Weekly Roundup: Audi SG's new GM of marketing, Taylor Swift's savvy PR response and more

It has been a whirlwind of a week with plenty of appointments, viral content that sparked controversy and debate among netizens as well as statements that might have just hit the bullseye among PR professionals.

If you need a quick summary, welcome to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE's weekly roundup, a podcast and article feature in which we take you through the biggest stories of the week and take a deep dive into trending topics we've seen in the industry.

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1. Audi Singapore names new GM of marketing

Audi Singapore has named Jamie Lee, GM of marketing as long time marketing head Rudy Venter takes on a new role in China as VP of marketing with FAW Audi Sales Company. Venter was head of marketing at Audi Singapore for over seven years, and is a long serving member of the company previously working in Audi Malaysia and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Lee joined the role from Uniqlo where she was marketing director. According to her LinkedIn, the role saw her collaborate with local and global stakeholders to initiate strategies that would build a solid foundation and allow for continued expansion of the brand which has a high penetration rate in Singapore.

Read more here.

2. Car dealership says blackface video 'solely a marketing initiative' in public statement

Car dealership JDM Automobile Carros Centre has put out a statement saying that its video featuring a salesman with blackface is "solely a marketing initiative". In its statement on Facebook, JDM Automobile Carros Centre said it appreciates the feedback provided regarding its marketing campaign.

"We take all concerns seriously and are committed to continuous improvement," said the statement.  The statement added that JDM Automobile acknowledges that the reel may have been perceived as having racist intent, but it is "intended solely as a marketing initiative.""We are deeply committed to promoting racial equity and are staunchly anti-racist. We will continue to uphold the highest standards in all our communications," said the statement.

Read more here.

3. Better than revenge: Why Taylor Swift's statement on Trump AI-generated photos hits the PR mark

Instead of drawing a cat eye sharp enough to kill a man, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has put out a statement on Instagram putting claims of her being a Donald Trump supporter to rest. 

In her statement, Swift said she was recently made aware that AI generated photos of "her" falsely endorsing Trump's presidential run was posted to his site. 

"It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth," said Swift. 

Read more here.

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