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Glenn Koh
Director and Culture Lead
Glenn Koh is a driven and results-oriented marketer with a passion for brand-building, creating partnerships, and fostering innovative ideas.
With a diverse international background, Glenn has built his career in Singapore and gained valuable regional experience across North Asia and Southeast Asia, including a significant stint in Vietnam.
Currently based in North America, Glenn's work spans the West and East coasts, primarily focusing on B2B and B2C marketing, communications, business development, and brand partnerships.
With over a decade of experience, Glenn has successfully delivered marketing outcomes for top private and public sector organizations such as the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Economic Development Board, and Ogilvy.
Known for turning colleagues into friends, generating new ideas, and collaborating for success, Glenn thrives on transforming opportunities into tangible results through partnerships and innovation.
Highlights
3 years ago.
I had the opportunity to visit Canada for the first time in my life for a work trip with Jayne Yeo in 2021 when I was still based in NYC. Montreal is a gorgeous city. The weather was perfect, the people were nice (and spoke French). It didn't feel that I was in North America, but instead I was in an European city. I met some great people from the travel trade over there and had the opportunity to learn about the city's history and people.
Montreal left me wanting more, and it made me wonder why there was no direct connectivity between Singapore and Canada, and more importantly, why were Singaporeans (and Canadians) not aware of what each side had to offer?
2 years ago.
My fascination with Canada continued in 2022, this time in Vancouver (or as they say, the 'California' of Canada. Vancouver was recovering from the pandemic, but it was great to see that businesses were back, people coming back into the city and even tourism was re-starting. I was excited with this work trip, as we were there to announce to start of the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights (remember those), Singapore's first attempt at reopening travel connectivity between markets that were abruptly cut due to COVID, and while the solution was far from perfect, it was a great start and it was great that we could do it with Singapore Airlines.
But while the connection via SIN - YVR had started, we knew that it was going to be seasonal and that sooner or later, there would be plans to re-adjust the flights and once again, which would mean that Singapore and Canada would not have permanent direct flights between both countries. I had conversations with Air Canada at that time, however, they were focusing on plans to start a seasonal flight to BKK.
1 year ago.
And true enough, in October 2023, the connectivity between Singapore and Vancouver had once again stopped.
4th April 2024.
Finally today, on 4/4/24 (please go buy 4-D), I am so pleased to share that finally Singapore and Canada have finally re-established its connections once again, thanks to Air Canada!
While I am now in another role from the one I was in when I first visited Canada - call it destiny or a coincidence - I had the privilege to be part of this project in announcing that Air Canada will be operating direct flights to Singapore! The country has a special place in my heart and I want to say a huge thanks to Ada Tong, Madeline Tan, Natasha Loh and Qi Fang Tay for working tirelessly to make this happen!
All I need to do right now is to find some time to book my tickets to Vancouver!
Some of my network may already know this, but I'm now making it LinkedIn-official: I've started a new position as Director and Culture Lead at Ogilvy Singapore!
In the ten wonderful and deeply fulfilling years I spent at the Singapore Tourism Board, I worked on Singapore's new destination brand "Passion Made Possible"; had the opportunity to live and work in Ho Chi Minh City, New York City and San Francisco; and above all, made lifelong friends out of many amazing colleagues. I will forever be a proud ambassador of Destination Singapore and remain grateful for opportunities to cross paths with some of the most passionate and smart partners in the lifestyle, travel and hospitality space.
In this new chapter where I make a return to Ogilvy (the place that kick-started my career in marketing and PR more than 12 years ago) as Director, Corporate Practice, I am thrilled to partner with clients who are always game to see how we can turn the PR game on its head, and open to pushing forward with new and bold ideas with my team.
There's much to be learnt, much to explore and much to catch up on. And I am truly excited about being back in the company of giants. Looking forward to catching up with old friends from the industry and making new connections! And...to quote one of the wisest individuals to ever exist: "You must unlearn what you have learned." - Yoda
