Category: People Moves

Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Daniel J. O’Connor as President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted to welcome Dan as CEO of Jubilant Therapeutics Inc.,” said Hari S Bhartia, Chairman, Jubilant Therapeutics Inc. “His extensive experience in building and scaling biopharmaceutical companies, combined with his deep expertise in oncology and strategic partnerships, will be instrumental in advancing our mission to deliver transformative therapies to patients.” ExperienceO’Connor brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in biotechnology and oncology, with a proven track-record of creating value around differentiated, IP-rich platforms. Most recently, he served as CEO of Ambrx Biopharma, where his leadership drove a significant increase in company valuation culminating in its successful acquisition. Earlier in his career, O’Connor was instrumental at ImClone Systems, contributing to the clinical development, launch, and commercialization of a major oncology therapy while navigating complex intellectual property and inventorship challenges. He also served as CEO of Advaxis, a NASDAQ listed immune-oncology company, where he transformed the organization into a late-stage clinical enterprise, secured substantial growth capital, and forged strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical partners. O’Connor holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Penn State Dickinson Law of The Pennsylvania State University and has served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. O’Connor said, “I am honored to lead Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a company dedicated to driving breakthrough innovation for cancers that are difficult to treat. I look forward to collaborating closely with our talented team to advance our mission and deliver meaningful value to patients, partners and stakeholders alike.” Source: https://www.contractpharma.com/breaking-news/jubilant-therapeutics-appoints-new-president-ceo/

Dec 10 (Reuters) – Coca-Cola (KO.N), opens new tab named insider Henrique Braun as its new CEO on Wednesday, replacing James Quincey, as packaged food companies try to adjust their strategies to consumers looking for healthier and more affordable drinks and snacks. The company’s portfolio of zero-sugar beverages, as well as its more premium product lines such as Fairlife milk, have held Coca-Cola in better shape in a choppy consumer landscape, in contrast to rivals such as PepsiCo (PEP.O) Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/coca-cola-names-insider-henrique-braun-new-ceo-2025-12-10/

Sedgwick has named Aruna Chandrapalan (pictured) as CEO of Singapore. She will continue to serve as partner, forensic accounting services (FAS) across Asia. Chandrapalan is a chartered loss adjuster and chartered accountant and has more than two decades of experience in the insurance sector. She joined Sedgwick in 2017 as a senior manager and, in 2023, was appointed head of forensic accounting services in Asia. Her work has included financial lines claims, property damage claims, and stock valuations for corporate and commercial clients. Commenting on her appointment, Chandrapalan said: “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO for Singapore and continue supporting our clients. I look forward to building on Sedgwick’s strong foundation and driving growth with our talented team.” Source: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/breaking-news/sedgwick-names-new-ceo-for-singapore-558139.aspx

EssenceMediacom’s Stephanie Douglas-Neal will join the leadership team in 2026, which will also comprise Initiative’s Jo McAlister, and UM’s Anathea Ruys, LBB’s Tom Loudon reports Kristiaan Kroon has been named CEO of Omnicom Media in Australia, with former PHD CEO Mark Jarrett moving into the COO role. The appointments come amid a slew of leadership announcements following global structural changes to Omnicom as the holding company begins to operationalise its acquisition of IPG. The Omnicom Media top job has remained vacant since the departure of Peter Horgan in March, though Kristiaan has led the business during the period as COO. He has also made several key hires including CFO Donna Bartlett, who has acted in the role for six months. The COO role will now be occupied by Mark Jarrett, who has spent the last six of his nearly 10 years with PHD as its Australian CEO. Recently, he was confirmed to be leaving the post for a group-level role, with OMD co-CEO Laura Nice moving across to stablemate PHD, leaving Sian Whitnall to solely run OMD. Earlier this week, IPG MediaBrands APAC CEO Leigh Terry and IPG MediaBrands Australia CEO Mark Coad exited the business as a result of the structural changes brought about by the merger, along with Magna MD Lucy Formosa Morgan. Initiative CEO, Jo McAlister, and UM CEO, Anathea Ruys, will join Omnicom Media’s leadership group locally, though Omnicom has yet to determine the fate of IPG MediaBrands Australian COO, Geoff Clarke. Managing director of WPP’s EssenceMediacom Australia, Stephanie Douglas-Neal, has also joined the business. Although her role has not been officially revealed, she is expected to move into Hearts & Science as CEO following Jane Stanley’s exit earlier this year. Prior to her three years with EssenceMediacom, Stephanie spent seven years at PHD, finishing as MD. This week, Omnicom Oceania CEO Nick Garrett confirmed the region’s six media agency brands will continue to operate independently post-IPG merger: OMD, PHD, UM, Initiative, Hearts & Science, Mediahub, and, globally, Axciom. Globally, the business has sunset creative agency brands DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe. In Australia, DDB will be folded into Clemenger BBDO, run by DDB’s local bosses and new Clemenger co-CEOs Sheryl Marjoram and Mike Napolitano.​ DDB and FCB will merge in New Zealand to create McCann New Zealand, run by Priya Patel and Paul Wilson. In Wellington, New Zealand, Clemenger Wellington and FCB Wellington will be merged to become McCann Wellington, operating as part of McCann Group NZ. Local leadership for McCann Wellington will be announced soon. Attivo Group-owned 303 MullenLowe has rebranded to 303 in Australia, its original name, in what the agency said marks a return to its “independent roots” following the retirement of the ‘MullenLowe’ brand. Source: https://lbbonline.com/news/kristiaan-kroon-mark-jarrett-omnicom-media-australia

Starting 1 January 2026, Lendi Group Co-founder Sebastian Watkins will take on the role of chief executive officer, replacing David Hyman. Watkins previously served as chief operating officer of the group. The privately-held Australian fintech home loans group — parent company to the Aussie and Lendi brands — said Hyman, who is also a cofounder, will continue as a board director and special advisor of Lendi Group, focusing on company growth and artificial intelligence. “This leadership transition reflects thoughtful succession planning and the strength of the successful founding partnership built by David and Sebastian over the last decade,” said Ellie Comerford, Lendi Group chair. Hyman said he will be “exploring new ventures in 2026,” but did not respond to requests for more detail. “After 13 years building Lendi Group, I’ve decided to transition from my current CEO role, while remaining on the Board focusing on priority areas where I can add the most value to the business,” Hyman said. “Sebastian (or Bas) is a world-class leader and a true champion for customers and broker success,” he continued “Bas has been integral to the business since the beginning, has the depth of experience to lead this business and is the right leader to drive this next chapter.” Watkins added: “As CEO, my focus now will be delivering for customers and brokers, scaling the Find, Buy, Own [platform] to its full potential and building on the momentum in the business. I’m proud to lead Lendi Group into its next chapter with our people, brokers, lending and product partners, and the support of an exceptional leadership team.” Watkins and Hyman cofounded Lendi in 2013. The firm merged with Aussie Home Loans in May 2021 to become the Lendi Group. Source: https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/lendi-group-appoints-new-ceo-288517.aspx

Mitsubishi Australia will have a new chief in 2026 as it looks to capitalise on a raft of new models in local showrooms, led by the new ASX small SUV and a more capable Outlander PHEV. Shunichi Kihara has been confirmed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL), effective January 5, 2026. Mr Kihara will come into the role after serving as the Assistant Division General Manager of the Japanese automaker’s North Asia Division, and replaces interim MMAL CEO Yoshinori Yamazaki. The incoming CEO has also held global sales roles at Mitsubishi. “I’m delighted to accept the position of CEO at MMAL and look forward to meeting you when I arrive in Australia,” Mr Kihara said in a statement. “Mitsubishi Motors has been a strong and trusted brand in Australia for 45 years, and together we will build on that legacy to drive it into the future.” The change at the top comes after Shaun Westcott, who led MMAL for five years including as chairman until 2024, resigned in September. A number of fresh models will see Mr Kihara look to grow Mitsubishi’s market share here, including the recently launched ASX – based on the Renault Captur – and the updated Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) due on sale here early next year. Sales are down 16.3 per cent year-to-date, yet Mitsubishi is still outperforming rivals including sister Alliance brands Renault (-16.5 per cent) and Nissan (-17.7 per cent), and Volkswagen (-19 per cent). Mitsubishi remains a top 10 brand in Australia, placing sixth in October 2025 sales with help from the Triton ute, which forms the basis of the new Nissan Navara and was its best-seller for the month. It sits sixth overall year-to-date on 52,364 sales, behind Hyundai (64,861) and ahead of GWM (43,774) – after placing fifth for the full year in 2024. Year-to-date, the Outlander remains its most popular model, and there’s a larger battery pack coming as part of the facelifted electrified mid-size SUV in early 2026. In North America, Mitsubishi launched a more rugged version of the Outlander as a rival to the Subaru Outback, which could also become part of the Australian lineup, although this has not been confirmed. Model sharing with Nissan may also see the next-generation Nissan Patrol off-road SUV sold as a Pajero to give Mitsubishi a legitimate Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series rival. A potential replacement for the Pajero Sport was shown at the 2025 Japanese Mobility Show in Tokyo last month, too, while the company is also looking to add hybrid tech to models including the ASX and Triton, and to launch its first new-generation EV, a small electric SUV, in the second half of next year. Source: https://www.therural.com.au/story/9121208/mitsubishi-australia-announces-new-ceo/

Logicalis Asia Pacific has appointed Glenn Neo as its new COO (chief operating officer) and CTO (chief technology officer), a dual-role position created to support the company’s next phase of growth. The appointment supports Logicalis Asia Pacific’s move to expand AI capabilities and improve operational efficiency. Based in Singapore, Neo will report to the Asia Pacific CEO, Chong-Win Lee. Commenting on his appointment, Neo said, “I am delighted to join Logicalis Asia Pacific at such a transformative time. The opportunity to help shape the company’s AI-led future and work alongside talented teams across the region is truly inspiring.” “I look forward to building on Logicalis’ strong foundation and driving innovation that delivers meaningful impact for our clients and partners,” he added. Glenn joins Logicalis from Synapxe, where he served as Director of Innovation Capabilities Enablement, and concurrently as Chief Information Officer at Woodlands Health. His career spans senior roles at Accenture, Russell Reynolds, SGX, YCH Group, and board-level and advisory positions in start-ups. Logicalis Asia Pacific CEO, Chong-Win Lee, outlined why Glenn’s appointment comes at a critical time for the business: “Glenn’s vision and leadership will help us unlock new value for our customers and drive sustainable growth across the region.” “His proven expertise in digital transformation and operational excellence will be critical as we accelerate our journey to become the region’s leading AI Integrator,” Lee added. Source: https://www.itnews.asia/news/logicalis-names-glenn-neo-as-coo-and-cto-for-its-asia-pacific-operations-621859

New appointments to drive operational directionPhil van Zyl, who is currently CEO of Sedgwick New Zealand, has been appointed as interim CEO for Australia. He will continue his role in New Zealand while also overseeing the Australian executive team and operations. Simon Kay has been appointed as chief operating officer for Australia and will be responsible for operational management in the region. Paul White, Sedgwick’s regional CEO for international, commented on the leadership changes: “We have seen exceptional leadership from Phil in New Zealand for nearly six years, and he has contributed significantly to our growth story. With Phil and Simon at the helm, I am confident that we will have the clear direction needed to continue to deliver strong results for our company, colleagues, and clients.” Transition following CEO retirementThe appointments follow the retirement of Diego Ascani, who had led Sedgwick Australia since 2018. White commented: “With a distinguished insurance industry career of over 30 years, he became chief executive officer for Australia in 2018, navigating his team through the acquisition of Cunningham Lindsey by Sedgwick that same year. His passion for the customer, client, and colleague experience shone through during COVID and many major claim surges including the Northern NSW floods in 2022, Australia’s largest ever CAT event.” White said that during Ascani’s time with the company, he focused on industry innovation, professional development, and inclusion. “Diego’s legacy will be defined by his championing of industry innovation, professional development, and inclusion, including his membership of the board of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) since 2020. Let’s wish Diego all the best as he departs the company and transitions into retirement,” he said. Focus on local expertise and international resourcesVan Zyl, who has worked at Sedgwick for more than 20 years in various senior positions, said the company’s operations in Australia rely on its local staff. “Sedgwick’s presence in Australia is supported at all times by our talented local team, which is critical to our success. Our expertise in this market, combined with our global experience, positions Sedgwick to provide our clients with unmatched services and know-how in this industry that is rapidly transforming,” van Zyl said. Kay, the new COO, has over 30 years of experience in loss adjusting and has previously held leadership roles in the UK and internationally. He has worked on property losses and claims in different regions. Broader executive changes across SedgwickThe recent leadership changes in Australia are among several executive transitions at Sedgwick. Earlier this month, the company announced that Tom Simoncic, president of global property and international, will retire after 18 years with the company. Paul White is set to become CEO, International, starting Jan. 1, 2026. White will oversee operations in the UK, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has previously held senior roles at Sedgwick and its predecessor, Cunningham Lindsey. In August, Sedgwick named Kalani Reelitz as chief financial officer, with responsibilities for financial planning and capital management. The company also appointed new chief executive officers for its Japan and Taiwan businesses earlier this year. Shuji Tanaka and Cameron Lee have taken on those roles, while their predecessors have moved into chairman positions. Source: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/sedgwick-appoints-new-leaders-for-australian-operations-557010.aspx

Iberdrola has announced that Ross Rolfe, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola Australia, will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2025. He will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Iberdrola Australia. The company will appoint Paul Simshauser as CEO of Iberdrola Australia to replace him. Paul Simshauser was CEO of Powerlink Queensland and Professor of Economics at the Centre for Applied Research in Energy Economics and Policy (CAEEPR). A renowned economist specialising in energy, he has held leadership positions for more than 25 years in Australia’s energy markets, regulatory bodies and public policy institutions. Since 2020, Iberdrola Australia has invested $2.5 billion — in addition to the $1.4 billion associated with the acquisition of Infigen — in wind, solar and battery storage projects in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, where it employs more than 250 people. In addition, the company has tripled in size, quadrupled its customer base, obtained a feasibility licence for offshore wind energy in Victoria and launched a new grid business. Source: https://www.iberdrola.com/press-room/news/detail/new-ceo-of-iberdrola-australia

TBWA\ Group Indonesia has appointed Mahmud Omar Saladin (pictured) as chief digital officer, a newly created role aimed at accelerating the agency’s digital transformation and product innovation. His appointment took effect on 3 November 2025, reporting directly to Soum Banerjee, CEO and co-founder of TBWA\ Group Indonesia. In his new capacity, Saladin will lead the agency’s efforts to develop AI-powered digital solutions with a focus on innovation, speed, and measurable results. He has been tasked with reshaping team structures, bringing in top-tier digital talent, and upskilling existing teams to strengthen TBWA’s offering across the region. The immediate goal, according to the agency, is to help existing clients achieve faster and higher ROI, as TBWA\ Group Indonesia enters its 2026 planning phase. Saladin will play a pivotal role in shaping digital strategy and launching new products designed to future-proof client growth. “As part of a global creative collective, we are expanding beyond content into a full 360° digital ecosystem across social, influencer, and AI-driven marketing, designed to keep brands relevant in culture and ahead of change,” said Saladin. “My role is to connect creativity with technology and transform how we help brands grow through ideas that are intelligent and deeply human.” Welcoming the appointment, Banerjee described Saladin – known within the agency as Amu – as a crucial addition to TBWA\ Group Indonesia’s leadership. “Amu is a strong addition to the TBWA Indonesia team. His experience and insight strengthen our growth plan, and he will lead our push to build AI-driven digital solutions and launch new products that help brands deliver quantum growth in an age of uncertainty,” said Banerjee. The move signals TBWA’s intent to deepen its integration of AI and data-driven creativity, aligning with the group’s broader ambition to deliver more adaptive and human-centric brand experiences across Southeast Asia. Just recently, the agency appointed Nicholas Kosasih as its new chief creative officer, marking a homecoming for the creative who began his career at TBWA Jakarta. Effective 16 October 2025, Kosasih returns after serving as regional creative director at Hakuhodo Asia Pacific, succeeding Rizky Wisnu, who held the role for the past three years. Reporting to the president and board of directors, Kosasih is tasked with driving disruptive, AI-empowered creative work to deliver results. Source: https://www.marketing-interactive.com/tbwa-group-indonesia-strengthens-leadership-with-new-chief-digital-officer-appointment