BrandStory Southeast Asia appoints new general manager

BrandStory Southeast Asia has appointed Molly Jou as its new general manager, effective immediately, as the agency looks to strengthen its footprint across the region.

BrandStory, founded in 2003, is a brand representation and PR agency with offices across Southeast Asia and Greater China.

Jou brings over 15 years of experience spanning tourism, startups, education, and healthcare, with expertise in marketing strategy, public relations, and brand communications. Since joining BrandStory in 2014, she has played a key role on the Brand USA account, covering Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia markets including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. She later served as SEA account director for New York City Tourism + Conventions and Qatar Tourism Authority, overseeing travel trade partnerships, PR, and social media marketing.

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Her portfolio includes leading destination marketing initiatives for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Brand USA, Visit Brisbane, Illinois Office of Tourism, Luxembourg National Tourist Office, and Kerala Tourism. Through these roles, she has helped clients navigate new markets, design strategic initiatives, and build strong industry partnerships, the agency shared in a statement. 

In her new role, Jou will oversee BrandStory Southeast Asia’s business development, marketing, and communications efforts, working closely with clients and partners across travel, hospitality, lifestyle, and other industries. She will collaborate with Echo Zhao, general manager for BrandStory China, to reinforce the agency’s position as a trusted partner for businesses with interests in Greater China and Southeast Asia.

Reene Ho-Phang, founder of BrandStory, commented, “I have full confidence in Molly’s dynamic ability in creative problem-solving, her resilience and integrity, and her energetic personality. She has successfully scaled efforts across multiple Asian cities, navigating market nuances in cross-border marketing, and clients enjoy working with her and her team.”

Meanwhile, commenting on her appointment on LinkedIn, Jou said: "In dual leadership with Echo Zhao for China, we will continue our efforts in working closely with clients from around the world. Strategies for driving incremental travel arrivals and spend are to be unfold harnessed by AI. Unique stories of cultures and destinations are waiting to be told."

Jou’s appointment comes as the agency's founder, Ho-Phang, shifts her focus to ANEW Story, a new BrandStory division dedicated to marketing communications for non-profits and travel businesses navigating an AI-driven world.

Earlier this December, BrandStory China had appointed Echo Zhao as its new general manager, effective immediately. This appointment aims to bolster its leadership team to deliver strong performance for global clients engaged in the thriving Asian markets.

With over 20 years of experience in travel and tourism in China, Zhao has excelled in various roles from leading brand marketing campaigns, managing revenue and lead generating initiatives for global destinations to driving yield management programs for meeting and convention spaces and international hotel chains.

Prior to joining BrandStory, Zhao was sales director at Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund, after over six years with the MICE team at Shanghai World Financial Centre where she repeatedly filled the venue with local and international business events.

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