As Malaysian marketers march into 2026, one question keeps surfacing in boardrooms, WhatsApp chats and agency war rooms: What does “meaning” actually mean now? For years, the industry treated it as a feel-good ideal — purpose, empathy, emotional pull. Inspiring, yes. But abstract. In a Marketing Magazine exclusive, Nizwani Shahar,
Trapper today announced the launch of Trapper Group’s Content Innovation Arm, a strategic expansion under its social media business pillar, Sticky Rice, designed to meet clients’ increasing need for high-volume, high-quality content designed for social, delivered at scale and at accessible costs. The initiative further bolsters Sticky Rice’s ambition of
Locala, a global leader in omnichannel advertising solutions, announced the launch of Omni Planner in Singapore. This strategic advancement is designed to help marketers overcome the growing complexity of phygital consumer behavior—where 70% of consumers now expect a seamless experience across online, in-store, and social channels — and the growing
Ogilvy Group Malaysia today announced two senior leadership appointments effective 1 January 2026. Irene Wong, CEO of Grey Malaysia, has been named CEO, Ogilvy Group Malaysia, overseeing people, clients, and growth across Ogilvy and Grey. Graham Drew, Chief Creative Officer of Grey Malaysia, has been appointed Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy
The ink is barely dry on the Omnicom–IPG paperwork and already the industry feels like it has run a 10 kilometre sprint in office shoes. Overnight, the largest advertising holding company in history has taken shape, with Omnicom swallowing IPG in a deal valued at around US$13 billion and promising
By India Fizer Yamamoto’s CCO argues that brands must earn their place in culture, not assume it. In an era where every brand wants to “join the conversation,” Michael Stelmaszek, Chief Creative Officer at Yamamoto, thinks it’s time for a reality check. In conversation with AdForum, he shares how Yamamoto
When a brand the size of Grab recalibrates its agency roster, the industry usually reads it as housekeeping — a little spring-cleaning before the new year. But the latest appointments of Rantau+ for PR and Publicis Groupe Malaysia for media suggest something more strategic: Grab is quietly reshaping how it
By India Fizer Ross Taylor unpacks the agency’s participation-driven creative model. Culture moves fast and today’s most successful brands move with it. Ross Taylor, Group ECD at Havas Play UK, explains how his team helps clients navigate cultural trends, unlock meaningful partnerships, and balance quick-hit activations with initiatives that create
Omnicom has announced a dramatic overhaul of its global operations, with more than 4,000 jobs to be cut and a number of storied advertising agencies being folded into its main networks following its acquisition of Interpublic Group.  The restructuring follows Omnicom’s recently completed takeover of IPG in a deal
By India Fizer TBWA\Chiat\Day NY’s new CSO Tom Sussman speaks with AdForum on commercial truth, creative leaps, and his globally sharpened strategic lens. Five months into his role as Chief Strategy Officer at TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, Tom Sussman speaks with the mix of candor and curiosity that has defined his
