BrazilEx-EY director crosses to digital marketing agency ada as head of analytics
Malaysia-based digital marketing agency ada has nabbed former EY Director Vittorio Furlan to head up its Analytics & Consulting practice in the Asia Pacific.
In yet another strike in the rolling battle between the traditional business advisory and creative sectors, the integrated digital marketing agency ada – a part of multinational Malaysian telco Axiata Digital – has poached EY Asia Pacific data and analytics advisory director Vittorio Furlan to lead its Analytics & Consulting division in Asia, to be based out of firm’s Kuala Lumpur home-office.
With eight further outlets in the region – including in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and Korea – ada bills itself as the largest independent data-powered digital marketing agency across South & Southeast Asia, counting Malaysia Airlines, Allianz, CIMB Bank, Microsoft, Timberland, Subway and LG among its impressive list of clientele.
Launched by Axiata earlier this year, and with a multi-disciplined team in excess of 250, ada (analytics, data, advertising), integrates deep data science and the latest in digital technologies – such as artificial intelligence and machine learning – with creative and content development to provide disruptive media planning, campaign strategy, execution and production for brands and businesses across Asia.
Now, as the firm strives to become the ‘Agency of the Future’, experience data and analytics technology consultant and systems integration leader Vittorio Furlan has been brought in as ada’s new Head of Analytics and Consulting – crossing from long-term stint with EY and its earlier advanced analytics wing EYC3 (formed from the 2015 acquisition of C3 Business Solutions).
Most recently serving as Director in EY’s Advisory – Data and Analytics practice based out of first Sydney and then Malaysia – the latter where he led the firm’s growth to incorporate the full range of strategy, data science, and big data services for clients in ASEAN – Furlan prior to joining EY earlier served for over a decade as a senior manager and manager with Accenture in Australia and the UK.
“Vittorio is a stellar addition to our team,” said ada CEO Srinivas Gattamneni. “He brings deep expertise in helping businesses gain competitive advantage from advanced analytics through improving customer experiences and also driving efficient sales growth and loyalty.” Anurag Gupta, ada COO adds: “Data is the future of all businesses and leaders like Vittorio are helping to create that future.”
Commenting in turn, Furlan said, “ada is uniquely placed in the market in its ability to merge the rich and unparalleled insight, agency and media experience, and data and analytics expertise to create value for consumers, business, and the entire ASEAN region. I am looking forward to lead the analytics and consulting business and combine ada's strengths with business and system integration consulting.”
