Havas SG names Kenny Yap as chief operating officer of Havas Play

Havas Singapore has promoted Kenny Yap (pictured) to chief operating officer of Havas Play, a specialised division within Havas Media Network, as part of its expansion in Singapore. Yap will work closely with Russell Lai, chief commercial officer of Havas Media Network Singapore, and both will continue to report to Rana Barua, group CEO, India, Southeast Asia and North Asia.

In his new role, Yap will spearhead the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and partnerships aimed at fostering continued growth and innovation, in addition to his commercial and operational responsibilities.

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An additional key priority will be to broaden the reach of Havas Play in Southeast Asia, the agency said in a statement. 

Since joining Havas in 2017, Yap has been instrumental in driving yearly double-digit growth for the agency in Singapore. He has created offerings that integrate social media, content, public relations, influencer marketing, and social media commerce.

He was previously the managing director of Havas Group Singapore, a role he held for just under seven years. 

“Yap has been a key member of our leadership team in Singapore, significantly enhancing the agency's capabilities and leading to numerous new business successes," said Barua

We have ambitious plans for Havas Media Network in this region, and Havas Play will be key to expanding our diverse capabilities into sports, events, culture and multiple IPs that connect with brands and consumers, allowing us to make an effective difference and deliver impactful results,” said Barua.

Prior to his stint at Havas Group, Yap was the director of Hill+Knowlton Strategies where he was the technology practice and business development lead, delivering integrated communications for Nikon and Huawei in the region.

He has also worked in agencies such as Vibes Communications and Grayling. 

“I’m humbled by the recognition and excited about the growth plans for Havas Play. We have such an amazing playground of talent, intelligence, and data that enables us to offer our clients a comprehensive suite of integrated services," said Yap.

"In addition, we have strategic alliances in the pipeline to enhance and elevate our capabilities. As we continue to scale the core business, we will amplify our efforts in additional areas such as sports, entertainment, sponsorships, and activations, creating a greater meaningful difference for our clients and audience,” he added. 

The news comes shortly after Jacqui Lim, CEO for Havas Media Network Singapore and chief growth officer for SEA and North Asia, decided to move on from the agency to join Singapore’s national media network and content creator Mediacorp as its chief commercial officer effective 3 June 2024. 

As chief commercial officer, Lim will be instrumental in charting a roadmap for boosting revenue streams, developing a commercial strategy aligned with Mediacorp’s efforts to constantly innovate and augment its offerings for audiences and advertisers.

She will lead the commercial group in revenue generation and client engagement, collaborating with business units and partners to provide targeted solutions across Mediacorp’s range of IPs and platforms.

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