Publicitas launches APAC digital sales and marketing operation

The unit will launch in January 2011, under the leadership of digital advertising director Rock Po, to offer advertisers and clients global opportunities online.

The company has also formed a technology partnership with Double Click, the ad management and serving technology company, to gain access to its campaign management technology.

"While we will provide all the traditional online ad services, I believe that the focus for our publishers will shift from simply increasing impressions, which has developed into a commodity trade, to developing their platforms commercially for various forms of distribution related business models as well," said Charlton D'Silva, CEO for Asia-Pacific at Publicitas

He said that this new digital offering will position Publicitas as Hong Kong's leading digital media solution provider for global premium sites with the capabilities to provide campaign management services. Publicitas Hong Kong will become the online hub to service Publicitas' Asia-Pacific offices.

The service will also to offer media placement in non-premium sites such as Google ad networks and social media networks.

The company boasts with a comprehensive network of media sales offices in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, representing publishers including Times of India in India, Fairfax and Time in Australia, Today Newspapers and The Edge in Singapore, Rayli in China, The USA Today in the US and The Independent in the UK.

As part of Swiss media company Publigroupe, Publicitas is the world's largest independent media representation company.