Insights Man Steps Up at SMG Malaysia

Advertising firm Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has announced that its Malaysian CEO Yap Chee Weng is to resign from his role to pursue personal interests outside the industry, and will be replaced by insight and analysis specialist Ranganathan Somanathan.

'Ranga' is currently VP, Insights & Analytics, South & South East Asia, and has been with SMG for the past seven years, helping regional account teams to make the best use of SMG's numerous proprietary tools. Last year he also helped with the successful launch of consumer attention study IntenTrack™, in 12 markets across Asia, and since January this year he has been leading the communication planning team on the firm's P&G business in Japan. Before taking the regional roles he was MD in Starcom's Indonesia office, and headed the Research and Strategic planning department in SMG Malaysia.

Ranga will now return to Kuala Lumpur and report directly to Jeffrey Seah, CEO, Southeast Asia, who says of the departing Yap: 'Chee Weng... has constantly and relentlessly ensured SMG's success in the market through the growth of both local and international businesses... For all that he's done for SMG, we are extremely grateful and would like to thank him for his years of steadfast dedication.'

SMG is online at www.smvgroup.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.