RTB House is opening a new division - Creatives Lab. The unit will develop solutions to offer clients a wider range of better performing dynamic banners for both display and video, which will also be better suited to clients' branding needs.

RTB House is constantly working on improvements to its core technology based on deep learning as well as other aspects of the RTB ecosystem, such as creatives, which strongly determine the overall success of the campaigns.

However, creatives performance is not fully based on artificial intelligence algorithms. Important factors are human input, consistency with brand book and campaigns visuals. To offer clients the best and most innovative solutions in this field, the special unit - Creatives Lab - has been launched. Its main tasks are to improve the overall performance of creatives, as well as developing new formats of dynamic display and video creatives, that will be tailored to clients’ branding needs. Besides its own projects, Creatives Lab will also collaborate on projects with the AI Marketing Lab - a unit, opened by RTB House, in May 2018, dedicated to the development of new mar-tech solutions.

The launch of Creatives Lab is another step ahead of the industry, that will improve RTB House offer. In 2017, the company successfully deployed deep learning algorithms throughout 100% of its campaigns. In May 2018, AI Marketing Lab - was opened. It is a division focused on research and development in the broad marketing area and separate from the main R&D department, which is dedicated to personalized retargeting. Recently the AI Marketing Lab started the testing phase of 3 new projects: Snippets, Full-page recommendations and Social banners. As these innovations are closely related to creatives, their further development will be conducted by both the Creatives Lab and the AI Marketing Lab. At the initial stage the Creatives Lab team will consist of 10 experienced graphic designers, developers, and analysts.

Exprivia | Italtel, an international group of Information and Communication Technology, in partnership with Cisco, has launched a strategic collaboration with FANUC, a Japanese multinational which specializes in the production of industrial robots, and Elettric80, a company specialized in factory automation, to drive the integration of digital technologies into industrial environments and empower Industry 4.0 use cases.

The first result of this collaboration is currently on show at Mobile World Congress 2019 in the form of “FANUC CR-4iA” ‘Cobot’ (collaboration robot), which leverages 5G intelligent networks and can be controlled through chatbots and vocal-recognition technology.

Machine Learning, AI and Computer Vision technologies, along with the development of FANUC's IoT solutions for automation, are enabling factors available to companies that will be further amplified by the diffusion of 5G, the next generation network. This is why Exprivia | Italtel is directing its investments towards this area, as well as combining Italtel’s expertise in the infrastructural aspects of the 5G network with Exprivia’s know-how in the application field. Today the group composed of Exprivia and Italtel has about 4,000 professionals distributed in over 20 countries worldwide.

Qlik®, a leader in data analytics, and Attunity Ltd., a leading provider of data integration and big data management software solutions, announced that the two companies signed a definitive agreement under which Qlik will acquire Attunity.

Under the terms of the agreement, Qlik will acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of Attunity for a total value of approximately $560 million. Attunity shareholders will receive $23.50 in cash per share, representing a 18% premium to Attunity’s last closing price of $19.93 per share on February 20, 2019. The agreement was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Qlik and Attunity.

Building on Qlik’s recent acquisition of Podium Data and the introduction of Qlik Data Catalyst, Attunity provides cross-platform data streaming capabilities to support a shift to cloud and real-time analytics. This acquisition further differentiates Qlik by providing an expanded breadth of enterprise data management capabilities and adds an experienced team of data professionals. Consistent with Qlik’s vision for 3rd generation business intelligence, a strong data management strategy creates the foundation for an enterprise analytics strategy that drives insights and transforms organizations.

In a world increasingly reliant on predictive analytics and artificial intelligence, seamlessly moving data in real-time across multiple cloud environments and data lakes has become a business-critical issue. With Attunity, Qlik will provide customers with an expanded enterprise data management solution to transform their raw data into a governed, analytics-aware information resource.

Maplesoft and Sigmetrix announced that they have started direct operations in China. The two Cybernet Group companies now have an office in Shanghai that is staffed by local experts to provide high-quality products and solutions to their customers within all of China.

This development will help increase presence in the region for both companies, whose products were formerly sold in China through distributors. The Maplesoft product suite includes Maple™, the technical computing and documentation environment, and MapleSim™, the high-performance, multi-domain modeling and simulation tool for physical systems. Sigmetrix offers CETOL 6σ, a fully-integrated 3D tolerance analysis solution, EZtol, a 1D analysis tool, and GD&T Advisor, an interactive tool that provides expert guidance on the correct application of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) / GPS (Geometrical Product Specifications).

Henry Jiang, Country Manager, will oversee operations in China for both Maplesoft and Sigmetrix.

The office in China is an addition to Maplesoft’s growing footprint which covers offices in North America, the UK, Germany and France. In addition, Maplesoft currently operates in over 90 countries worldwide through a large reseller distributor network. The new China office will augment the existing reseller network Sigmetrix has been utilizing throughout Europe and Asia. Both companies work with leading corporations and academic institutions in Asia, delivering technology tools and solutions covering various industries.

PropertyGuru Group announced the appointment of Jules Kay as Director of its industry leading business, ‘Asia Property Awards’. With its independent judging panel of over 80 industry experts, it is the most respected real estate awards series that recognises and promotes excellence in development design and innovation. On the back of phenomenal growth in recent years, the Awards will be even bigger this year with leading developers from China, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia also set to compete at the Grand Final in Bangkok at the end of November.

Jules brings to PropertyGuru over two decades of regional leadership roles in sales and marketing, for a range of best-in-class real estate, hotel, hospitality and technology brands. One of the original team members of Asia Property Awards, Jules takes over from founder and managing director, Terry Blackburn, in this leadership role.

At PropertyGuru, Jules leads a talented team that manages sales and marketing, event management, and the awards entry and independent judging process that has earned the Asia Property Awards its distinction as the flagship property awards over the last 14 years.

Hitachi Vantara, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., announced the appointment of Moti Uttam as country manager for Malaysia.

In this role, Moti will lead Hitachi Vantara’s business and operations team in the country and focus on formulating a robust business strategy, expanding the partner ecosystem and accelerating the growth of the business and market share in Malaysia.

Moti brings with him 25 years of IT industry experience in sales, channels and alliances. Prior to joining Hitachi Vantara, Moti spent 18 years holding different roles at Dell EMC. Being a veteran of the Malaysian IT market, he grew the FSI business when he was the top district manager for Dell EMC Malaysia.

Beiersdorf has reappointed OMD as its media agency of record in five markets (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines) across Southeast Asia, while also adding Vietnam and Cambodia to its remit. As such, the marketing performance company will continue managing the CPG conglomerate’s full media brief, covering online and offline media strategy, planning and buying, while extending its successful formula for Beiersdorf’s brands into Vietnam and Cambodia as well.

The appointment follows a regional market review initiated in 2018 by the skin and personal-care company behind brands such as NIVEA, Eucerin and La Prarie. The regional wins contribute to OMD’s successful retention of the Beiersdorf business in 14 global markets, with the USA, Spain, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia also reappointing the network for their media duties.

Criteo announced the appointment of Kenneth Pao, Executive Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, to lead one of the fastest-growing regions for the company.

Pao will provide strategic direction and further accelerate the growth of Criteo’s business in the Asia-Pacific region, whose current portfolio of customers include Yahoo! JAPAN, Coupang, LFmall, THE ICONIC, The Good Guys, ZALORA, TIKI, Sendo.vn, Tata CLIQ and NYKAA etc.

Based in Tokyo, Pao will oversee Criteo’s key operations in Australia, China, Japan, India, Singapore and South Korea. He will work closely with his regional leadership team to drive new business development and strengthen Criteo’s existing advertiser and partner relationships. Criteo also has customers in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam etc.

Pao joins Criteo after almost seven years at Videology Group, a software provider for digital video and TV advertising. He was the APAC Managing Director and then the Chief Revenue and Operations Officer, where he drove business growth by building new revenue streams and value propositions for new and existing clients. Prior to Videology, Pao was also a Co-Founder and Board Member at Willem-Aidan and Co-CEO of Retail and Direct Distribution at Esquel Group.

Whalar has officially opened an office in Singapore and plans more office openings to follow across the region in 2019.

The global full-service content and creative solution leverages proprietary technology to source digital native creators to commission, curate and deliver authentic, inspiring, fresh content. Inspired by their Chairman, Sir John Hegarty, Whalar is on a mission to ‘liberate the creative voice’ by connecting influential, digital native creators with large brands at scale.

Whalar’s value comes from their ability to enable brands to build relationships with authentic, digital native and influential creators and commission and create content at scale that ultimately allow them to tell their brand story in new and delightful ways. This new operating model allows brands to be continuously sourcing fresh and new ideas from the digital savvy creator community as well as reach and engage audiences with authenticity.

Matt Sutton, who has 15 years of experience in Asia building, managing, selling and integrating digital businesses, has joined Whalar’s global leadership team as CEO in Asia.

Launched in 2016 and an official Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat partner, Whalar has built strong creative talent and portfolios for some of the world’s leading and demanding brands and businesses including Unilever, HP, Samsung, Diageo, Apple, Dior and many more. The company is connecting over 200 brands by now with nearly 5,000 creators around the globe through teams in offices across London, New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Amsterdam, and now Singapore.

Global advertising technology leader The Trade Desk has announced the appointments of Mitch Waters and Troy Yang as Senior Vice Presidents of two key Asia Pacific regions. These appointments underline the importance of Asia Pacific for The Trade Desk’s growth strategy and the acceleration of programmatic advertising in the region.

Mitch Waters has been named Senior Vice President of South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand (SEAANZ) for The Trade Desk. He is being promoted from his role as the General Manager of Australia and New Zealand, and will take over full responsibility for the new SEAANZ region, based in Singapore. Prior to joining The Trade Desk in 2017, Mitch was the Managing Director of AOL Platforms in Australia and New Zealand, and also worked at Adap.TV.


Troy Yang has been named Senior Vice President of North Asia for The Trade Desk, based in Hong Kong. Troy, who joins The Trade Desk from Analytic Partners, brings deep experience working with advertisers across various markets and sectors to the new North Asia role, having also worked at Nielsen in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He will run The Trade Desk’s operations and growth strategy in the North Asia region, covering Greater China, South Korea and Japan.

Mitch and Troy join Matt Harty, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, who oversees business development for both regions. This senior leadership team will further The Trade Desk’s continued growth as programmatic advertising in the region builds.

VMware, Inc. announced the appointment of Franco Lan to the post of general manager, Hong Kong & Macau.

Franco will play a critical role in supporting VMware’s continual growth strategy and driving its leadership position in the compute, cloud, mobility, networking and security space to offer a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to Hong Kong’s technology industry.

With almost 30 years’ experience in Hong Kong and the regional IT industry, Franco has a robust track record in delivering outstanding results through overcoming challenging business development targets and driving his teams to excel in the areas of client-satisfaction and product-experience.

Possessing a broad understanding of the ecosystem of multi-cloud and hybrid IT, his experience extends to managing numerous aspects of the Hong Kong & Macau enterprise and commercial businesses. He was most recently a senior vice president of sales & marketing – iAdvantage at SUNeVision Holdings Limited. As a veteran sales management professional with a strong analytical and entrepreneurial mindset, Franco restructured the marketing effort through leveraging a new digital approach that led to reaching target audiences around the world. This was in addition to rebuilding the sales team and driving incremental business.

From now on, it is no longer possible to actively participate in Google+.

Google will start deleting content after April 2, but till then users still have the opportunity to secure their Google+ content.

Google points out that it also deletes all photos and videos from Google+ that are stored in the Album Archive. If you want to secure this content, you should do so before April, however, photos and videos saved in the Google Photos image service won’t be deleted.

Since the deletion process will take a few months in total, it is possible that some content will still be available after April 2nd. For example, users may still be able to see parts of their Google+ account through the activity log.

Since February 4, 2019 the active operation of the network is closed. Users will no longer be able to create new profiles, pages, communities or events in Google+.