IPG Mediabrands hires Valli Lakshmanan as the head of digital for the Asia Pacific region

IPG Mediabrands has appointed Valli Lakshmanan as the head of digital for APAC. In this capacity, Lakshmanan will work with Mediabrands’ regional clients to drive digital innovation as well as lead the Ingenuity hub in Singapore. Ingenuity is Mediabrands’ e-commerce practice for the region.

A firm believer of building design experiences that advance human life, Lakshmanan (pictured) will seek to partner with technology service providers while at the same time, leverage Mediabrands’ three core offerings of Ensemble, Rally and Ingenuity, to deliver new and innovative products and services that will take the agency beyond the scope of traditional buying and planning of media.

Prior to joining Mediabrands, the technopreneur was the global head of Mobext at Havas London from June 2012 to December 2013, overseeing 14 offices worldwide.

Lakshmanan started his career working at Lowe Lintas in ’98, setting up its iFCB operations for South India; and later joining Havas Worldwide in ’02 to manage Dell’s regional business. He joined RAPP Singapore as its Managing Director from ’09 and moved to the UK in 2010 to set up Creative Realities – a digital outdoor company in London.

A founder of a number of social businesses that have positively impacted the lives of women and children be it by bringing drinking water, education or other invaluable resources to them across countries like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the UK, Lakshmanan continues to invest his time and energy to help drive change in this world through design and technology.

Commenting on his appointment, Lakshmanan said, “Prashant’s vision for the “agency of the future” backed up by his ambition to achieve that, matched what I wanted to do with my career. We are living in, arguably, the most exciting era of consumption and the role allows me to explore that transformation and bring in opportunities and work with some exciting talents in the group.”

Prashant Kumar, President of IPG Mediabrands, World Markets Asia, said, “Valli’s breadth of perspective and deep conviction about the future of communication and commerce were a great fit for the agency of the future we are seeking to be for our clients. I am very excited.”

Lakshmanan will be based out of Mediabrands’ Singapore office and report to Prashant Kumar.