VaynerMedia APAC safe amidst global restructure, 5% of staff impacted

Global media agency VaynerMedia has restructured its business operations and slashed about 5% of its workforce, but APAC operation was not impacted by the restructure. Speaking to Marketing, the spokesperson said the restructuring is part of the normal course of business, but declined to comment which departments were impacted. 

VaynerMedia first entered the Singapore market in July 2019 to start up its APAC operations. Currently, the agency has a headcount of 48 staff in APAC. The agency is headquartered in New York, and has worked with global brands Planters, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez and more. 

Since opening its Singapore office, VaynerMedia has made notable appointments and established its presence here by ramping up its Asia growth plan. Among the key hires is VJ Anand who took on the role of executive creative director, SVP at VaynerMedia Singapore. Anand is no stranger to adland, and has helmed leadership roles with the likes of BBDO and TBWA/. He was last with Gojek as the company’s internal creative agency lead, where he built and spearheaded creative, social media, digital, events, activation and in-app content for the brand.

Another former Gojek lead who joined VaynerMedia is Aaron Gomez, who recently took on the role of VP, head of strategy. He last helmed the role of VP of digital strategy with Gojek. Prior to that, Gomez led a consultancy named The Brood Mother which offered services for brands, in training and development for digital applications in businesses. Gomez has also worked at TBWA\\ in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as well as Cheil, Y&R, Bates Asia, and Dell Asia Pacific.

Meanwhile in an earlier conversation with Marketing, Avery Akkineni, head of VaynerMedia Singapore said the team was in the midst of hiring more talents and that building the Singapore office is one of her key focus’. For the longer term, VaynerMedia is exploring opening an additional office outside of Singapore, and potentially satellite offices for key client partners. The agency also rolled out its first large scale campaigns and first campaign focused exclusively on the Singapore market for its key client Prudential. Inspired by the culture of bringing people together during Chinese New Year, VaynerMedia Singapore conceptualised the #MindTheGenGap campaign aimed to minimise the generation gap and connect the young and old. 

Both Prudential and VaynerMedia said to Marketing then that as Singapore's population ages and social media addiction rises, the communication gap between generations begins to widen as well. Hence, the agency decided to cast both generations bonding over food to spark the conversation of bridging the generation gap in a fun and light-hearted manner. 

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