Langton leaves Interbrand to launch company

Regional - Industry veteran Mike Langton has left his new post as managing director of Interbrand Singapore to start his own company called Innovize.

Langton's new venture will focus on helping companies innovate and deliver greater profits. Stuart Green, Interbrand's president of Asia, said no replacement for the MD role has been named as yet.

"We are in the process of identifying potential candidates, both internally within the network, and externally," Green told Marketing. Langton joined Interbrand in December 2008.

Langton told Marketing that the object of Innovize is to help people turn opportunity into profit.

"The big problem is not people having ideas, it's putting them into place and making money out of them. There are a lot of companies that are needing to innovate but they they're scared to do it," he said.

Langton said one part of the business will be consultancy and managing change for companies, while Innovize will also work with entrepreneurs to create successful start-ups. Langton said he will specifically be looking to work with companies in the digital space.

"The truth is that most companies find it very hard to foster real innovation and then build a profitable business with the resulting ideas," he said.

"What often happens is that the very ideas that could have generated large future profits walk out the door to become start-ups. Wise companies know that and are reaching out for skills to lead their innovation efforts and turn them into profitable businesses through corporate entrepreneurship. Shrewd start-ups, with similar challenges, are looking for experienced business minds who have succeeded as entrepreneurs and will help them build companies that turn their dreams into profitable realities, with less nightmares along the way."

Langton said despite starting Innovize during a recession he is "very optimistic" about its chances for success.

Langton has worked across Asia Pacific for 20 years in the marketing communications industry, and was involved in founding XM ASIA with Russel Cheng, and building the Bates Indochina offices and the Bates 141 network in the region. He has previously had stints as APAC region director of Momentum Worldwide, Wunderman Asia president and as CEO of Carat Singapore and Malaysia, among others.