Kate Nicholson
Sep 16, 2009

SPIKES: Richard Pinder on the balance of power

SINGAPORE - Richard Pinder (pictured), chief operating officer of Publicis Worldwide, moderated the first seminar of Spikes Asia, entitled 'The balance of power'.

SPIKES: Richard Pinder on the balance of power
Panel members at the seminar included Francesco Lagutaine, chief marketing officer, Citbank Asia-Pacific and Japan, Benjamin Lee ('Mr Miyagi'), Singapore’s leading blogger, and Calvin Soh, chief creative officer, vice-chairman at Publicis Asia.

The session asked whether the balance of power is shifting from the West to the East, from brand owners to consumers and from old media to new media. And whether the economic crisis caused the shift to accelerate.

Pinder said: “Digital is a bigger part of business now. If the balance of power is shifting to Asia, why hasn’t digital grown with it?”

Soh said: “We have to look at where the evolution of where the economy is going. How we engage with consumer-generated content and social media. The market still needs to adapt. The industry hasn’t quite come to grips yet. In China social networking hasn’t taken off as much as there is still the need to be anonymous.”

Speaking of how brands are engaging with social media Lagutaine said: “Successful brands at the moment are participating in social networks as a two-way conversation. Ultimately brands need to have a personality and let people come to you.”

However, he added: “Social media is a personal place to live with your friends. Companies aren’t invited there, they aren’t welcome. Unless, of course, they provide value, like Apple.”




Follow all the action of Spikes Asia on Twitter using hashtag #spikes09 - posts featuring that tag will appear on www.media.asia.

Also, Media is opening up its online Spikes photo gallery to readers. Send your Spikes pictures to [email protected] to include them.

Spikes Asia is organised in conjunction with Haymarket Media. The full programme can be found at www.spikes.asia.




Source:
Campaign Asia

Related Articles

Just Published

2 days ago

Tech on Me: Political tension meets platform drama

As big tech's entanglement with politics draws fresh scrutiny post-US election, Western platforms face a deepening trust crisis—from X's advertiser exodus to Meta's legal battles—while Asian tech firms vie to emerge as credible alternatives.

2 days ago

Creative Minds: Heidi Kasselman on how pretending ...

From winging an internship in Johannesburg to leading creative at Clemenger Melbourne, Heidi Kasselman's unconventional path proves sometimes chaos is the best career plan.

2 days ago

Spikes Asia 2025: In conversation with Torsak ...

Spikes Asia catches up with Chuenprapar to explore the power of humour in marketing communications and his advice for Thai agencies aiming to make a mark at this year’s awards.

2 days ago

Yuu dominates Kantar's BrandZ Hong Kong ranking

DFI Retail's Yuu has conquered Hong Kong's brand landscape, outpacing even Cathay Pacific. Challengers are rising in both airlines and banking.