ORO Malaysia appoints new MD and director in growth push

ORO Malaysia, the local arm of Tokyo-based integrated cloud solutions and marketing agency oRo Co. Ltd., has named Eri Obana as its new managing director (MD). Previously serving as sales manager, Obana steps into the role alongside Yosuke Miki, who now serves as director for Malaysia, in tandem with his current role as regional managing director at ORO. 

Obana brings with her over a decade of local experience, having moved from Japan to Malaysia in 2013. Her appointment marks a significant chapter for the agency, with an emphasis on cross-border collaboration and digital innovation. Prior to joining ORO Malaysia nearly a decade ago as an account director, Obana was previously a sales lead at Opt Inc. in Tokyo, Japan.

Meanwhile, the agency's new director Miki, previously held the roles of experience architecture senior manager at Accenture, digital marketing manager at Walt Disney Tokyo, and regional digital director at Hakuhodo APAC.

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“I’m truly honored to take on the role of managing director at ORO Malaysia,” said Obana in conversation with A+M. “Since arriving here, I’ve been inspired by the dynamic potential of Malaysia’s digital landscape, it’s a space that keeps evolving with bold ideas and an openness to innovation.”

She added that her focus will be twofold: deepening the agency’s presence in Malaysia and nurturing local talent to shine on regional and global stages. “We want to create work that delivers real, lasting value, not just within Malaysia, but across markets.”

Under the refreshed leadership structure, ORO Malaysia is set to accelerate its mission of bridging Japanese and global brands with Southeast Asia through a mix of communication design, marketing execution, and forward-looking technologies.

“We’re actively embracing AI and building proprietary tools to improve both cost and time efficiency for our clients,” Obana said. “It’s all about enhancing customer experience while driving smarter, more scalable solutions.”

Currently, the agency services a diverse portfolio that includes Japanese multinationals operating locally, as well as brands across e-commerce, finance, real estate, and consumer goods. With its bilingual and cross-cultural team, ORO Malaysia also contributes to global projects within the wider ORO network.

Looking ahead, Obana confirmed that the agency is actively pursuing local business opportunities, expanding its client base, and staying at the forefront of Malaysia’s digital marketing transformation.

“We believe Malaysia has unique strengths, from its multilingual talent to its entrepreneurial energy. Our goal is to keep pushing creative and tech boundaries, with solutions that connect and perform,” she said.

On the other hand, Yosuke Miki shared with A+M, that he has had a rewarding journey over the past one and a half years as regional managing director of ORO. "I’ve had the privilege of working closely with diverse teams across Southeast Asia, and it’s been inspiring to witness just how dynamic and fast-evolving the advertising landscape is in this region," he said. 

"From Thailand to Malaysia to Vietnam, we see a strong appetite for digital innovation, a growing emphasis on data-driven creativity, and an increasing number of regional brands striving to make a global impact. What excites me most is how open clients are to fresh, bold ideas, as long as they're tied to real results," Miki added.

He added that ORO believes the region holds tremendous potential, and the agency is committed to playing a bigger role in "shaping its future by combining strategic thinking, local insights, and creativity that connects".

Some years ago in 2018, digital marketing agency Crossfinity Digital Asia had rebranded as oRo Digital Asia, and was absorbed to become a subsidiary under the oRo Co. Ltd. umbrella. The parent group based in Tokyo had opened its office in Malaysia in 2012, and subsequently set up operations in Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand between 2013 to 2014. It also has a presence in mainland China, and Taiwan. 

 

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