Former Burda Asia MD Melvin Ang launches publishing and ad firm

Former publisher and managing director of Burda Asia, Melvin Ang (pictured) has launched Apical Media. Apical Media comprises two business units, Apical Publishing and Apical Creative.Under Apical Publishing, the group’s flagship A magazine is slated to release in July 2019. The dual-platform (print and digital) luxury lifestyle magazine aims to target the “discerning, ultra-affluent” audience. According to Apical Publishing, A delves into the important conversation topics of today, placing emphasis on advocacy and social causes.In a bid to support and accelerate brand potential for clients, Apical Creative is launched to churn out bespoke campaigns with original and authentic content and concepts. Its services include event management, strategic planning, content marketing, digital solutions, custom publishing, photography and video production, and design creation.Ang, founder and CEO of his new venture said Apical Media is born from a shared vision and ambition to disrupt the status quo. He added that with the team’s combined expertise, which has been sharpened by decades of industry experience, the firm aims to redefine traditional publishing methods by offering an omnichannel, multiplatform media solution to our business partners.“The media industry has come to realise that we need to evolve in step with consumption habits, and it’s something I feel energised by. While some see challenges ahead, I see nothing but exciting opportunities. Our agility in this dynamic landscape and our intimate understanding of both audience behaviour and advertisers’ needs will be key to our success,” Ang said.At Apical, the leadership team consists of Ann Lee, associate publisher and general manager; Lauren Tan, A editor-in-chief; Catherine Wong, group creative director; Dylan Heng, senior business development director; Candice Chan, watch & jewellery director and Apical Creative’s head of content; and Gui Jue Fok, group digital director.