SMG Malaysia names new CEO

Starcom MediaVest Group has promoted Ahmad El Hamawi to CEO, SMG and VivaKi Malaysia.El Hamawi has had 14 years of industry experience. Prior to his current promotion, he was the regional client managing director, SMG, South Africa. In the role, he oversaw the media business communication business for Samsung across 45 African markets, where he elevated communications planning, drove media innovation and digital integration across all campaigns. He has also been the key driving force of growth for VivaKi.El Hamawi (pictured) reports to Jeffrey Seah, country chair VivaKi SEA and chairperson of SMG Asia digital leadership team & CEO SMG Southeast Asia.Seah said:  “At SMG, we strive to use talent mobility as a mechanism for engagement, retention, development and career management. Liquid Talent is a priority as we invest in keeping our workforce engaged and committed, providing our talent with meaningful human experiences."“SMG in Malaysia is an emerging market brand that has moved from the backstage to the center stage. The velocity in which it happened was the way it mirrored its objective, strategy and achievement around SMG’s Global vision - the human experience company where experiences matter as they touch hearts, enhances lives, build brands - consuming the hearts, minds and souls of consumers. I am thrilled to be part of the Malaysia network,” said El Hamawi.He will be relocating from South Africa to Malaysia.