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Former BBDO and Gojek creative VJ Anand joins full service agency VaynerMedia

Former BBDO and Gojek creative, VJ Anand, is to join full service agency VaynerMedia Singapore as executive creative director, SVP.

Anand will oversee the agency’s creative product across Asia Pacific and report to VaynerMedia Singapore head Avery Akkineni. He will take up the role next month.

VaynerMedia opened its Singapore office in July promising to be “the next big thing on the Singapore marketing scene”.

“The Asia Pacific region is an important market for our clients, therefore it was imperative to establish our presence here,” CEO and co-founder Gary Vaynerchuk said. “Our Singapore office is growing and VJ is a key hire as we continue to scale our business in the region.”

Gary Vaynerchuk

Anand, who spent two years at BBDO Malaysia before joining Gojek – a company he left in September – described VaynerMedia as an “exciting agency” with an “unique approach to creativity”.

“We live in a world where social is first. After being client side at a tech giant, I could see the need in this market for an agency that can marry content.  media and social well, and VaynerMedia is that,” he said.

“I was also stoked after talking to Gary and learning how being an independent agency makes us more nimble. His people-first and empathy-focused philosophy really hit the spot for me.”

Akkineni claimed the agency was already seeing traction in Asia, and insisted Anand’s experience at traditional agencies will enable it to complement its media services.

“We’re intent on building a unique regional, recruiting digital natives from across Asia Pacific to give us diverse perspectives for better thinking,” he said. “VJ is a critical part of the founding team and we couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome him on board.”

At the launch in July, the agency said it had supported or executed work for global brands in Asia.

“VaynerMedia is pursuing expansion into Asia based on years of client demand,” a spokesperson said. “We’re fortunate to work with a number of large, international brands, who have expressed a consistent need for a global marketing partner. This advantage ensures that we’ll launch in Asia with a roster of trusted clients, brands who we already understand deeply.”

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