Arthur Altounian Appointed to Lead We Are Social Singapore and Kobe into Next Phase of Growth

Oct. 20, 2026

Socially-led creative agency We Are Social has appointed Arthur Altounian as Managing Director for Singapore, leading both We Are Social Singapore and specialist influencer marketing agency Kobe, which We Are Social acquired in 2022.

Altounian joins from WPP Media and GOAT, where he led client growth, go-to-market strategies and commercial operations for creator and influencer marketing across more than 15 APAC markets, including heading operations for Singapore and Malaysia. Bringing over two decades of commercial media experience across agency holding companies and platform sell-sides, he pairs deep regional insight with expertise in scaling social commerce, content and influencer strategies at a time when creator marketing is becoming an increasingly critical and sophisticated driver of the wider social media mix across Southeast Asia.

Under Altounian’s leadership, the two agencies will collaborate more closely while continuing to build on the capabilities and market strengths each has established.

We Are Social helps brands grow through social-first ideas integrated across paid, owned and earned social, bringing together strategy, creative, content, creator partnerships, community engagement, paid media and social intelligence.

Kobe is a specialist influencer marketing agency with deep expertise across Southeast Asia, combining proprietary technology, a global network of more than 14 million creators and a decade of experience building creator-led solutions for brands.

Both We Are Social and Kobe will remain distinct client-facing brands, each with its own expertise, clients and proposition, while operating more closely together from a shared Singapore office.

The move also comes as We Are Social strengthens its Singapore leadership team, including the recent appointment of Kamakshi Thareja as Head of Strategy, giving the business a stronger platform for growth across Southeast Asia. Thareja brings more than 16 years of strategy experience across Asia, spanning creative, media and digital agencies including EssenceMediacom, VMLY&R, dentsu and J. Walter Thompson. 

Suzie Shaw, APAC CEO at We Are Social, said:

"Southeast Asia represents a massive growth opportunity for us, and Singapore is right at the heart of that. I’m thrilled to welcome Arthur to lead this next chapter. Creator marketing is no longer a standalone tactic; it increasingly sits at the centre of brand, social and media planning. Bringing We Are Social and Kobe closer together gives us a powerful platform to do just that, while keeping the distinct expertise that makes each agency special. With Arthur’s commercial and creator leadership combined with Kamakshi’s strategic firepower, we have an exceptional team in place to drive real growth for our clients and our people."

 

The move also sees Evangeline Leong, Founder and CEO of Kobe, stepping away from the business at the end of October after 10 years. Leong founded Kobe in Singapore in 2016 and grew it into one of the market’s most recognised influencer marketing agencies with five consecutive Gold Influencer Agency of the Year wins.

Shaw added:

“Evangeline has built an incredible business and team over the past decade. Kobe’s reputation, specialist expertise and standing in the creator industry are a real testament to what she has created. We’re enormously grateful for her contribution and excited to build on that strong foundation with the Kobe team.”

 

Arthur Altounian, Managing Director, We Are Social Singapore and Kobe, said:

“I’ve long admired both businesses for what they have built in their respective fields. We Are Social has a strong reputation for socially-led creative work, its understanding of culture and the way it brings strategy, creative and media together. Kobe has established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading influencer marketing specialists, with deep creator expertise, technology and relationships built over the past decade. It’s a great opportunity to lead both businesses into their next chapter. What excites me most is the potential in bringing those strengths closer together while keeping what makes each brand distinctive. For our clients, it means more depth, more flexibility and easier access to the right expertise around a brief. There’s a lot of talent across both teams and some fantastic client relationships already in place, so I’m really excited about what we can build from here in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.”