IPG Mediabrands hires head of digital for APAC

IPG Mediabrands has appointed Valli Lakshmanan (pictured) as the head of digital for APAC.  Lakshmanan will be based out of Mediabrands’ Singapore office. He reports to Prashant Kumar, president of IPG Mediabrands, World Markets Asia in this position.In this capacity, Lakshmanan will work with Mediabrands’ regional clients to drive digital innovation as well as lead Ingenuity hub in Singapore. Ingenuity is Mediabrands’ e-commerce practice for the region.Lakshmanan will partner with technology service providers. He will 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, he 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 2009 and moved to the UK in 2010 to set up creative realities – a digital outdoor company in London. He is also the founder of a number of social businesses that have positively impacted the lives of women and children.Lakshmanan said: "Kumar’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."Kumar said: "Lakshmanan'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."