Mediabrands announce APAC executive promotions for Zarka Khan-Iltaf and Naomi Michael

Mediabrands have announced two key promotions within their APAC regional leadership team. Zarka Khan-Iltaf steps into the role of Chief Talent Officer and Naomi Michael to Chief Marketing & Communications Officer.

Zarka Khan-Iltaf (pictured left), mentor of the year and women’s leadership program winner in Campaign Asia’s 2019 Women Leading Change Awards, has been promoted from her former position of HR Director, reflecting her continued focus of implementing industry leading and locally customised programs to champion diversity equity and inclusion throughout the organization’s core operational business practices, in addition to attraction, retention and development programs to identify and nurture diverse leadership talent.

Khan-Iltaf said: “Over the last decade of working across Mediabrands and the APAC region I’ve witnessed a lot of change, evolution and progress within our industry, but now more than ever I see a level of awareness and willingness to act to effect real change. This provides an opportunity to reinvent the way we approach the talent experience within our agencies and industry.”

Naomi Michael (pictured right), who featured in Campaign Asia’s 2018 Women to Watch list has been promoted from her former position of Head of Marketing & Communications. In her new role Michael will provide strategic consulting and communications planning across the key network business pillars of media responsibility, DE&I, and sustainability and purpose. While continuing to champion the differentiated positioning of the Mediabrands agencies reinforced by a centralised network value structure.

Michael said: “The impact of COVID-19 made it clear that communications is a mission-critical function that encompasses many aspects of an organisation’s cultural, reputational and financial success.” Michael continues, “In addition to championing this function across the APAC region, I look forward to taking a more strategic operations focus, working closely with our executive team on integrated communications strategies that promote awareness and understanding of the Mediabrands network purpose, values, and approach to supporting its people, its clients, and the communities in which it operates.”

Leigh Terry, CEO Mediabrands APAC, said: “Both Zarka and Naomi have played an integral role in helping to shape the Mediabrands APAC network to be the differentiated employer of choice that it is today. These two leadership positions will continue to work in close partnership with myself to build out our CSR and DEI pillars with clear and measurable regional goals, as we work towards achieving defined sustainable business practices for our people, and our organisation.

Both newly created roles are based in the Mediabrands APAC RHQ in Singapore and are effective immediately, reporting directly to Leigh Terry, CEO Mediabrands APAC.