Singtel taps ex-Telkomsel and Indosat marketing chiefs for senior leadership roles

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Singtel has strengthened its senior leadership team with two high-profile C-suite appointments, tapping former chief marketing officers from Indonesia’s leading telecommunications players as it sharpens its focus on customer experience and regional digital growth.

Derrick Heng (pictured, left), former chief marketing officer of Telkomsel, has been appointed chief commercial officer for Singtel’s International Digital Services (IDS) Group. Separately, Vivek Mehendiratta (pictured, right), previously CMO at Indosat, has joined Singtel as chief customer officer (consumer) for Singtel Singapore.

Heng’s role is newly created as part of the IDS Group, which was formed in November 2024 to build and scale regional digital platforms beyond core connectivity. The unit spans areas including telco assurance, travel, rewards, cloud services, and AI-powered digital enablement for SMEs.

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In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Heng said his appointment - effective 19 January 2026 - marks the establishment of a new commercial leadership role within IDS. He will report directly to Anna Yip, CEO of IDS at Singtel.

As chief commercial officer, Heng is responsible for driving commercial strategy, product development, and go-to-market execution across the IDS portfolio. This includes scaling platforms such as the WanderJoy Travel Alliance, which brings together travel, lifestyle, and rewards partners to enable seamless cross-border travel experiences, as well as Stack-EZ, an AI-enabled digital marketing and growth platform designed to help SMEs acquire customers, optimise campaigns, and scale efficiently.

Stack-EZ aims to simplify AI adoption by offering enterprise-grade capabilities and support at SME-friendly value, allowing smaller businesses to deploy AI in a practical and scalable way. The role also involves close collaboration with Singtel’s regional associate operators and global partners to unlock cross-market synergies and deliver digital solutions with measurable commercial and customer impact.

Heng’s immediate priorities include expanding the WanderJoy Travel Alliance across markets, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing integrated travel and rewards propositions. He is also tasked with growing AI and cloud-based solutions for SMEs, starting in Singapore and expanding across Asia, as part of a broader roadmap to build regional digital platforms that deliver sustainable growth and long-term value.

Meanwhile, Mehendiratta announced his appointment via LinkedIn, marking a return to Singapore following a significant portion of his career in the Indian and Southeast Asian telecoms landscape. “It is a privilege to serve this iconic 146-year-old institution and to work alongside its distinguished leadership and incredible people in delivering sustained value for our customers,” he wrote.

He added that the move carries personal significance: “This move is personally meaningful. Having spent the largest part of my professional journey within the Bharti Airtel ecosystem, this truly feels like a homecoming.”

Looking ahead, Mehendiratta said he is focused on growth and customer-centric execution. “Together with the consumer team, I look forward to driving growth, elevating customer experience, and building long-term value through focused execution.”

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