Mindshare APAC has appointed Varun Channa as managing director for its Malaysia operation.

Channa joins Mindshare after six years as a client with Danone Indonesia, where he helped work on their Fresh Dairy business and developed the roadmap for their Isotonics.

Prior to this, he was marketing head and part of the start-up team for Danone India and also spent nearly 15 years with JWT India at its flagship Mumbai office, working with Unilever and other clients.

Gowthaman Ragothaman, chief operating officer of Mindshare Asia Pacific, said: “We are totally delighted to welcome [Channa] on board, who brings a wealth of experience across industries and markets.

“This is the beginning of a new chapter in the whole new world of connected media, where content, creativity and consumer data in the Malaysian market is at the centre of all activities and importance.”

Girish Menon, chief executive of GroupM Malaysia, added: “With [Channa], we have hit upon a fantastic combination – with JWT, he honed his skills in developing communications solutions for some iconic global brands and then as a tech-savvy marketer with Danone in three different fast-growing, competitive markets, he got his hands dirty developing marketing solutions to deliver strong business results.

“I believe these are the combination of skills and experiences that our clients increasingly expect from the head of their agency, so I am confident that [Channa] will lead Mindshare to even greater success.”

Channa takes over the role from Gerald Wittenberger, who returned to Europe at the end of 2014.