People on the Move, including changes at Penguin, IPG Mediabrands and The Guardian

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Brands

Penguin Random House UK has appointed Jonathan Donovan as digital marketing director to drive the next phase of its digital strategy and power the shift to online book discovery and sales. With the pandemic having accelerated changes to consumer buying behaviors and increasing numbers of people turning to reading more than ever before, Donovan will lead on maximizing the opportunities to differentiate the Penguin brand and products in an increasingly competitive online marketplace.

Universal Music Malaysia (UMM), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced that Kim Lim has been promoted to the position of managing director, Universal Music Malaysia. The appointment comes as part of a series of strategic hires to further expand and bolster the senior management team as part of the company’s efforts to accelerate domestic artist development and label growth within the region.

Agencies

IPG Mediabrands and Kinesso has announced the appointment of Aisha Suleiman as the network’s first head of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) for the EMEA region. In this newly-created role, Suleiman will oversee the agency network’s efforts in DE&I strategy, planning and execution, holding local leadership accountable to the global network’s diversity commitments and goals, and fostering more collaboration and connection across the region.

Strategy and design consultancy, Sylvain, has appointed its first ever chief design officer, Michael Ian Kaye. As the founder of Mother Design and the creator of culturally iconic brand design work for brands including Target, Kate Spade, Marriott and New York Fashion Week, Kaye has been tasked with centering design in all the brand strategy work done at the agency.

Mediabrands Malaysia has announced the appointment of Fan Chen Yip as chief investment officer of Mediabrands Malaysia. Fan Chen Yip will be responsible for all legacy and new media investments within the group. In his role, he will expand the trading scope to adapt to the new needs of the industry and create opportunities to optimize business value for clients, with a strong focus on buying accountability and innovation.

Wunderman Thompson, a WPP agency, today announced the appointment of Jenny Harris as executive director, account management to its US Midwest region. In this new role, Harris will be a driving force in leading the agency’s account management practice and overseeing some of the agency’s most significant clients in the region.

WEA, the label and artist services division of Warner Music Group (WMG), has announced that Benjamin Blank has been appointed to the newly-created position of president of media. In this role, Blank will lead WMG’s newly-formed digital advertising and creative content division, unifying WMG’s digital advertising firepower under one unit. Based in Los Angeles, Blank will continue to report directly to WEA’s President, Maria Weaver.

Media

Breaking news at The Guardian is the appointment of Richard Furness as managing director, customer engagement and business development. In his new role, Furness will lead the newly-created customer engagement and business development division at GNM and will focus on building a coordinated strategy across the publisher’s growing multimedia portfolio and reader revenue opportunities, including audio, video and newsletters.

Forbes has announced the appointment of veteran business journalist Diane Brady as assistant managing editor for communities and leadership. In this role, Diane will oversee Forbes’ editorial communities focused on the C-suite and aspiring entrepreneurial networks.

Yet-to-launch digital and television news network, GB News, has appointed Discovery veteran David Weeks as its commercial director. A well-known figure in the industry, Weeks spent 10 years at The Week, where he was executive director.

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