Asia-Pacific Connections (APC) employs a seasoned team of professionals with extensive global and regional experience. Our multinational staff offers a diversity of business, sales, marketing, and management qualifications that consistently benefit our clients.

Both Cindy Payne and Jonathon Gould, APC’s founders, worked in Silicon Valley for many years, turning technology start ups into successful brands. They subsequently moved to Asia to help build these technology firms’ footprints across the region. Now they lead our client teams, adding strategic expertise to our talented marketers who oversee our day-to-day programmes and operations. Together, we offer an unceasing commitment to increasing customer value.

Our analytical, bottom-line business approach to integrated marketing is appreciated by our clients who are seeking answers and results. Our innovative and proactive team is committed to excellence through vision and detailed execution. Our vast field experience in the top 13 regional technology markets makes us confident in designing competent and inventive solutions for our clients in need of regional coverage.

Cindy Payne, Founder and Managing Director

Cindy brings over 30 years of Asia-Pacific sales, marketing and general management experience to the company.

Located in the region since 1991, Cindy founded Asia-Pacific Connections (APC) in 1993 to assist technology companies to expand into and across Asia-Pacific. She leads her team in client acquisition, strategic planning, budget development, project management and editorial services. Over the years, clients have grown to depend on her for strategic counsel, ROI assessment, and peace of mind – knowing she will ensure on-time, accurate and effective deliverables, balanced with best practices and results.

Prior to launching APC, Cindy managed the Asia-Pacific distribution sales business for Quantum Corporation, a major hard-disk-drive manufacturer. She grew the business from its 1986 start-up phase to a complex business with revenues exceeding US$100 million. Previously, Cindy held Asia-Pacific marketing management positions at two global distributors.

Cindy is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Some of her speaking engagements have included: Comdex/Asia in Singapore; Comdex/Fall in Las Vegas; International Business Forums; IT Channels Asia; Key Media’s Channels Conference and Marketing ROI Conferences in 2006, 2005 and 2004; Network Associates' Forums; PRSA Counselors Academy Conferences in 2007 and 2006; The Asia Business Forum's Brand Innovations 2009, PR and Communications 2009, Advertising and Promotions Asia 2009 and Internal Communications 2000; The Channels Forum; and The Learning Group’s Channel Partner Conferences 2006 and 2005.

In addition, Cindy often writes articles that are published in industry journals. Her articles have appeared in Asia Computer Weekly, Asian Channels, Business Management Asia, Channels Advisor, CMP Worldwide's International Advisor, Computer Reseller News, Connect-World, Energize Your Channel, IT International, Marketing Magazine, M&T International Advisor, Practical Marketing Communications in Asia, and Today's Manager.

Cindy is currently serving as a Board Member At Large for Worldcom Asia-Pacific Regional's Board, Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee at The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, as well as on the ChannelLine Advisory Council. In addition, she is an active member in a number of industry associations including the Chief Marketing Officer Network, Institute of Public Relations of Singapore, Melcrum’s Communicators’ Network, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), SGI Global Technology Network, Singapore's PrimeTime Business and Professional Women's Association, Technology Marketing Community, and Trusted Business Advisor. Cindy has also served on the boards of several professional women's associations including the Hong Kong Women Business Owner's Club, Singapore's PrimeTime, and the Singapore Business and Professional Women's Association (SBPWA). She was the founding chairperson of Singapore Women in Technology (SWIT), an IT networking group of SBPWA.

Cindy has two Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Languages from Miami University, Ohio, USA.

Jonathon Gould, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Jonathon has over 30 years of sales, marketing and general-management experience in the finance and technology industries, including 17 years in Asia-Pacific and two years in Europe.

Jonathon has led the payment practice at Asia-Pacific Connections since he joined in 2002, and has established clients throughout Asia-Pacific, Russia, the Middle East, the U.S. and Western Europe.

From early 2004 until 2008, Jonathon was engaged by ViVOtech, Inc. (a U.S.-based leading provider of Near Field Communications [NFC] and contactless payment solutions) to develop its business throughout Asia-Pacific. He served as their Regional Head for four years and was responsible for launching the company’s products in ten countries, including NFC pilots in India, Malaysia
and Singapore.

Previously, Jonathon was Senior Vice President, Business Development for Maestro International, MasterCard's global online-debit system. There, he was responsible for building the Maestro brand, and increasing cards usage and acceptance globally.

From 1997 to 2000, Jonathon was Senior Vice President, Marketing for MasterCard Asia-Pacific. In that role, he led regional-support programmes including advertising and promotions, sponsorships, communications, new-product development, acceptance development, and market research. These programmes contributed to making MasterCard, Maestro, and Cirrus, the fastest-growing global-payments brands in the industry.

Prior to joining MasterCard, Jonathon was the General Manager, Asia-Pacific for VeriFone Pte Ltd, where he spent over eight years working throughout Asia-Pacific, building the business revenue to US$70 million. He began his career in the payments industry at Union Bank of California. He also managed corporate-card-marketing programmes for Citicorp Diners Club before assuming marketing positions of increasing responsibility with technology companies in Silicon Valley, California.

Jonathon earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

Jonathon is recognised as a leader in Asia-Pacific marketing and frequently speaks at industry conferences and seminars including: 5th Ministerial eGovernment Conference 2009; IBC Asia's Indonesia Banking and Financial Services Technology Summit 2006; Marcus Evans' Consumer Banking in Asia-Pacific Conference 2004; Pacific Conferences' Best Practices in CRM in 2006, Secrets to Successful Business-to-Business Marketing Conference in 2005, CRM Conference in 2004 and 2003 and RFID Connect Asia 2006 Conference; Siebel's CRM Seminars in 2003 and 2002; SIM Asia 2006; Strategic Marketing for Financial Services Conference; Terrapinn’s Cards Asia Conferences 2003-2010, Cards Asia/RFID Asia 2005 Masterclass, NFC World 2004-2010 and The Customer Show 2009-2010; as well as The Asia Business Forum Banking Delivery Channels 2006, Customer Retention and Relationship Strategies in 2004 and Internal Communications Conference in 2000.

Jonathon is currently serving as Board Member, Second Vice President and Executive Committee Member of the American Association of Singapore. He recently served on the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and was an executive committee member of the International Wine and Food Society.

Cris Tan, Client Services Executive

Cris provides day-to-day management of some of Asia-Pacific Connections' (APC) client-services initiatives including public-relations campaigns, event-management and integrated-marketing activities. In this role, she ensures clients’ marketing programmes are delivered with excellence across all performance standards.

Cris has six years of Asia-Pacific integrated-marketing-communications-services experience.  Prior
to joining APC, she was an account manager for a distributor, where she initiated and executed account-development strategies with new and existing corporate clients.

Prior to contributing to APC’s pool of talented writers, Cris was editor-in-chief of several publications in the education sector and was an online editor and writer for U.S.-based companies, where she developed original copy for websites, company newsletters and magazines featuring strategic PR and marketing trends.

Previously, she was a marketing and sales executive for Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company, where she was responsible for writing client correspondence and training manuals, as well as mounting strategic marketing and sales plans for the company’s agencies in Manila and Davao.

Cris began her career as a public-relations assistant for a government office in the Philippines and as an executive assistant to the President and CEO of the Philippines’ largest PR agency.  In both roles, she established her experience in community and media relations, events management and inter-departmental coordination.

Cris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from the Ateneo de Davao University, with credits in Liberal Arts from the University of Asia and the Pacific in the Philippines.