeans don’t care about weight
In a global survey by Synovate, it seems that Singaporeans are the least weight-obsessed. 37% never get on the scales. The most weight-conscious are the French and the Americans. The country most addicted to fast foods was the UK while it appears 75% of Singaporeans felt they could give up fast foods and Hong Kongers were only a few points behind.
Designer magazine
Designer Issue 17 will be distributed in a couple of weeks’ time. This issue features the Singapore Design Festival that took place over December. If you missed the events and exhibitions, read about it in this issue that features this bi-annual event.
Asia consumers will still buy cars
Despite fears of a recession, it seems Asia consumers are likely to buy a new car in 2008. This comes out in the recent survey conducted amongst Pulse Group’s consumer panels. 18.3% interviewed said they would purchase a new car regardless of the economic situation.
Ink takes flight in Indonesia
Ink Publishing has won the contract to publish Mandala, the inflight magazine for Indonesia’s Mandala Airlines. This is the publisher’s first venture in Indonesia.
New airline campaign
Etihad Airways has launched a new television commercial which is now running in the Asia region. Created by TBWA and shot by Bare Films, the ad campaign will remind us that there are now many more choices on long-haul flights.
Putting a bit of Puzhi into China
The Shanghai Press and Publishing Development Company and the Reader’s Digest Association Inc have launched a new publication in China. The title is Puzhi and is published by Puzhi Magazine Incorporated under license from Reader’s Digest. Content covers science, health, medicine and the arts.
China online on fast track to growth
Nielsen’s latest AdRelevance Report shows the online market in China growing steadily. The fourth quarter showed an increase of 6% of the previous quarter. Nielsen Online predicts a growth in 2008 of at least 50% more than in 2007 when US$1.3 billion was spent online.
Microsoft research points to strength of online market
The recent Consumer Electronics Survey completed by Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions showed that for buying electronics, the online media scored far better that the traditional media as a resource. Whilst 37% of Asian consumers got information from family and friends and the same number from traditional media, amongst the respondents, a whopping 86% went online to find out more. Easier comparisons of features and price were the main reasons.
Bangladesh has new branding magazine
A new magazine has been launched in Bangladesh to provide both local and internal brands news. The title is Bangladesh Brand Forum and its editor is Shariful Islam, CEO of BrandZeal. Karthik Siva, Martin Roll and Toffael Rashid are on the advisory panel.
Leapfrog lands in Singapore
Loyalty and sales promotion specialists The Leapfrog Group has established an office in Singapore to service local clients. They already have Lufthansa and Lenovo as clients. Joyce Chew will manage the office.
Kadence expands
After opening offices in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, building from the Singapore office, Kadence Group is to open offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong by end 2008.
Clio’s new chairs
Clio Awards has announced executive jury chairs in the following categories: Matais Palm Jenson, Creative President, Farfar, Stockholm (Interactive), Garth Walker, CD, Orange Juice Design, Durban (Design), Bob Winter, vp/cd, Leo Burnett, Chicago (Radio).
Eye’s new advertisers
China New Town Development and Far East Organisation are EYE’s inaugural property advertisers. The property companies had used Changi’s T2 airport for their corporate branding campaigns.
P&G honoured
The Cannes 2008 Advertiser of the Year award will go to Procter & Gamble. AG Lafley, Chairman and CEO and Jim Stengel, Global Marketing Officer will jointly accept the award in Cannes.
People going places
Mary Devereux, Asia Pac Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller, is leaving as is Jocelyn Domingo, five-year long President of Carat Philippines; joining TBWA Thailand is Narong Tresuchon who moves from his role as GM of OMD to be MD at TBWA of International Accounts;  Amy Mellor is joining JWT as Regional Communications Director for Asia Pacific; Saatchi & Saatchi names Ian Rowden, most recently EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Wendy’s International, its Chairman and CEO for Asia Pacific; Mark Collis, previously National Creative Director, Leo Burnett Australia, is now Group ECD at Ogilvy Japan; BBC Worldwide has appointed Deborah Cordeiro as Account Director for Ad Sales, Southeast Asia; Joji Jacob is moving from Senior Creative Group Head at DDB Singapore to BBDO as Creative Director; Chris Morley has been named Managing Director, Nielsen Marketing China; Ogilvy Singapore has appointed Jiyoon Kim as Planning Director. She moves from Leo Burnett Korea where she was head of strategic planning; STW Communications Group and Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific have appointed Stuart O’Brien to a new role as CEO of Ogilvy Advertising; Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide Singapore has appointed Helen Rasmussen as Client Services Director; Chris Schaumann is now Global Advertising and Digital Lead at Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions; Y&R Singapore has appointed Taru Jain as Head of Digital; Richard Halmarick has resigned as CEO of Aegis Media Asia South; Yap Pow Hoong has left DraftFCB Malaysia to fill the vacant ECD post at DDB International; BBDO Hong Kong has promoted CD John So to the ECD role; David Szabo has been appointed ECD at Publicis Hong Kong; Tom Hannigan, MD of Tequila Thailand, has been appointed General Manager of Tequila Singapore; Omnicom Media Group has promoted OMD China MD Elaine Ip to CEO; Marco Nieto has been appointed Crush’s Philippines MD; Sapna Srivastava, from JWT’s India office, has been promoted to a newly-created role of Chief Talent Officer for Asia-Pacific; Alastair Tan is moving to GFT Global Markets Asia as Marketing Director for the region; Josh Nova is now VP of Corporate and Technology Practice at Ketchum Greater China in Hong Kong; Roger Marshall has been named MD of Upstream Australia following its acquisition of Macro Consulting; BBDO Malaysia has appointed Amit Sutha, previously from JWT India, as Head of Planning; BBDO Singapore has a new Regional PR Director in Joanna McEwan; MEC Interaction has appointed Radhikarani Sengupta as Regional Director and Daniel Chan as Senior Account Manager; Michael Drury has joined EastWest PR as Associate Director to handle its healthcare portfolio; MediaCom Asia Pacific has hired Sean Seamer previously from its London office as Regional Interaction Director. Sam Wong has been appointed Area Manager for Aquent Shanghai as Duncan Cunningham was promoted to the role of Regional Director for Greater China.
Winners
Y&R Singapore has won the MobileOne (M1) account; Zenith Media has beaten rivals Mindshare, PHD and Starcom to retain the StarHub cable and mobile business account; Ogilvy & Mather Singapore beat Dentsu and ADK for the Soyjoy account. The fruit and soy bar is produced by Otsuka Pharmaceutical who makes Pocari Sweat; Another Singapore win: Kingsmen Ooh-media has won advertising sales business for The Central, a Singapore shopping mall controlled by Riverhub Pte Ltd; Contiki Holidays has gone to Lewis Public Relations while Times Publishing have given their PR account to Priority Consultants; Icon has been appointed public relations agency partner for the World Cities Summit which is taking place in Singapore in June; Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore has lost the Toyota business in that market to Dentsu; After a five-agency pitch, TBWA Korea has picked up SK Gas, said to be worth US$19 million; JWT Bangkok has won the Bumrungrad International Hospital account.



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