Capel Group

We've set out to build a new type of global agency network with a focus on unlocking the value and potential of independent agencies.

I'm most excited about the mutual ownership model that we believe aligns incentives, leaves agencies founders to keep doing what they do best and opens up a new growth engine that unlocks the potential of their talent.

Chief Operations Officer

Butter - A Shopify Partner Agency

Working with e-commerce merchants across APAC / Hong Kong on their Shopify Plus strategy. 

Butter has been recognised as a Shopify Plus level partner - giving us access to the best of Shopify in the region, as well as a nice reward for the team to be recognised for their expertise on the platform.

Our expertise lies in:
- Migrating e-commerce merchants to the Shopify Plus platform.
- Geo-expansion of Shopify Plus stores to new markets, complete with localisation.
- Optimisation of Shopify stores with best in class UI/UX and Shopify web development.

Founder

NYU Stern School of Business

Spring Exchange Semester at NYU Stern studying full time. Subjects include: Valuation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Managing Growing Companies and Brand Strategy.

MBA Candidate (Full Time - Exchange)

OMD APAC

- APAC Lead for Nissan Motor Co.
- APAC Lead for Hasbro, Inc. 
- Key member of OMD's regional pitch team.

OMD is part of the Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), the leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company, providing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Regional Business Director - APAC

The Economist

Asia's Acquisition Team lead, with P&L responsibilities. 

Tasked with developing regional digital innovation strategies and pilot digital programs for China and the region.

APAC Digital Marketing Lead

UM Worldwide

Global Digital Media lead for the Cathay Pacific Central Team.

Cathay Pacific Airways (HKG:0293):  Cathay Pacific, Dragonair (now Cathay Dragon), Asia Miles plus Cathay Pacific & Dragonair Holidays.

Global Digital Media Director

Responsible for digital strategy and execution across the Melbourne office. 

Main Clients: 
- Coles Group (ASX:WES): Coles Supermarkets, Coles Online, Coles Insurance, FlyBuys, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and Coles Group & Myer Gift Cards. 
- Origin Energy (ASX:ORG)
- L'Oreal Group (EPA:OR): L'Oreal Paris, Garnier & Maybelline New York

Digital Strategist 

Agency Managing Partner | Client Leadership, Digital Experience, E-Commerce | I help large brands implement complex digital projects & platforms

With over 15 years of senior leadership experience in both global and independent agencies, I’ve developed a unique skill set that combines paid media expertise, technology implementation, plus strategic business and client leadership. 

I have worked at a regional level across APAC, managing complex businesses and navigating the needs of diverse stakeholders, including C-suite executives and multinational brands.

My experience spans the entire digital ecosystem, from leading large-scale, integrated media campaigns to overseeing the end-to-end implementation of sophisticated digital commerce platforms. 

I have:
- Managed $50M+ in media budgets, optimizing performance marketing strategies to drive growth across APAC
- Led cross-functional teams to deliver large-scale digital commerce solutions, integrating platforms like Shopify and Magento
- Collaborated with senior stakeholders, including C-suite executives, to align media and digital strategies with business objectives
- Delivered measurable results for multinational brands like Cathay Pacific, Nissan Motor Co., and Hasbro, managing complex, multi-market media operations

This combination of senior-level stakeholder management, hands-on platform integration, and deep expertise in digital marketing allows me to drive growth and innovation for large, complex organizations across the APAC region.

"Working with Michael and team was a game-changer for our digital project - providing a quality product that has driven our business to new levels.”  Sam Cooper, CEO - CCW Global

"Michael is vested in our success and his team's cutting edge approach allowed us to unlock our customer acquisition." - Oliver Rust, Head of Product - Truflation

I have worked with leading brands at a senior stakeholder level, including Nissan, Apple, Cathay Pacific, Carlsberg, Estee Lauder Companies, Hasbro, FedEx, MetLife, Tai Ping Carpets, and more.

Michael Ashton

RMD - Webflow Professional Partner Agency

Honining in on the things that really matter (bounce rate, interaction rate, user-flows, button clicks etc...) so you're companies digital presence isn't just a fancy digital art project. Your online presence should be a clear reflection of your brand and create an urge to contact you that users can't resist.  

Instead of focusing on creating something that will be out of style in a couple of months or years. We aim to constantly improve upon our combined original creation and iterate such that your company's market positioning is always on point.

Webflow

Being one of the few hand-selected Webflow Experts in the world and the first in Hong Kong. I was able to capitalize on my love for no-code development by joining this prestigious "club". 

Working with several companies that are in the Fintech and SaaS niche such as Diginex Solutions, Avotech and Sleepy Baby to name a few, I have been able to expand my knowledge about the Webflow world and enhance my no code skills by working on various projects and enabling companies to expand their online presence through the power of Webflow. 

My design methodology is that data and design work hand in hand. Using data to create amazing websites is essential as it allows for constant expansion and improvements on client sites and eliminates plateauing in some very competitive markets.

Webflow Professional Partner

FAS | Fintech Advisory Services

With my first job in the Fintech field including two different positions, I'm finding it rewarding day by day as the field is one that I have not worked in before and learning about the in's and out's about it enables me to deepen my understanding of what I believe to be the future of the finance. In this role, I have to do a wide variety of tasks such as market research, business development, proposition writing amongst others. Although the industry is a new one for me, the challenges that come up to provide me with an ever-deepening understanding of Fintech and how further develops my knowledge about a market that very well could be the future of finance.

Junior Research and Business Analyst

Starlity

Alongside being a marketing officer, I am also a Freelancer working with StarLity which is a company that provides me with opportunities for freelancing. This includes Branding Design, Graphic Design, Search Engine Optimization, E-commerce website building & Social Media Management. This allowed me to work with a vast amount of companies from SME to MNC’s in several different markets. All in all, this experience further developed my “outside of the box” critical thinking skill when it came to problem-solving as each task was completely different to the last one and forced me to come up with innovative ideas to tackle them.

Freelance

BaM Paragon

Besides working at Sara Beattie group, I’ve also been working (part-time) with a Chinese firm that specializes in commercial retail and leasing, to help them completely re-develop their brand identity as well building them a whole new website. Working with the team over in the Shenzhen office, I was able to sharpen up my UX design, marketing and social strategies. Working on the website though was one of the most memorable aspects of the whole job as it allowed me to work independently while still liaising with the team over in China; teaching me not just people skills, but also managing skills.

Marketer 

Sara Beattie Appointments

This was my first white-collar job in the business world, and it is one that I am finding more interesting day by day. In this position, I had to do a plethora of different tasks such as Web Design, Video making and editing, Graphic Design & Social Media Marketing. Overall, this effort has allowed me to work well with others and produce high-quality content to help grasp a solid customer base for the 3 subsidiaries that the group holds.

Marketing Officer

Fiverr

Working in 2019 making websites as a freelancer to earn additional money while at university. To make these websites I used WordPress and integrated e-commerce capabilities into all the websites that I have made. I also tried my hand at e-commerce and helping my father set up his first website to allow him to sell online, directly to customers; which has now turned into one of his biggest revenue streams. However, I started working at a firm and found my fit to be better there.

Freelance Web Developer

Start Up

Over the summer of 2019, my parents told me to find some work. After going to teach English, I realized that making the commute and planning the lesson every morning had started to become tedious and since I was going to get a major in business; I thought I might as well try starting up my own business.

 After some thinking, I decided to start a company in the fitness market called "Last Push".  Our Cash Cow was an innovative foam roller that a friend of mine made in Design and we went into business together as partners. After some time, we started up and were marketing on social media and dropshipping apparel too. 

Now, the company is run by a relative as my partner and I were both going to college and my Dad had to focus on his own business.

Startup Manager

Rohan is a full-stack designer who has been working with Webflow for over a year who focuses on driving growth through design and usability. A great design is great and all, but having a website that truly builds upon a brand and showcases it as an industry leader are the design approaches that he has chosen to adopt. Using a quantitative approach to his design, Rohan focuses on the small things whilst helping companies and individuals explore unique designs to help them stand out from the competition whilst improving their bottom line.

taplio

The Battle

Michael Ashton

Rohan Malhotra

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