Tug Singapore appoints Darran Hong to lead SEO across Southeast Asia

July 26 2022, 2:05 pm | BY Kim Shaw | No Comments
Tug Singapore appoints Darran Hong to lead SEO across Southeast Asia

Following the launch of its Singapore office, global digital marketing agency Tug has appointed Darran Hong to lead SEO for its growing portfolio of clients in Southeast Asia.

 

Hong joins Tug as SEO director after more than three years as assistant SEO manager at FWD Group, a pan-Asian life insurance business with approximately 10 million customers across 10 markets. He was also a senior SEO strategist at global performance marketing agency, Performics.

Tug, which has offices in Sydney, London, Toronto and Berlin, is a specialist in performance media and uses a smart combination of data, media, content and technology to deliver improved return on investment for brands.

Following expanding remits from existing and demand from prospective clients for a new approach to digital marketing, it opened its fifth international office in Singapore earlier this month, with former head of Reprise, Karen Soo, appointed to lead the Southeast Asia operations.

At Tug, Hong will have responsibility for managing overall SEO for its clients in the region, helping to drive incremental growth in search to maximise return on marketing investment. This includes planning and managing site technical implementations, while also determining the strategic direction of content campaigns in line with business goals and objectives.

Soo said: “We have identified new business opportunities in key categories including software, insurance and finance and Darran’s experience in this space will be invaluable as we embark on growing the Tug agency across the region. He is a strategic thinker who understands how to effectively use digital marketing to leverage brands and deliver results for our clients.”

Hong added: “Tug’s proposition is built on using data, media, content and technology to full effect and backed by a global network of specialists. I’m delighted to be joining the team in Singapore as the agency builds its presence by delivering a new approach to performance marketing.”

Tug, which was named APAC Performance Agency of the Year in 2022, works with regional clients including Budget Direct (Singapore), Easy Compare (Thailand), Charlton Media Group (Singapore) and WWF.