"The breadth of our IT industry knowledge and experience in the Asia-Pacific region uniquely positions Asia-Pacific Connections as your partner for growth."

Cindy Payne
Founder and Managing Director

APC understands what it takes to succeed in Asia-Pacific's highly-specialised and vibrant ICT industry. Our creative strategies ensure our clients will remain competitive in the 21st century.

People

APC employs an experienced team of expatriate and local professionals with extensive regional experience. Our multilingual staff offers a diversity of business, sales and marketing management qualifications. Customer satisfaction is our top priority.

Location

APC is strategically located in the heart of the world's most dynamic region and provides marketing services throughout ASEAN, Greater China, Japan, Korea, the Indian subcontinent, Australia and New Zealand.

Resources

APC maintains extensive regional databases consisting of channel partners, ICT decision makers, media contacts, key government and business contacts, industry analysts, trade publications and exhibitions/seminars.

Relationships

APC's comprehensive ICT network ensures access to business partners so that you achieve your objectives and sales targets.

Affiliates

APC works with a network of affiliates - like-minded marketing and PR agencies - in every key market across the region to locally manage and execute your marketing programmes.

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Cindy Payne, Founder and Managing Director

Ms Payne brings over 25 years of Asia-Pacific sales, marketing and general management experience to the company.

Located in the region since 1991, Ms Payne founded Asia-Pacific Connections in 1993 to assist ICT companies 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 Asia-Pacific Connections, Ms Payne 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, Ms Payne held Asia-Pacific marketing management positions at two global distributors.

Ms Payne 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, Key Media’s 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, The Learning Group’s Channel Partner Conferences 2006 and 2005.

In addition, Ms Payne 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.

Ms Payne is currently serving as the Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee at The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore as well as on the Channel Advisor Board and 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) and their Counselors Academy for senior principals and counselors, SGI Global Technology Network, Technology Marketing Community, and Trusted Business Advisor. Ms Payne has also served on the boards of several professional women's associations including the Hong Kong Women Business Owner's Club, Singapore's PrimeTime Business and Professional Women's Association, 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.

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

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Jonathon Gould, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Mr Gould has over 25 years of sales, marketing and general-management experience in the finance and technology industries, including 10 years in Asia-Pacific and two years in Europe.

Mr Gould has led the payment practice at Asia-Pacific Connections since he joined in 2002, and has established clients throughout Asia, Russia, the Middle East, the United States and Western Europe.

From early 2004 until 2008, Mr Gould was engaged by ViVOtech, Inc (a US-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 10 countries, including NFC pilots in India, Malaysia and Singapore.

Previously, Mr Gould was Senior Vice President, Business Development, 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, Mr Gould 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, Mr Gould 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.

Mr Gould 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.

Mr Gould is recognised as a leader in Asia-Pacific marketing and frequently speaks at industry conferences and seminars including: 5th Ministerial eGovernment Conference 2009; Cards Asia Conferences in 2005, 2004 and 2003; Cards Asia/RFID Asia 2005 Masterclass; IBC Asia's Indonesia Banking & 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; The Asia Business Forum Banking Delivery Channels 2006, Customer Retention and Relationship Strategies in 2004 and Internal Communications Conference in 2000; as well as World Handset Forum in 2006.

Mr Gould is currently serving on the Board of Governors of The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. He is also the Board-Member-at-Large of the American Association of Singapore. He recently served as an executive committee member of the International Wine and Food Society, the Canadian Dragon Boat team and the Singapore Dragon Boat Association.

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Kinjal Shah, Client Services Specialist

Ms Shah is responsible for planning and executing public relations strategies and integrated-marketing programmes to meet client business objectives across Asia-Pacific.

In this role, she manages client, media and third-party service provider relationships and oversees budgeting to ensure programmes are efficiently planned and executed.

Ms Shah has six years of Asia-Pacific integrated-marketing communications services experience. Prior to joining Asia-Pacific Connections, she held the role of a Copywriter at an established advertising agency, where she was servicing clients and conceptualising creative strategies for above-the-line and below-the-line communications across all sectors.

Having worked as a creative executive at an integrated-marketing communications agency in Mumbai, India, Ms Shah has varied experience in brand communications across all media, including campaign execution including a variety of integrated-marketing activities such as programme launches, promotions and events.

Ms Shah began her career as a freelance copywriter responsible for writing and proofreading collateral used in creative communications campaigns for a variety of agencies.

Ms Shah holds a Master of Arts degree in Advertising from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Mumbai, India.
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