Dentsu Aegis Network names Audrey Kuah as executive director of media business

Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Audrey Kuah as executive director of media business, Asia Pacific, in addition to her role as managing director of the network’s global data innovation centre.Her expanded role covers the Singapore hub where she will work closely with Phil Adrien, managing director, OneSG Media Group, to lead the OneSG Media Group to build a best-in-class media practice for clients to win in the digital economy. Kuah's experience spans more than two decades in digital, marketing and advertising across client and agency roles, industries and geographies.In her role as managing director of the network’s Global Data Innovation Centre, Kuah  leads a team of data scientists, engineers and product specialists to develop proprietary and large-scale marketing products and platforms that are deployed across the global network.She first joined Dentsu Aegis Network as CEO of (formerly known) Aegis Media Singapore in October 2011. She is credited to have transformed the group and its brands, Carat, Vizeum, Posterscope, Isobar and iProspect. She then moved into the role of chief client officer, Southeast Asia, where she focused on international client development for non-Japanese clients across the region – leading the network’s marketing efforts in Southeast Asia and generating new business opportunities.On the appointment, Masaya Nakamura, deputy chairman and chief growth officer of Dentsu Aegis Network APAC said, “Over the years, she displayed a solid record of building high calibre teams, making real visionary insights and transforming brands. Kuah  demonstrates a deep understanding of the business landscape and is the right person to lead our OneSG Media Group together with Phil. I look forward to working closely with her.”Kuah said, “I’ve had an amazing journey with Dentsu Aegis Network starting with being CEO of an integrated marketing services company (Aegis Singapore) and then working with the integration model made famous by Dentsu in my role of chief client officer (International clients) Dentsu Aegis Network Southeast Asia.""I was thereafter given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to helm our network’s R&D centre – where we’ve experienced significant milestones and breakthroughs creating next generation business solutions for clients and brands, and now in this expanded role to develop a media and performance practice in Asia Pacific that innovates how brands are built to win in the digital economy. I look forward to this new chapter and could not be more excited to work together with the incredible talent to drive the network’s transformation journey.”Kuah’s expanded role will be effective 1st April 2019, reporting into Nakamura.In recent times Dentsu has shifted its business strategy largely seeing several senior departures from the agency.The restructure saw Susana Tsui (pictured), CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network China and Phil Teeman, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network SEA leaving the agency.The network also split its Asia Pacific regional business into three clusters from the original five. The clusters are – Greater South (including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar), Greater North (consisting of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea) and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). Meanwhile, Singapore was said to remain unaffected. As a key regional hub, the Singapore business will be separated from Greater South and led by Nakamura, in addition to his roles as deputy chairman and chief growth officer of the APAC business.In January, DAN restructured its media and performance business in Singapore, settling on two verticals – Brand Solutions business and One Singapore Media Group. A DAN Client Solutions virtual team was also formed to sit across all brands to drive best practice.