VaynerMedia appoints Melanie Cook as Head of Strategy & Insights for APAC

VaynerMedia's Asia Pacific (APAC) region has appointed Melanie Cook  as the new Head of Strategy and Insights for VaynerMedia's Asia Pacific (APAC) region, effective immediately. Cook brings wide ranging experience as an international strategic leader and will be responsible for spearheading the regional strategy team. She will be leveraging her expertise in cultural insights, emerging trends, and evolving formats for helping brands develop narratives, resonating with real audiences. Cook will be steering brands via "consumer-up" strategies, prioritizing relevance and business results over conventional "brand-down" approaches.

In her new role, Cook will oversee VaynerMedia's five offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Sydney, along with all twelve APAC markets where VaynerMedia has a presence. She will report to Tim Lindley, Managing Director of VaynerMedia Asia Pacific.

Cook aims to build a team of well-rounded professionals with diverse skillsets, encompassing analytics, community management, communications planning, and strategy.

"I'm excited to be part of a team with a unique blend of human insight, creativity, platform expertise, and cultural awareness," Cook said. He further added: "This combination allows us to captivate audiences, inspire them to take action, and help brands advance their storytelling while capturing valuable attention."

Prior to joining VaynerMedia, Cook served as the Regional Head of Strategy at MRM MENAT, where she led her team in driving significant marketing transformations across the region, focusing on the intersection of brand, digital technology, and customer experience.

Cook has a proven track record working with leading agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Sapient, and BBDO Proximity across Europe, MENAT, and APAC regions. She has held various leadership roles, including Head of Strategic Planning, Head of Strategy and Business Consultancy for Southeast Asia, and Senior Planner. Throughout her career, Cook has partnered with clients across diverse industries, including L'Oreal, Unilever, Visa, Neom, and LVMH.

This appointment follows VaynerMedia Asia Pacific's selection of Monchaya Koolawong as the new Country Manager for Thailand. Koolawong succeeds Auu Arunee and will report directly to Lindley. Her primary focus will be on expanding VaynerMedia's presence and driving business growth in Thailand by delivering strategic solutions that strengthen client brands, deliver significant business impact, and maximize investments.